Getting off the scab list

[BobDDuck]

Ask some of the Northwest guys who crossed the line how many times their flight cases got sent to Narita if they let them out of their sight. Or ask some of the Eastern scabs how hard it was to go anywhere other than a scum bag outfit like Pan Am (version 4). Or ask how many FOs still won't say a word to them on trips and how they can never trust an FA not to do something to a drink they request.

 

[jtrain609]

Ask some of the Northwest guys who crossed the line how many times their flight cases got sent to Narita if they let them out of their sight. Or ask some of the Eastern scabs how hard it was to go anywhere other than a scum bag outfit like Pan Am (version 4). Or ask how many FOs still won't say a word to them on trips and how they can never trust an FA not to do something to a drink they request.

Guam was a popular destination for the flight kits of scabs at Continental. Who knew those bags loved to travel so much.

Being a scab is for life, there's no coming back from it. As far as I'm concerned, there are a few things in life that you don't screw with unless you're willing to pay the consequences. My wife and my job are on that list.

 

[DE727UPS]

You don't want to be a scab in a union shop. Everyone knows that sticking together results in a better deal for the worker bees, as a whole. You might have a short term gain by being a scab but you'll have long term pain with the career in many ways. I once was cockpit jumpseating on a United flight and there was a United scab deadheading in the back. The crew explained the situation to me that they wanted me in the cockpit and the scab in the back. During deplaning, when the United scab went by the cockpit there were words exchanged and the United Captain literally chased the scab up the jetway shouting at the him. I think the scab was used to it as he had little to say in return. This was over 15 years ago and in this gentler, kinder, present day litigation environment, I'm sure the scab would have filed a harassment lawsuit. But scabs will always be seen as sticking a knife in the backs of their fellow pilots. Why be accepting of that?

 

[SlumTodd_Millionaire]

Is there any way I could explain it away at an interview, assuming I could get that far?

It's unlikely that they'll ask. The law doesn't allow companies to ask about any sort of union affiliation, so they shy away from any questions remotely related to unions or union activities in order to avoid legal issues. As a result, you'll never get the opportunity to "explain it away," as if such a thing could even be done.

Companies don't care if you're a scab, they probably prefer it. Unions generally aren't asked for opinions on hiring because applicants aren't union members until AFTER being hired. HOWEVER... life on the line may not be pleasant once it becomes known.

Just not true. Ask the hundreds upon hundreds of EAL scabs who never flew another flight at a reputable carrier because no one would hire them. A select few got lucky and ended up sneaking by hiring boards, and got hired at a start-up carrier that ended up making it big, but those cases are very few and far between. By and large, they all ended up flying contract flying in dangerous overseas countries, or the luckier ones got hired at non-sched cargo carriers in the States.

In reality, most major airlines have union representatives on the hiring boards. Even carriers that don't usually have Chief Pilots involved that know having scabs on the properly usually results in HR problems when the pilots get in big arguments, claim they can't fly with each other, etc. It's just easier for management to not deal with it, when there are plenty of applicants who haven't crossed picket lines.

 

[Cptnchia]

Ask some of the Northwest guys who crossed the line how many times their flight cases got sent to Narita if they let them out of their sight. Or ask some of the Eastern scabs how hard it was to go anywhere other than a scum bag outfit like Pan Am (version 4). Or ask how many FOs still won't say a word to them on trips and how they can never trust an FA not to do something to a drink they request.

Don't park your car in an employee parking lot either if you're a scab. Unless you are like Patrick Swayze in "Roadhouse" and carry a bunch of tires around in the trunk. And maybe a spare windshield or two. Scab bags also were targets of a modified form of an upper decker, an "upper decker to go."

 

[jtrain609]

Don't park your car in an employee parking lot either if you're a scab. Unless you are like Patrick Swayze in "Roadhouse" and carry a bunch of tires around in the trunk. And maybe a spare windshield or two. Scab bags also were targets of a modified form of an upper decker, an "upper decker to go."

Does it come in a grab bag?

 

[Cptnchia]

In reality, most major airlines have union representatives on the hiring boards. Even carriers that don't usually have Chief Pilots involved that know having scabs on the properly usually results in HR problems when the pilots get in big arguments, claim they can't fly with each other, etc. It's just easier for management to not deal with it, when there are plenty of applicants who haven't crossed picket lines.

Exactly. During the 07-08 hiring wave at Delta, Comair applicants names were vetted against known RJDC supporters. There were just too many qualified applicants to mess with the potential CRM problems.

 

[BajtheJino]

Scabbers are bags. Got it.
The guys that can't let go and move on are bags. Got it.
The guys that want to play pretend and join a game that has nothing to do with them are bags. Got it.
When did the D in dbag become a bad word?

 

[O&M]

Just not true. Ask the hundreds upon hundreds of EAL scabs who never flew another flight at a reputable carrier because no one would hire them.

Just so the OP knows, most of the rEAL pilots never again flew for a reputable carrier, either. The irony is that the pilots were not even the ones striking. The"enemy" is not always so obvious.

 

[SlumTodd_Millionaire]

Just so the OP knows, most of the rEAL pilots never again flew for a reputable carrier, either.

Not true. Many of them ended up at Northwest, Delta, United, among others.

The irony is that the pilots were not even the ones striking.

Again, not true. Although the original strike was an IAM strike, the ALPA pilots took a vote and voted to strike in sympathy. It was an ALPA picket line that was crossed.

