Let's let the market decide, that seems to be the mantra here. I did the regional bit in the 80's, I made more as a FO then than a FO does now, figuring in inflation, twice what regional FO's make now - and it wasn't exactly gold plated then. Does the plane cost 1/2 as much now as then? Anything else cost half as much? Huge, huge problems with letting the "market decide". See, there's other people who decide what market is - it isn't just some amorphous thing with a mind of its own. Its directed. Now, over the years ALPA's done quite enough to **** me off, so much I would be wary of letting any of the leaders mow my lawn, and given my druthers I'd prefer a company without a union, but most have eventually proven the need for a union, ineffectual or not.

Check out the pay rates for Canadian operators, mainline and regionals. Generally speaking they are 30% to 50% or more higher than US main-line/regionals (Yes, including the slight differential. Oh, taxes, too. Canada is the country most like the US, socially and economically, and yet...seems their market isn't what the US market is.