That is a mis-characterization of Bethune and his job. He wasn't hired to "attain and mantain" a labor cost advantage".He was hired to keep the airline operating and out of bankruptcy. We were literally a couple weeks away from paychecks bouncing airplanes being seized.
He was a good talker, but what he did best was to make policies that got people to work and like their jobs. He also hired senior managers who were the same, with maybe one exception. He wasn't Ivy League or a lawyer. Same with his senior ops executives, like Brenneman, Kellner, Moran, etc. All left with the merger and some went to Delta. The one exception I mentioned was Smisek- he was a lawyer.
As for employees willing to work for less..there was no "trickery" involved..it has more to do with job satisfaction than temporary bragging rights about pay rates. Employees didn't love the company...they liked coming to work and the relationship they developed with the customers and other employees. They
were the company.
People who love money first, can't understand it, never will. This is why we see so many unhappy employees who are at or near the top paid in the industry.
Bethune left the Navy as a Lieutenant.
For a pretty accurate short synopsis look here;
https://www.avgeekery.com/avgeek-spo...ntal-airlines/