Here's a few questions.
1)How do you get the comapnies to increase FO pay? Especially first year pay.
2)Do you expect the new pilots to sit on the sidelines waiting for the increase?
3)Will senior CA's make concessions and give away a little from the top to balance out the bottom?
4)how do you stop this "Race to the bottom"?
My opinion is this; In all professions there is a starting point.
A mason, electrician, plumber and a carpenter started their profession as a "gopher" or day laborer to learn their trade.
Many corporate execs and individuals in business had to do an unpaid internship.
A good restaurant GM has worked his way up from even a dishwasher position.
I believe that this is just a "right of passage" as a first year FO. Would I like more money? Hell yes! Do I think it's fair to sign a 1 year or longer training contract at those wages? Hell NO! For now I'll just grind it out and wait my turn for the upgrade.