Several years ago early in my career I was in the right seat of a 1900 flying freight. And getting paid. Only about as much as flight instructing but it was still income.
One day all of us right seaters got a note from above stating that starting on the first of the month we will be expected to pay the company XX amount of dollars per flight hour if we wanted to stay with them.
Of course we all walked out that minute. The company came back and said alright, we will keep paying you until we get someone that will pay for your seat.
I was above 135 mins so I turned in my flight bag and walked to the next job flying overnight checks in a C-210.
I also had to take the former company to court to get my final paycheck.