Over the last 6 1/2 years mainline has shrunk by about 300-350 pilots and we have 150-200 on LWOP. That's based on the seniority list from July last year. I reckon we're looking at another 50ish on top of that for this year given this is the year when most of the VRs take effect. 15%? 20%? Closer to 25% smaller in six years?
100ish pilots have been demoted. Still more have been forcibly RIN'd from a particular fleet to a smaller fleet where they'll be paid significantly less. Whilst 767 F/Os who were RIN'd to S/O A380 will earn more it is cold comfort to many of them given they gave up the extra $$$ to be an F/O 6+ years ago.
Meanwhile, 737 hours have reduced by 10-15% also. Once upon a time, divisors in the high 70s and pilots flying low to mid 80s regularly was the norm. Now the divisor is in the high 60s and extra flying hours difficult to come by as I understand it- perhaps a bit easier now with the recent demise of the 767.
These are the facts of what has occurred recently. This is where our current award has taken us. Whether we think it's right or not or whether we feel it was justified or not we have been dealt out of the game. We can continue to be dealt out or we can find a way to be dealt back in again. How to achieve that is the question.
So here's something really radical. Rather than the new type being a specific fleet pay rate, how about it becomes the new 'fleet pay' rate. Perhaps we can kill a couple of birds in one stone. Not only will it apply to the 787, maybe it will also apply to the A350 and the 777 (CCQ with the 787 anyway? ) and whatever replaces the Dugong in 15 years time.