Originally Posted by
Eric Stratton
They come looking because we give in every time. If we said no once in awhile they might not come looking. Unfortunately there is someone out there at other airlines willing to do it cheaper and will take the pay cut.
There are plenty of companies out there that don't look to their employees first. If they did they would just leave and go somewhere else. We as pilots can't do that so they just lean on us until one of us caves and then forces the hand of all the other airlines out there.
Nothing is going to change until we all stand together somehow.
The thing that must be addressed first is why the company is leaning on the pilot group. When profits are up, it is much easier to raise the bar or at least maintain a stable status quo. When they are not, pressure is applied to lower the bar. Raising it becomes almost impossible. This is the day of the low cost carrier. I think the companies that cannot successfully operate as one have their days numbered, and have for a while.
That said, pilots do need to collectively draw a line in the sand.
Originally Posted by
Eric Stratton
The lack of decent pay on 50 seaters didn't help and that is more of a pilot fault (unions) than a regulation/company issue.
"Regional" flying has expanded tremendously, and proven profitable, but the pay has not expanded with it. Then again, I think that is one of the reasons that it has expanded tremendously. Carriers struggling with the modern market have been looking for band-aids to stay afloat, and they found one in farming out more flying to the people that truly excel in bending their employees over.