I reckon that the majority of pilots are happy to have engineers continue doing transit checks..BUT when the engineers - or more appropriately their union starts calling it a safety issue in the press we take offence.
I for one do not believe that the removal of engineers is a SAFETY issue. The inference is that the Pilots - the ones who strap their behinds into the aeroplane - are incapable of doing the walkaround - which quite clearly is not the case.
The ALAEA can squawk as loudly as it likes just DON'T call it a safety issue cause it isn't!
THAT is why the pilots are getting anti.
PS Having engineers follow you around when you are doing a walkaround to see if they can trip you up is just petty and not worthy of a professional.
If you are an engineer and doing this - please stop it - because it makes you look petty and is just getting the pilots more offside.