DoJet,
I was one of the first out the door when ACA started Baining it's pilot group, so I know how screwed up it all was.
Ladies and Gents, we are now watching the final nails being firmly hammered into the coffin of this profession. The fact that we have 100 seat E-Jets being flown at the regional isn't what'll kill it off. Nope, it's the fact that we'll have guys flying them for what is simply laughable pay and work rules.
Management must be laughing themselves to sleep at night knowing that we now think all we have to ask for is "Industry Average" contracts. Do you not understand that there is power in numbers? Skywest and Shutubqua have how many aircraft and pilots now??
Or that the real reason pilot groups that had good/great contracts have been screwed over isn't because they were too expensive. It's because others were too eager to fly a jet, get an upgrade after 18 months or too bloody stupid, to understand that doing the same job for less pay would affect us all in the future and lower the yard stick with which we could ALL negotiate future contracts.
Air Wisconsin or ZW to those of you who are smart enough to work it out, are still making money and yet we're supposed to feel guilty for that fact that we actually get paid for being at work?