Well said DrunkenAir. More people like you are needed in the Union and in Management and probably in Government too! When things are examined from a "what makes sense" perspective rather than what they want, all parties could begin to act a little more rationally. The fact is that the single biggest issue facing a productive solution is Seniority. It should be abolished and allow people apply for positions based on experience and lifestyle choices. No other professional would think it is acceptable to have to begin a new job without their previous experience being maximized. CX could be very creative about this situation and offer all pilots of both companies the chance to bid for positions in either "brand branch' which may suit their flying experience, health family or lifestyle needs and priorities. They could look at part time and combined long haul/short haul Fatigue and life quality has become a major concern for pilots over the past number of years. There was a time we would have accepted anything just to get a job but now people will sacrifice a lot just to have a life.
Either way this recent offer is really smoking out the true nature of pilots and their vicious and intimidation tactics they are so willing to level at their colleagues. It begs the question, how some of the tactics employed by "unions" to control their own members are accepted while at the same time the Unions call Cathay bullies? At least one of those bullies is paying a salary!
It seems the KA union are pushing hard to try to leapfrog the CX guys for seniority for bases and command.
They feel the current offer in MAN with bottom of the seniority list could ruin this opportunity for them getting back to the land of OZ. They are willing to bash down any of their members wiling to accept such an offer. The whole thing stinks. Then on the other side there are the CX who have been panging to follow that ol yellow brick road home for years who are terrified that their KA "mates" could possible leapfrog them.
Unions have as much history of hurting the pilot body by either the self serving approach of some elected individuals, or by their naiveté when it comes to negotiations and deal brokering. There should be an equal level of scepticism leveled towards bullish union directives as there is to CX.
Maybe some would say this is the old divide and conquer method of CX but if it is they are playing a very stupid card. No airline should be comfortable with situations escalating that could possibly bleed an acrimonious atmosphere into the cockpit environment, or indeed into the training and checking department. Indeed they should be equally aware that in this time of pilots shortage and the plundering of the international reputation of pilots that many infamous companies have levelled, humiliating and reducing the profession to their knees that it may not be sees as an attractive career option anymore.
By the way Capt Underpants shouldn't you still be wearing pull ups?
