ha ha ha Brad, you make me laugh.
[quote]
Seniority´s great fault is the absolutely necessary premise that all men are equal in ability....But the seniority system must ever persist if only because it is a protection of the weak, who are everywhere in the greatest number. Ernest Gann, Fate is the Hunter
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Perhaps you see the irony in your comments after reading this quote? Seniority ABSOLUTELY DOES NOT benefit those with above average skill, work ethic, or experience It benefits only those (as you say) who were lucky enough to get hired by a company that has managed to remain solvent for any length of time.
I sure think you would have another view if you were a high time 744 captain with an airline that went bust (or was "merged"), through no fault of your own.
Example- Airline A goes bust due to management incompetence. Airline A pilots go to bottom of list at Airline B. Former Airline A managers are hired by Airline C into high paying cushy positions with lots of benefits.