Originally Posted by
ShyGuy
For the same reason in the private workforce an employee is worth more with more experience. For example, an entry level engineer will start at a entry level engineer pay. But 5-10 years later, if he leaves the company to go to another company, he doesn't get entry-level pay at that company. He gets 5-10 years experience worth salary. Unfortunately, the unions have made the seniority system as hard lined as it is today, and I don't ever see a national longevity list.
I agree, this has nothing to do with socialism. It is about getting paid what you are worth and what your experience commands. If we lived in a true capitalistic country there would be no regulations and airlines could do whatever they wanted to. This would drive low end airlines to hire low end pilots (and pay them minimum wage) as well as cut corners on maintenance. This would result in airframe losses and loss of life. These companies would then be unable to get insurance, would have a problem selling tickets and they would go out of business. Airlines that wanted to stay in business would hire experienced pilots, train them appropriately and pay them appropriately (even if it meant paying a first year pilot with 10K hours 100K). I'm not understanding how paying a pilot according to their experience is now socialism?