The problem with the seniority system is that, over the past 30 years, it has been a powerful lever to ratchet pilot wages down. If you can't leave ( have to wait for another airline to hire and start at a 70% cut), management can get a contract that pays far less.
Exactly... The seniority system is great for protection....it's a mechanism of unions and while it serves a purpose for protecting pilots from favoritism and backlash...there are other ways....