Of course a strong economy, a successful business, low taxes, and reasonable regulation is most conducive for success, and I would agree that the success of my company is related to may pay, but not directly proportional. From my experience at UAL, a defense company and at FDX, I can assure you that our salaries are not directly proportional to the success of the company.

And in general the highest paying jobs are in successful biz, except AIG, JP Morgan, Citi, MFS, Home Depot... lotsa high rollers there- with joe the stockholder (small owner of capital) holding the bag.

"unions have almost no effect on the outcome" dont know what outcome you're referring to- the NPRM, or biz success.

If its the NPRM -we freight dogs lost out, but our pax brothers got some relief- I beleive that ALPA's participation in the ARC had a positive impact for the better aspects of the Rule.

If it's biz success - why do business lobby so hard against unions?- note the latest outcry from big biz community on the rulemaking on union organization. But you're right in the fact that in a properly managed company it should not matter (FDX!), but why is big biz so against unions? Collective bargaining may make their labor cost higher than individual renumeration. Have you ever compared your salary & benefits as a commercial airline pilot to those of a profitable non-unionized carrier?

Of course the employer has to have the ability to renumerate, no negotiator can garner whats not there, but collective bargaining enables the union to negotiate for a reaosnable part of the pie that they help create- owners of labor vs owners of capital can agree and prosper. A rising tide of economy, taxes regulation "can" float all boats, but we only get what we negotiate, and that is where the value is.

The CEO of MESA was quoted as saying he would only pay his pilot enough so that they wouldnt quit, and not a penny more!!

The Chamber of Commerce was allied to the industry that oposed the rule, and some of their comments were specious at best, as they are often quoted by legislators when there are initiatives that get in the way of profit. Nothing wrong with profit, but this is a prime example of how the well financed powerful lobby bought their way through the legal onslaught delineated in the report, at the expense of our profession, and in the face of the adminstrations' purported One level of safety that came with the origianl draft of the NPRM.