"merit based system"?
no way, everyone knows how upgrades to csm is abused. brown nosing is a compulsory sport when going for the tie. seniority is the only way to apply it.
who cares if a crap short hauler gets a transfer, they are still providing the same second rate service, just in another division so no change overall. a merit based system could be abused by managers to transfer a problem crew member to another division so that the problem becomes another managers issue.