The fact that perhaps one of the most senior pilots for US Air makes 1/200th of what a Wall Street CEO makes is a great example of the shear lunacy that is executive compensation. There's almost zero accountability to how boards and executive set their own pay rates. Often its the biggest flop companies that the execs steal the most from. Just look at Southwest as an example of how it used to be in corporate pay. CEO's are important, but not 10,000 times more important than the average line worker. </rant>

Well as long as the your lawmakers and elected officials keep their hands warm in the pockets of the high paid CEOs ain't nothing gonna happen. There will be no accountabilty to the shareholder or employees of the companies that are being run into the ground.

After all, the bottom feeding politicians who are also a slithering lawyers have to make a living too.

Change is coming

BTW: Nice article

Another copy of this letter should be sent to Capitol Hill titled: "Dear Politician:........"

"A pilot with Sullenberger's experience and tenure, his union said, would earn on average about $155,000 a year - "

Per APC:

A US Airways (West) 320 Captain makes $142 Per hour.
A US Airways (East) 320 Captain makes $125 per hour.

I think he is an "East" pilot, but either way, it would take a lot of effort for him to make $155,000 per year.

Which pilot union put out that piece of mis-information? This is also an excellent chance to point out the pay cuts that this profession has taken in the past 8 years.

It was a great job from the front end and back end crew.

Folks,
Please write your Union Reps (ALPA, APA, SWAPA, USAPA, etc) and let them know that this is the time to capitalize on great PR. The public HAS to know the dedication, professionalism and sacrifice this job mandates. We have lost our retirement, received 50% pay cuts and lost numerous work rules, YET we remain the consumate professionals who are there to save the day when things go wrong. Our collective UNIONs need to use this opportunity to make the American public aware of what we have endured and that we ARE NOT I repeat NOT BUS DRIVERS!!!!! Can a CEO who is paid millions of dollars fly a crippled aircraft onto the Hudson?? Time to put things into perspective! Lets take it back....

Amen brother!!!

There will never be a better opportunity to let people know how important it is to have highly qualified, competent pilots up front.

What exactly is going to change with a PR campaign? I'm not be facetious here. Are you saying that you want the government to force the airlines to pay you more? Are you saying you want the customers to just give you more respect as they walk on board with their low-cost tickets? In all seriousness, what are you trying to accomplish?

As far as I can tell, the corporation for which you work sets your pay scale.

Dude, "the corporations for which we work" don't hesitate to use the media and public sentiment against us when we are trying to ask for more money.

When we (NWA) went on strike in 1998, the company released (to the press) our average salary and days off in an attempt to garner public sentiment against us-- and I mean all the public. You know, like not only having your neighbor tell you you make too much, but the flight attendants and the gate agents as well.

(I think we are pointing out that now would be a good time to bring up not only the skill and responsibility that comes with the profession, but the sacrifices as well, because now is the only time the public is paying attention.)

You are right though that our negotiations for higher pay are with the managements of each of our individual corporations and while our companies do indeed set our pay scale, they also set the tone. So, in this case, what's good for the goose is good for the gander.

New K Now