Actually the Faa doesn't limit your duty day on international flights. You can only fly 12 hours, but if it takes 24 hours of duty to accomplish it that's perfectly legal by far's. That's for a 3-place cockpit.

 

Well then we are both correct. I don't fly long haul. I couldn't stand those long hours.

 

I respect your opinion, although I think your dead wrong. Are you a guy who thinks it's OK to SCAB, or didn't you get your way in the union hall?

I'll be the first to admit that the union system is not perfect, but to throw it away and rely an airline managament to "take care" of labor will only hasten the race to the bottom.

 

You may have a financial emergency and crises that you're faced with, but I highly doubt you would steal, cheat, or lie in order to resolve it. That's how a Scab is precieved in the industry!

Just my 2 cents worth!!!

 

I appreciate all the opinions, and the discussion... it really is helping me understand the mentality... again.. thanks for the discussion

 

Scabs are not the problem anymore. Who cares? The airlines are discovering that pilots will work for nothing. That is the real threat. A 757 National Airlines Captain earned 55k per year and had no benifits. This is the real show stopper. Airline management is waking up to the idea that with a little pain they could get their labor for much less. Allegiant pays a Captain around 60 to 70 thousand and there are still people lined up to get the job. The term "scab" is an antiquated word that is loosing meaning with every passing year. I would worry about the glut of Embry-Riddle and UND grads. That is the real problem.

 

I agree with your post except for the problem is when a union group takes a job action for good cause, they need to be respected. The way things are going a captain with minimal experience will make $40,000 a year flying a widebody with 300 people on board and that just seems like an accident waiting to happen.

 

I would like to agree with you, however we currently have a sky full of mid 20-somethings flying RJ's all around the country and there have been few incidents blamed on low experience or long duty days. I think management is realizing that they can work us to the limits and then pay wages that are closer to a city bus driver and that there will still be a continuous line of new hires. I ask myself "why is it that an airline pilot can earn more than 100K/year"? Do we possess rare or difficult skills? Are we smarter than other professions? Is there a consumer difference between a 50K Captain and a 150K Captain? I don't think there are any valid arguments for keeping the pay up. In fact it seems to me that the trend over the past 10 years has been to bring pay and benefits down. Why wouldn't management wish to do that? I don't like to pay more for things either. The only reason that pilots can make more than 100K is that it has been the tradition and mind set, those things however are rapidly changing. Unions are dead. They are loosing any negotiating power they ever had. Northwest and Alaska Airlines Unions are trying to put up a fight but it seems that management is prepared to go to the carpet and are making plans to bring in cheaper replacement workers. It is only a matter of time before they figure out how to bring in replacement pilots as well. I think that in ten years unions will be gone. The real threat is the flood of low wage, low age workers fresh from the local community college with a head full of jetliner dreams. Every year there are thousands upon thousands of new pilots made to fill only a few positions. They don't even flinch at 18K for a first year. To me that is our real enemy.

 

There is no understandable reason to cross a picket line. Let's be clear on that. Plan ahead, listen to the history from the old salts, realize that it may happen to your airline, and you will be fine.

Unity is all we have. Lets not race to the bottom. Keep your chin up.

 

Bengalsfan,

I repeat -- do not, do not cross your union's picket line. Every scab has some sob story on why they had to cross. 99.9 % of the time, the strike will be resolved and the regular workers will be back and they will not be happy with you. Scabs are not to be talked to, hung around with and their kit bags end up all over the world. It is a very lonely existence. Personally, I would rather sell shoes than be a scab.

Here's a personal story on a scab. My old A/C from the Air Force got out in the late 80's, couldn't find a job, panicked, and crossed the line for Eastern. Sure he got to fly 757's for awhile, but at soon as Eastern shut down, he was branded for life. He ended up teaching 7th grade. There are many scab lists around.

Remember there is no excuse for being a low life scab!

Bears Fan!!