Originally Posted by
boilerpilot
The fallacy in your argument is that with a minimum wage, the government wouldn't be bailing out the company, and, thus, has no influence on maximum wages. We have a track record of companies entering Chapter 11 for decades, all of them paying a federally mandated minimum wage, with no outcries from politicians or the public to reduce executive salaries (with the notable exception of the workers of said company). The line that has been crossed, it seems, is when the executives are making unbelievable bonuses when the company is in such mortal financial peril.
I'd like to see one documented example of a company that has NOT received federal bailout money with minimum wage employees entering Chapter 11 (or without C11, for all I care), where the government has stepped in a regulated top salaries at all(successfully as well, not just political blustering), let alone regulated salaries to the point where it would effect a lowly airline pilots salary (which in the scheme of executive pay is low). You show me a documented example of this happening EVER, and we'll talk again.
No, I didn't say that with a minimum wage there wouldn't be bailouts, I made the argument that if the government is permitted to step in and mandate an "airline pilot" minimum wage, it sets a precedent for them to set a cap on pilot wages as well.
As was stated by another poster... they already have enough influence through the RLA.
What was being discussed wasn't pilots making the already existing federal minimum wage, but establishing some new arbitrary HIGHER amount because of the notion that pilots are more special than everyone else, and shouldn't have to hold a second job or live at home with their parents, as Oberon stated.
If you were "duped into this profession" by the
promise of big money, and are now upset that it didn't materialize.. then it's up to you to take ownership of the decision you made.
My post was intended to highlight the increased reliance people have on the government to remedy the bad situations or decisions people find themselves in.. and my desire to keep it as far away from my finances as possible.