Spongebob

My $.02...

1. Doctors have a protected income rate because, a.) they are in demand and b.) they don't work for food. If you want an MD or DO, it costs you $X. Same with plumbers, carpenters, pro athletes (min pay rules), heck, even actors!

2. Pilots will work for food.

Unless ALPA becomes a true trade guild (as in, if you want a pilot with x qualifications and x hours that'll cost you $x) and starts limiting the "professional" pilot gene pool, there is always going to be be downward pressure. If the pilot pay (labor) rate is a given amount, management will do what they need to preserver margins - namely they ALL will have to raise ticket prices. That works great until guys go work for B6 or VA - then your management needs to explain to their board/stockholders how come your labor rates are higher. And, if you go into bankruptcy, you management can go to the judge and say "those guys at B6 are doing this for this much money, THAT is the standard. Our pilots are overcompensated" and bingo! Everyone is working at the new wage scale. Bankruptcy is just a tool to get out of your previous agreements when you see a better deal out there. Just look at Comair.

The long quote about pilots and when they are paid is good info - except, guys are lining up to do it.

As much as you folks disagree with Velocipede - his point is along those lines. If you going to work at a lessor pay rate than everyone else, don't expect a favor. You're hurting the team. If you were working for a trash collection, metro transit or stage labor, for instance, and you went to work at under the guild/union standard pay rate, you'd be collecting disability and walking on crutches in short order and it wouldn't be an issue. Not advocating that here (OK, maybe..) but you should not expect, nor receive "privileges".

I, for one, opted out rather than make $23/hr.

Remember: "one team, one scream"

Spongebob