Originally Posted by
DAL 88 Driver
If you subscribe to the theory that a lot of the problems the airlines have had during deregulation is due to poor management (which I do), then you could also conclude that, as management improves in the industry and the airlines are more consistently profitable (like they were pre-deregulation), maybe we should be compensated more in line with that era?
I agree with that assessment. Having said that, I also think you can look around the various industries that were heavily unionized (steel, auto, airlines) and see how old-fashioned capitalism has put tremendous long term downside pressure on their wages. While a profitable industry will make for more of an ability to pay higher wages than at present, my personal opinion, and I know it is EXTREMELY unpopular to say this, is that we can reverse the downtrend, but it is extremely unlikely we will ever see this job pay like it did prior to deregulation.
Originally Posted by
DAL 88 Driver
Just a thought... but I'd like whomever is representing me to be advocating an objective like that rather than accepting that we should continue our downward trend or only slowly reverse it. Don't forget that losses (whether you're talking investments or pilot pay) are subject to "reverse compounding" and it takes much more significant gains to overcome them. We have a very long way to go to get anything like restoration. And many of us (probably most of us) don't have THAT much time.
I want whomever is representing me to maximize the value of my contract.
Promising the moon but
delivering zero is not my view of good leadership. See APA and USAPA for exhibits A and B; both made wild promises, but have led their pilot groups to zero gains. Promising something realistic AND achieving that (or a little more) is what I want.