And here is the beauty of the union voice:
There are 1000 pilots making say... $100,000 each per year. Times get tight (for any reason) and the decision is made to renegotiate the contract. The company and the union mutually decide that a 25% cut is reasonable. Now, here is how the 25% is administrated:
Basic union philosophy is to keep 750 pilots at $100,000 a year, rather than keep 1000 pilots at $75,000 a year.
They protect only those with the higher salaries. Those that are on the bottom of the seniority list get furloughed. Now, to quote you above, will your union be loyal to you since you paid loyally paid your dues?
If you honestly believe that a union is going to protect you, think twice and educate yourself on the word "loyalty." I've been around a long time and have never personally witnessed a union protect their own members by taking a pay cut to protect all it's pilot members from getting furloughed. I have however, repeatedly watched loyal dues paying union pilots get furloughed while their comrades continue to work without a pay cut. The union version of "sacrifice" is to sacrifice the jobs of the bottom of the seniority list so the upper side of the seniority list can keep their paycheck.
I understand that this post will anger a lot of loyal union members. All I ask is one example where a union has unilaterally taken a pay cut to save the jobs of ALL it's members to prove me wrong.
I have yet to see a single union action since deregulation that has truly supported their members and strengthened the company. Each group has taken the cash and has pushed some airlines to the edge and into bankruptcy. The mechanic's union pushed Eastern out of business. The union members will complain that a dozen or so top management officials have golden parachutes but will never mention the international 747 or 777 captain making 260K a year sitting at home on reserve that is flying no revenue and needs to schedule sim time to stay current. (Kinda blows the whole risk and responsibility thing about flying passengers to earn the money, eh?)
For those that want a union, be careful what you wish for....[/QUOTE]
Although, your post may carry some merit, I suggest you read the thread entitled "FlexJet... Livin' the dream".
I will be the first to admit that no union is perfect. But, one thing that I know for certain...the union has incorporated a quailty of life that I could not have received any other way.
In your post you have suggested that any union is willing to sacrifice the bottom man in order to preserve the top man. How do you think this situation would play out without a union?
Without a union this is how I see the play: You work your ass off faithfully for your company. Regardess, thoughout the years, the company keeps stripping you of quality of life. After you have served your company faithfully for five to ten years, the company decides they need to make further cuts. In a feable attempt for management to save their own uwarranted bonuses they elect to sacrifice you instead.
How? Simple. They replace your $120,000/year job with a second-year pilot making $50,000/year. Now you've just given your company ten good years and you're still out in the street.
If I'm gonna loose my job I'd much rather loose it to any union deficiencies in the first couple of years rather than to managment's greed ten year's later.