Doors won't help
Caveman. Reinforced doors would only help you on aircraft that are designed with seats behind the door. That would be the DC8, the few 747's left, and the A300...not sure how the MD11 is set up. The 727, 757, and 767 cockpits are set up so the jumpseats are in the cockpit...there really is no door to reinforce. And trust me, if you've ever ridden on one of the behind the door, sideways, next to the john, jumpseats on the DC8 you wouldn't be worried about trying to make that seat available.
Big Duke. The ID verification program is called CASS and it's been spearheaded by UPS. It will involve several large airlines. No "little 135" airlines are part of this system so I'm not sure what you are talking about. It's a test program with a limited number of large airlines. If the TSA/FAA buys off on it, hopefully it could be expanded to "little 135" airlines.
I agree that this has dragged on way to long but the ball is not in our court. This is a TSA/FAA thing. If you can agree that the TSA/FAA security stuff has been pretty screwed up since 9/11, then you can understand what we are up against. I'm not really sure what you would have us do and neither of you have made any helpful suggestions....
I'm personally hoping for tickets from home of record in the next contract, like FEDEX has. Then, we really wouldn't need to jumpseat for work related issues. The way it is now, if the company builds the line with a company deadhead (not allowed at FEDEX), then you are on your own to commute to work. This WILL be addressed on our next contract and I hope and pray we can get a better deal. Until then, I'm open to suggestions about how to fight this issue.
I can predict what will happen if a few Capts start bumping UPS/Fedex guys. The bumped crewmembers will complain to their jumpseat cooridnator, that jumpseat cooridnator will complain to your jumpseat cooridnator, and your jumpseat cooridnator will ask you why you violated the ALPA recommedations/policy on this issue. It's your jumpseat to do with as you please but there is a lot of protocol and history that has shown courtesy to the freight dawgs. We appreciate the jumpseats and look forward to being able to make it up to you some day.