Originally Posted by
sqwkvfr
The top of the pay scale at my regional pays less (almost $5K less) than a starting police officer at a 21,000 person city in South Dakota; a state that has one of the lowest costs of living in the nation.
I'm not money hungry....a livable and reasonable salary commensurate with my level of responsibility that provides a reasonable return on investment for the great sacrifices that I've made and the hardships that I've endured to get to my position is all I'm after.
If failing to protect and defend measures that help me achieve that somehow makes the public perceive my "profession" in a more favorable light, then I'm not on board.
I'm not sure what course of action you champion, but considering that regional, and, by extension, all professional pilots are finally on the cusp of meaningful change, I'd suggest that this article, no matter how distasteful we may find it, is actually helping our drive for better wages, working conditions, and, if you like, a better path to the airline pilot career.
I'm not saying we shouldn't be paid more. I never said that. I'm saying this looks like union propaganda during a time with incredible downward pressure on unions. Have you ever read news about Norwegian or the ME3? If ALPA releases statements, they are trying to prevent non-unionized labor and hampering competition. Unionized labor in this country has gone from a majority to less than 17% and trending downward. To publish an article on a major publication that regionals are unsafe and only provide ONE solution, pay, then you come across as typical unionized labor. I want to make meaningful change. I don't want to be like those guys on the road with "shame on you" signs trying to pretend like the 83% of the country that isn't in a union gives a poop about them. The best way to win this battle is with facts, not scare tactics.