SLUF, you answered more than I would have... Where to start... I'm not even going to answer the first two questions because if you goal was to talk down to me or make me look ignorant on contractual language, congratulations, I'm not a lawyer and I haven't held a union position yet. MOU, LOA, Amendment, pick a term, whatever it takes to put a few more guidelines on how scheduling can use Ready Reserves.
My intent was not to talk down to your partner. Ready Reserve is Reserve.
As far as the rest of your questions, it's obvious your goal is to make me or any reserve who doesn't like sitting Ready Reserve look like a bunch of complainers who should just be happy to have a job. Most pilots will b!itch about a 3 hour sit of airport appreciation, imagine how our pilot group would complain if everyone had to sit for 8 hours at a time. I'd like to know the answer to SLUF's question, how many times have you sat Ready Reserve? As with most contractual issues, because it only affects a small percentage of the pilots, it won't receive the same attention it would if the senior guys were being affected. I guarantee you, if everyone had to take their turn at Ready Reserve, there would be more scheduling rules in place.
You are preaching to the choir. I sat reserve for over 2 years, 3 counting both positions, under the old system. I only wish the system of Reserve you enjoy had been available. On reserve, I have been called to the airport for an "assignment" only to have the assignment changed when I reached the airport, then held at the airport for several hours while or until they figured that they didn't need me. Under that system, you could be called to the airport for a ficticious trip, held, sent home, called back out, assigned one trip, sent home, and called back out. Then, even after holding a line, most of us still suffered through the "extension concept" where at end of the last day on every line, they still had the ability to assign you another round trip--a Ready Reserve de facto. You have the rules that you have because a majority of the pilots, who had suffered through the old Reserve, directed through surveys and polls that something better be developed. I hope that for all the capital we spent that it is better than what most of us endured. But, feel free to complain all you want because Reserve is Reserve and it is better here than at most other airlines that have no work rules. However, agreed, it still sucks.
All this being said, I'm fine with sitting on Ready Reserve, it serves a good purpose. The problem arises when scheduling calls in 8 crews at a time because they can and assigns RR based on the whims of the scheduler who happens to be on duty that day.
