The “SS Self Respect Ship” sailed long, long ago. Look at the wage and benefit concessions without repayment/reinstatement clauses included in agreements. Salaries, benefits, and perks increase for management. And what has happed to the same for airline crews in the US?

There have been many opportunities for pilots as a group, nationwide to take the industry back. But they were held back by the unions… too bad. Perhaps pilots could have taken lessons from unions abroad. They protect their own. OK, you don’t want to look abroad at foreign unions??? then at the non ALPA or Teamster represented airlines.

With each passing day, US carriers are sinking to lower levels. Look around you. Compare the way US crews appear versus foreign crews when operating abroad whether walking in the terminal, or checking into or out of a hotel. Foreign carriers have cabin crew have the grooming and dressing appearance who also know how to perform their job with utmost profession and astuteness. F/A’s rule the roost. They know they can pull EEOC card… thus the attitude and poor performance. As for pilots… you ever see foreign crewmembers walking in the terminal like Beaver Cleaver with a knap sack on their back, sporting a pair of Rockports with ear buds donned listening to their I-Pods?


Oh and the “Get the Message out to the Public” with dog and pony shows of information pickets at airports? Well let’s hear how successful those campaigns have been. I don’t recall any passengers dropping their bags and joining the informational picket line, nor beating their chests demanding better conditions for airline crews.


Management is more concerned with numbers on board their jets versus quality of service or terms and conditions for crews. Prove me wrong. For the most part management realize that their respective carriers are nothing more than low cost carriers ala Ryanair or EZjet. Passengers pay the same posted and hidden fees as true low cost carriers abroad. Passengers pay more than top dollar for crappy food and grog too.


Management are is in tune with that fact that pilots in the US have lost the battle and self respect, thus willing to work for peanuts, unfavorable terms and conditions, with minimal benefits. Management are collecting their high salaries and enjoying their perks, at the cost of an employee’s self respect, or lack thereof.


Bottom line, you all want respect??? Start by respecting your selves… respect colleagues in the industry… respect each other both individually and as a whole.