Not sure where you get that statement, but it simply is not true. While money, in and of itself, may not be a great motivator, it is a direct indication of one the most powerful motivator -- equity. Study after study shows that a sense of fairness or equity (paying me what I'm worth, in comparison to job skills and to my counterparts) is a workplace motivator.

To say that you worked equally as hard or cared for the operation as a commuter F/O is either untrue (you are deluding yourself) or you are an anomaly (which is entirely possible, in which case, I admire your work ethic). Study after study shows that pay equity directly affects motivation which directly impacts operational efficiency. These are not correlations, they are cause-and-effect relationships.

But don't take my word for it, do a search on Google Scholar (select peer-reviewed papers only to avoid the unchecked lunacy that some people write) and read some of the scientific papers on workplace motivation, pay, and equity. Here is a link to a few of the papers about money, motivation, and the airline industry: money motivation airline - Google Scholar.

In heavily unionized industries, money is THE motivator for most people. Want proof? Look at how many people turn straight to the compensation system when we get a T/A and vote accordingly...