While ALPA's intention wasn't to keep commuter pay low, the cause and effect of their policies certainly did.

The biggest pill to swallow for the commuters is how little they are paid relative to their cockpit companions. At mainline carriers, F/Os top out at 70% of CA wages, where as at the commuters you're lucky to hit 40%. A select few come close to 50%.

Those in charge of the negotiations at the commuters have placed a far higher amount of money in the hands of the "senior Captains". If F/Os started at $25/hr but went to $70/hr you wouldn't see such a big campaign about wages. Most will make only about $40,000 a year waiting for their upgrade.