3rd year FO.. Almost 600% family of 1

 

Yep and bad financial / return on investment college degree planning.

 

Well, I am taking home less for the 4th year in a row, and about to get the downgrade kick in the nuts to go with it. That will put me in the 150% range. Pretty good for 9 years in, huh?

 

Unproven how? If you make it through training, the associated exams/practical tests, and IOE... what more proof do you want? That's a hell of a lot more proof than pretty much every engineering job requires. And how much do those pay again?

Come on, man....

 

You understand how capitalism/free markets work, right?

 

Sure do. And you understand that the RLA means that we're not operating in an actual free market, right? If what we had was a free market, the Republic guys would have been on strike about half a decade ago.

 

You understand pilot wages are controlled by the market but by the NMB and the RLA.

 

400% family of 2 1/2 - current flying an aviation desk

 

So you think absent the NMB and the RLA, pilots would make twice what they make now? Really? Honestly not trying to start something...but why? There is no shortage of pilots right now working for what we make...the workforce is unionized, so the contracts are already negotiated...and at the end of the day, while the RLA and NMB put rules might make it harder to strike, it is still and option and still happens.

Comair walked for 90 days. Remove the RLA and NMB and pilots make twice as much (or whatever)...? makes no sense.

 

Who said pilots would make twice as much without the RLA? That's your own straw-man argument.

If there's no shortage of pilots willing to work at first year pay, why is it that RAH and Eagle are offering $5,000 signing bonuses, while Silver is offering $6,000? My regional is having a hard time getting people who are scheduled to interview to actually show up. I wouldn't call it a shortage, but it sure is a "buyer's market."

Comair walked over a decade ago. Which other regional airline has been allowed to strike since then? I'm not saying that without the NMB and RLA then we'd all make twice as much money, that's just silly. What I am saying is that in that sort of environment, management would actually have to come to the negotiating table ready to play ball, or risk having their workforce walk out. The focus would be on getting a deal done. The current NMB environment does nothing but reward management groups for their ability to draw things out indefinitely. This is nothing like a free market system like you called it.

This whole discussion started when you mentioned that new pilots are an "unproven commodity." I contested that when you run someone through the level of indoctrination that PPL-ATP training provides, as well as the standardization of a part-121 training event, you know exactly what you're getting. And then there's "probation," the period of time when if you're not getting the job done, you're gone without union help. Will all of these safe-guards in place, there's no need for low pay just in the name of "unproven commodities." Fire me if I'm incompetent. But until then, pay me according to my level of education, training, risk factor, and responsibility.