I've been saying we need to get rid if the longevity scale for years. A first year fo should make the same as a 10 year fo. It's the exact same job. I am in the minority. It seems most of us like to be tied to our carrier thus having zero leverage to move to another job at will.

Longevity is fine, nearly every business has it. Nearly every other business requires their employees and anyone else to apply for a different, higher or supervisory job. The idea that people are rewarded for just staying employed and not dying exists in few other competitive businesses. PIC/captain position should be open to anyone who is appropriately rated. Then all of a sudden every airline would actually be competing with each other for pilots. Course that would kind of kill the golden-carrot that is used to ensure pilot staffing these days. FO wages would rise as the airlines quickly realize pilots have no loyalty without monetary incentive. This would make the industry transparent, rather than holding out indefinitely hoping for the elusive upgrade or major job.

My point exactly. Longevity is bull**** and a way to keep us where we're at all costs. Longevity is why startups occur. They all say they have a new magic formula. The magic formula is lower paid labor thanks to no longevity.

Of course it's within the pilots control. If the bottom feeders can't attract pilots to staff their aircraft, then either the pay and benefits come up, or the planes don't fly... This was already occurring at Great Lakes until they came up with their 135 ploy.