Look, they’ve told us that we are paid market rates - just like a plumber. Well, plumbers are pretty darned expensive when you call them at midnight because the basement is flooding.

Only problem is, even industry leading market rates (and QOL, and retirement, and LTD) aren’t going to solve the recruitment puzzle here. This generation of pilots has something my generation never did. A choice.

And given the choice, who would pass up a comfy office in an Airbus (complete with tray table and warm meals served on linen)? Who would pass up a Dreamliner or A350 with overnights in London and Paris and Tokyo? Dozing for dollars in a crew rest cabin? All with widebody pay rates that (at least currently Lew) eclipse any 737 pay in the world. Who would CHOOSE to forego all of that for 30+ years slogging it out in an antiquated 737, carrying a food bag like a Sherpa mounting an expedition to the Andes? 3…4+ legs to an overnight in Midland?

Sorry guys, but this is the hiring environment we are in and this company is a stepping stone. We can’t blame the new guys for jumping ship, and if we are honest with ourselves there’s probably no CBA that will keep them here. So we can be jealous. We can try to follow them. Or we can get behind SWAPA, and give them the horsepower they need to negotiate the best midnight emergency plumber rates we can get, because the basement is flooding - and for most of us, we have to live in this house for the remainder of our careers.