Originally Posted by
StoneQOLdCrazy
this is a terrible take.
we (airline pilots) are blue collar. We are skilled labor. We work for hourly wages. Most of us are union members. We collectively bargain. We obtain collectively bargained contracts through unity. We picket and carry signs. We support other unions. We are subjected to the RLA. We’re proud of all the above.
Not exactly. We are Professionals first. That applies to all pilots, some of whom work in conditions which have no resemblance to union factory work, but most especially to airline pilots given that we fly the public around, in large numbers.
We are trained (usually educated) licensed professionals with a public safety duty. We are paid to exercise professional judgement in grey areas and have a duty to continually update our knowledge and skills. More similar to doctors, lawyers, CPA's, civil engineers, etc than to some dude who screws the same bolt into a truck chassis on an assembly line all day.
Our work structure and conditions does bear similarities to blue collar labor in many ways, especially in the union realm. But that doesn't really make us blue collar.
Originally Posted by
StoneQOLdCrazy
if you want to be considered white collar or management, you’re part of the problem.
That's sort of true, we're not white collar, unless you seek out the office jobs. Even then that doesn't make you a "Problem"... there are a variety of office jobs that have nothing to do with management, fleet standards, etc. Some who seek out management/CP jobs are bad apples, but not even all of those qualify. I've worked for several great CP's. Especially at the local base level.