Originally Posted by
N118NW
I wouldn't blame the airlines for your pay.. it's the way the American travelers are and it's the way the government is.
Ever since deregulation, legacy carriers have shut down because they can't compete with the lower-pay-for-the-same-job as the regionals. In my opinion, this is basically what started it all. Ever since then, more and more regionals are starting up as feeder airlines operating under contract won by offering the lowest bid to the major airline. Because Americans don't want to pay hundreds of dollars for a flight, it forced airlines to lower ticket costs or bite the dust. Airlines lowered ticket prices and thus reduced its expenses, and who takes the first paycuts? The employees... from flight attendants, mechanics, ramp agents, pilots... but it's not enough.
Companies like GoJet, Mesa.. they all bid so low that of course Delta is going to go with them.. if they don't perform, Delta just charges the contractor fines and fees... and since the regional got the lowest bid they don't have much cash to spare anyways.. hence why their employees make such low wages. Pilots who try to unite for a pay increase only make other departments demand an increase as well.. but not one airline has grown a money tree.. it runs out eventually.
The only thing that can probably fix regional airline pay for you as an individual is to put up with it for as long as you can, do what you can to get by, and hope for the best that the economy is going to pick up again and you have enough experience and a positive attitude to get hired by a major airline. Regional pay will never increase. They can't afford it. They'll go bankrupt and liquidate all their assets long before they pay their employees decently. That's just how it is. People who can't adapt to that change won't make it.
I agree with a few things you say, somewhat. Being at Lakes, though, I'm not really involved in the whipsaw battle, as my carrier really has no competitors for the places we fly. So, maybe I don't fully understand the situation you bring up. However, I, personally, could care less if my regional could afford the pay I deserve. I will burn the place down, figuratively, to get what I feel I deserve. The demand for that flying won't disappear, just because a regional shuts down. Because the demand will still be there, that flying will be picked up by someone, at some point, whether it is by another regional, back to a major airline, etc. I'll get a job at the airline that picks up the flying after mine shuts down. Or, I'll just quit flying. Not the end of the world. It's time to quit being afraid, and not let airline profits/ management's bonus checks ride off of our backs.