 

[SurferLucas]

Exactly. During the 07-08 hiring wave at Delta, Comair applicants names were vetted against known RJDC supporters. There were just too many qualified applicants to mess with the potential CRM problems.

RJDC, I'm not familiar with that term, just curious is all...and to be honest, I'm not entirely up to speed on the whole Comair/Delta bad blood. (If anyone cares to share, I'd love to learn)

 

[Cptnchia]

RJDC, I'm not familiar with that term, just curious is all...and to be honest, I'm not entirely up to speed on the whole Comair/Delta bad blood. (If anyone cares to share, I'd love to learn)

Regional Jet Defense Coalition. And I'm not even going to open that can of worms other than to say that Mr Lawson can burn in Hell for all I care.

 

[SlumTodd_Millionaire]

The RJDC was an organization of regional pilots (mostly Comair and ASA) who believed that mainline pilots were behaving in a "predatory" manner with their scope clauses, because it limited their ability to grow with larger airplanes. Several RJDC supporters filed litigation against ALPA. The main plaintiffs were Captains Dan Ford and Ken Cooksey, which is why you'll sometimes hear ALPA "insiders" refer to the old "Ford-Cooksey litigation." The lawsuit sought to end mainline scope restrictions on regional flying, as well as seeking a large monetary award that would have bankrupted the Association. You can imagine why so many pilots were not happy with the RJDC or the litigation. In the end, the plaintiffs settled their lawsuit with ALPA for a fraction of their legal costs, and the RJDC basically disappeared.

There is a lot of other bad blood between Delta and Comair that goes back a ways, and I won't get into that. Way too much drama.

 

[SurferLucas]

Regional Jet Defense Coalition. And I'm not even going to open that can of worms other than to say that Mr Lawson can burn in Hell for all I care.

The RJDC was an organization of regional pilots (mostly Comair and ASA) who believed that mainline pilots were behaving in a "predatory" manner with their scope clauses, because it limited their ability to grow with larger airplanes. Several RJDC supporters filed litigation against ALPA. The main plaintiffs were Captains Dan Ford and Ken Cooksey, which is why you'll sometimes hear ALPA "insiders" refer to the old "Ford-Cooksey litigation." The lawsuit sought to end mainline scope restrictions on regional flying, as well as seeking a large monetary award that would have bankrupted the Association. You can imagine why so many pilots were not happy with the RJDC or the litigation. In the end, the plaintiffs settled their lawsuit with ALPA for a fraction of their legal costs, and the RJDC basically disappeared.

There is a lot of other bad blood between Delta and Comair that goes back a ways, and I won't get into that. Way too much drama.

Fair enough guys, but thanks for bringing me somewhat up to speed. That whole ordeal sounds like something to be saved for somewhere and I'll tell you where. Someplace warm. A place where the beer flows like wine. Where beautiful women instinctively flock like the salmon of Capistrano. I'm talking about a little place called Aspen.

 

[jynxyjoe]

The RJDC was an organization of regional pilots (mostly Comair and ASA) who believed that mainline pilots were behaving in a "predatory" manner with their scope clauses, because it limited their ability to grow with larger airplanes. Several RJDC supporters filed litigation against ALPA. The main plaintiffs were Captains Dan Ford and Ken Cooksey, which is why you'll sometimes hear ALPA "insiders" refer to the old "Ford-Cooksey litigation." The lawsuit sought to end mainline scope restrictions on regional flying, as well as seeking a large monetary award that would have bankrupted the Association. You can imagine why so many pilots were not happy with the RJDC or the litigation. In the end, the plaintiffs settled their lawsuit with ALPA for a fraction of their legal costs, and the RJDC basically disappeared.

There is a lot of other bad blood between Delta and Comair that goes back a ways, and I won't get into that. Way too much drama.

Yikes.

 

[O&M]

Not true. Many of them ended up at Northwest, Delta, United, among others.



Again, not true. Although the original strike was an IAM strike, the ALPA pilots took a vote and voted to strike in sympathy. It was an ALPA picket line that was crossed.

And just as many ended up at Express One, Kiwi...and the unemployment line. I'm well aware that ALPA called a sympathy strike. Doesn't change the fact that the labor dispute was between the IAM and Eastern. The point is that the OP needs to be aware that these things happen, and that he can end up on the "wrong side" of things (as the unions define it) very quickly and unexpectedly.

 

[Hootie]

It's a gamble. Definitely worked out great for the CAL pilots, definitely did not work out for the Eastern pilots. I would never do it.

 

[ClarkGriswold]

Ask some of the Northwest guys who crossed the line how many times their flight cases got sent to Narita if they let them out of their sight. Or ask some of the Eastern scabs how hard it was to go anywhere other than a scum bag outfit like Pan Am (version 4). Or ask how many FOs still won't say a word to them on trips and how they can never trust an FA not to do something to a drink they request.

Or having their cabin burned, ever hear about the sears stickers in the freezer?

 

[Vector4Food]

I say bring back parking lot beat downs, slashed tires and broken glass for scabs

 

[undflyboy06]

I say bring back parking lot beat downs, slashed tires and broken glass for scabs

I agree. If you pay dues for your union, and you cross the picket line to help management degrade the profession even more, you should hide under a rock because you will be harassed for a very long time. No matter how insignificant it might seem to you, it's a big deal for the guys taking a chance and walking the line.