I like to think of myself as someone who likes to gather info for current events happening in the Aviation Industry and lately I've been hearing a lot about teh Regionals and Scab Lists. Could anyone give any direction as to where I can get more information on this issue or maybe shed some light on the subject without getting too deep into the subject (I know it is a very touchy subject) I am a flight instructor and just want to be up to date with things that might affect my career later on. Thanks in advance!!

 

You can google the official scab list...it goes back to the 1930's

The official list is for those who have crossed a picket line. In addition there are also informal lists which come about because some group of pilots does something that is blatantly undercutting their fellow pilots, usually at their own company. Pilots who fly for alter-ego carriers are a good example (Freedom A, GoJets, etc.) While technically not crossing a picket line, these opportunistic scumbags are stealing money from their fellows just the same. These lists are also widely circulated among active airline pilots.

Many Freedom A pilots are going into management at mesa because they have realized they will have great difficulty getting a flying job at a another airline...plus they have already demonstrated appropriate management mentaility and behavior

 

Read Flying The Line, of course it is one sided, but it has a great deal of history in it. The relationship between pilots and management has a long and ugly history. After you read this book you will have a better understanding of why the feelings run sooooo deep.

 

So in your opinion does this affect someone in my position that is Flight instructing and trying to move on to the Regionals soon? I figure this is the normal path of a pilot looking to get into the Majors (Not the only path but the most common one). Also, when I do some research on the scab list most of the websites seem to be inactive. I wonder why this is.

 

As for as scab list go, the list has not been updated since the Comair strike. For good reason, no strikes since then. A scab is someone who crossed the "strike line". There are a few people who will tell you otherwise.

Flight Instructing is an honorable way to make your way up to the majors, not the only way. There are several paths. Lets not kid ourselves. Flight instructing is not the BEST. I know many pilots who are good sticks but can not convey a thought as to how they do it. CFIs need to be able to do that.

Good luck in your career path.

 

Basically the only thing you have to avoid today is employment at an alter-ego carrier like go-jets...there will be hard feelings that will run deep for a long time.

Mesa will likely strike in the next 2-3 years, obviously don't cross that line.

 

It's really sad to see people post angry and negative comments about non-union workers. There are plenty of smart and capable people out there who refuse to work for union run entities.

 

I have no problem with non union workers (I currently am one). It's when management at unionized companies hires non union workers and creates alter ego companies in order to shift union jobs to those nonunion workers and circumvent legally negotiated labor agreements, that issues come into play.

 

Well as currently a flight instructor.. looking at getting into the 121 world, i'm a lil curious as to exactly which airlines are the "Alter-ego" companies. I'm a little unsure if a flight instructor shooting for a job at one of these companies would be scab worthy, afterall they didnt leave a picket line to join the airline... and more than likely its not intentional (as in my case) of trying to undercut fellow workers, instead its more of an issue of wanting to double my salary from flight instructing to FO'ing. Any suggestions? I know that Go Jets is pretty unpopular atm.

 

Working for an alter-ego does not technically make you a scab, but it is just as bad in the eyes of todays pilots...strikes are rare today, but alter-egos are not.

You get no exemptions by claiming ignorance...the pilot community has always been tight-nit, the word gets out. And in today's wired society it is inconceivable that you could not be aware of things...

There are many motivations for scab/alter-ego behavior...more money and faster upgrade are the usual ones, but the bottom line is that you are stealing a job that really belongs to another pilot who has put in his time and energy at that company. There is simply no justification for doing it...ESPECIALLY today when most regionals are having trouble filling ground schools.

I would definitely attempt to exclude any known scab/alter-ego from employment at any company I work for. A number of companies allow ANY line pilot to comment on prospective employees...a negative comment to the CP will almost certainly cause a candidate to be removed from further consideration. You don't want to be on any of those lists...