Flightcap

This right here. If the market doesn't support a business model that is too cheap to pay its employees a living wage it's because supply outpaces demand. Reduce supply (bottom feeder companies go out of business) and demand will be spread among fewer companies thus allowing the higher prices and better wages. In an economic downturn bottom feeder companies will return because labor supply will outpace labor demand. We are not in that situation today. Thus bottom feeder companies struggle.

Rarely do the employees have power over this directly. However, we and truckers both have a lot more power than usual over the supply-demand curve right now. Our employers need us to supply their service to their customer, and at the moment we are the critical asset that is rare and price-sensitive. Don't undervalue what you are supplying to the market. Go somewhere that pays you what the market will pay for your services. Recent CPAs have clearly demonstrated that major airlines are willing to pay more for regional feed. Don't fall into the lie that the market won't support you being paid a living wage.