Originally Posted by
Lighteningspeed
Seniority system would be more equitable for all if the top few senior pilots stopped looking out for their own interest at the expense of junior pilots. Most of the concessions given by pilots at major airlines sacrificed junior pilots interest the most. Case in point, look at the first year pay for UAL, NWA pilots, pitiful compared to what they used to be before the concession.
The pay raise should not be % based, it should be a fixed dollar amount. ie, a % raise benefits the top few the most who already makes the top dollar. 20% of $200 is a $40 raise whereas for those making $60/hr, it's only a $12 raise. Instead, pay raise should be a fixed dollar amount, ie., $20/hr raise, $30/hr raise etc. for everyone at the airline. Or better yet a graduated scale of pay raise ie., those at the bottom gets the most amount of raise and the top gets less.
This all needs to be looked at in different ways. These are good ideas (fixed dollar amount). Problem is, the top 70% of the senority list doesn't want to see this happen. It is not self serving. I don't want one cent of my company sweat to go towards funding a pension I will never see.....that won't happen either.
There now may be no movement again for 5 + years. Without movement by retirements, financial incentive to leave (i.e. senior Delta guys like the one who wrote the article who took their lump sum) or growth (all but dead with a merger) this poverty trap of a career is not worth the hours you spent to get here.
This job is easy. Just stop telling everyone
. It is easy to do C level work and it requires skill and experience to do A work. Problem is, no one but the guy/gal sitting next to you knows if you are doing A work or C work. Another reason we have a hard time commanding any respect or $$.
Also, It has never been easier to be an airline pilot. I know, United used to hire Private Pilots, but we are again there. You can get a job at any regional hiring with no degree and minimal experience. A Delta/United interview used to require amazing amounts of networking and experience. During this last hiring spurt they were calling anyone they could. Soon, I predict, it will be the same at the majors. Ab Initio will be the new buzzword like PFT was years back. More and more military guys won't be able to justify move to the airlines due to the severe cut in bennies and pay.
I think there is a short time left to save our jobs and we cannot expect guys with 15+ years at our companies to do it.