Originally Posted by
sweetholyjesus
I think the caveat, or rather, comparison you're making is silly and incomplete. The problem you have is you're comparing this job to one profession or another. This job combines ALL of the highest responsibilities of the other professions you mentioned. We operate expensive complex equipment, we're responsible for hundreds of people, we require stupidly expensive training and experience, AND we spend half our lives away from home. We are grossly underpaid.
Ask the GoJet pilots how they feel about your "guaranteed" bonuses. What's your longevity and hourly rate?
Ha -- I'm not required to define my salary the same way as you. If I choose to include an "ongoing," I didn't say "guaranteed" (I acknowledge it's "not guaranteed") bonus payment into my salary, I am free to do so. If I choose to bid low-value lines to leave room to pick up OT, I can do that as well. Sometimes I bid for a high-credit line instead and pick up no OT. So my hourly rate and min guarantee does little to define my salary.
And if you think you're grossly underpaid, I think that's a fair feeling to have. I wish I made more as well. I'm a proud union member just like you. The bonuses should be hourly rate increases. New hire bonuses should be spread amongst ALL pilots. QOL needs to improve across the board.
That said, I'm not starving. I waited to come to the airlines till pay went up, or at least trended that way. I had the chance to come in when wages were poverty. I chose to wait. As did thousands of others. Thousands more will come at the next raise. The free market is a great thing. So are unions. I love that in our industry we get the best of both.