From the outside looking in,I think part of the problem is that regional pilots are too afraid to really take a stand and speak up, go to the meetings the MEC's and higher ups go to and knock on these guy's front doors.
Okay so you've voted down the concessions, great, but my honest opinion is that you can't stop there.
Yes this whole 1500hr rule and shortage of pilots is very political, but it's quite simple. Company wants to make a profit, and makes the cuts where they can make the cut.
I think what people really need to do is bring it up to Congress that the MEC's the Chairmen are purposely turning a blind eye to the fact that PAY is in direct correlation to the reasoning why there is a pilot shortage as well as the 1500hr rule (Which sounds great in theory, but doesn't help the situation)
We have this 1500hr rule as a safety precaution right? But who remembers way back in ab-initio training the IMSAFE Checklist? I'm sure for the most of us all do.
Illness- Can be brought on by Stress
Medication - Will be taken to mitigate the illness
Stress - Can be brought on by the fact of pilot's worrying about how they will pay their bills, support their family, paying rent to keep a roof over their head
Alchohol- Well gee what do a lot of people turn to, to relieve stress
Fatigue- Because after a 6 leg day tons of delays and commuting to base(Yes i know its your choice) you want to be in room with 6 other dudes sleeping in a crashpad
Eating - I'm sure people can't be eating all that great or for the most part healthy at payrates ranging from 15k-27k a year.
Things like this should be brought up. None of what I wrote qualifies a safe pilot. Nobody wants to be broke, stressing over money. Nobody wants to be broke period. Nobody wants a pilot that's main sole task is flying the aircraft and taking passengers from point a to point b safely with their mind on the stresses of life because they aren't getting treated fairly or paid adequately. These issues need to be addressed to Congress. We are defending yes, but we must BUILD A DEFENSE. That's how an argument is won. My .02