Did anyone else noticed that today the federal Gov't raised the minimum wage? The new min wage is $7.25/hr. So think about it...I go and apply at McDonalds for a full time position. I need absolutely no skills or advanced training to swing a mop and empty trash for 8 hours a day. Lets say That I'm a real go getter and elect to work 5 hour shift each week to help ends meet. This time would be paid as over time premium of time and a half. I'm young have no real money so vacation time would be worthless so I take no Va-Ca. I would earn a cool $290.00 +$54 (overtime) per week. For 52 work weeks I would make $17,907.00/year. Add to this I would recieve two full meals free each day.

Now on the other hand I attend a university, graduate with a degree in anything and spend $50,000 to $100,000 on obtaining and ATP. I get a job at a regional with the hope of advancing to a major in 4-5 years.

My first year pay sitting reserve making minimum gaurantee is as follows

Commutair....$16,416
Cape Air.......$16,380
Colgan..........$18,900
Compass.......$21,600
Great lakes....$14,400
Go Jet..........$20,424
GIA..............$16,200
Mesaba.........$21,600
Piedmont.......$23,380
Pinnacle.........$21,900
Trans States...$18,480

Next tier
Eagle $22,500
ASA $20,700
Comair $19,800
ExpressJet $20,700
Mesa $17,100
Republic $20,700
SkyWest $19,800

Majors
AMR $30,660
CAL $28,272
DAL $43,680
UAL $27,720
US Air (E) $21,600
US Air (W) $34,560

And don't forget The Janitor swinging the mop makes about $18,000 and we get paid the above amounts. Kind of SAD when professional pilots are paid less than janitors and some Major airline first year FOs are paid just $3000-$10,000 more for their skills and levels of responsabilities

Just food for thought

Might want to show thise numbers during section 6 talks