Primarily the pay issue, yes. The unions (primarily ALPA) have treated the regionals (the sector of the industry I am currently involved in) like red-headed step children for so long that you now have guys flying what are basically mainline aircraft (CRJ-900s, E190s, etc) for chump change ($19/hr in the case of SlyWest, and not much better at some of the union shops). Same goes for UPS, CAL and others. Do you think the airlines really care about having the ability to fire at will during that first year? My guess is no. But what they do care about is having you on the payroll for at least a year working for peanuts. They laugh all the way to the bank and we stand there with a sh!t toothed grin.

Then there is also the representation and voting rights. Where you have seen probationary pilots helped out by ALPA, I have seen ALPA throw probationary pilots to the wolves and walk away, saying "best of luck" over their shoulder. I'm sure a lot depends on the company, the pilot and the company's relationship with the union but still. I'd pay a lot more than 1.95% to have someone looking out for my interests when its my a$$ on the line. As far as voting goes, I as a first year pilot feel I have more to gain or lose from a contract vote than a guy who is leaving for CAL or SWA or retiring in a year. Sure, some guys would make the argument that the pilots who have been around longer are older and wiser, which is true to some extent. But it just burns me up that some schlub I have never met who doesn't know a thing about me gets to decide under what conditions and for what compensation I will be working for the next 4 years or so regardless of the fact that he won't be there in a year. How about instead of the senior pilots treating the new guys like they're diseased, lets try some education. Make it a point to educate the younger guys you fly with rather than spout off about whats "wrong with the young guys" and how those of us brand new to the industry have ruined it (i just got to the party but apparently I already clogged the toilet, ate all the snacks and left a turd in the punchbowl? Explain that one to me ). But what do I know, I'm just a probationary pilot.