Cubdriver,
I'm really enjoying your posts in this thread, however I disagree with you on one point:
Originally Posted by
Cubdriver
Pilots are not blue collar workers.
When I compare my job to "traditional" blue collar work, I find many similarities: long, unusual hours often with minimum rest between "shifts", exposure to adverse conditions (weather, fuel, chemicals), working holidays is required except for the most senior members of the work group (even my plumber and dry cleaner take Christmas off), and a larger supply of qualified labor than seats needing to be filled.
Like traditional blue collar roles, our industry generally has relied on labor unions to improve and maintain benefits and pay, although it seems to me recent efforts have had mild, if any, success. Even Boeing machinists made gains this year. With no college degree or formal training, a machinist likely makes more and has better benefits than a second year regional FO. (Less flight benefits I suppose, but who has the money and time to use them?)