Seriously look at a RJ Captain's wages compared to a city bus driver.
The problem is years ago ALPA and the mainline MEC's didn't give a crap about regional wages (it is only this year that they are paying attention) and ever since, it has been a race to the bottom. Or another example Eagle with an 18 year contract negotiated for them by mainline guys. Then the beancounters thought they could save a bunch flying a ton of rj's well you ever look at the CASM costs on an RJ compared to SWA's 737, it's cheaper to run a 737, go figure. So now the airlines are going to the lowest paid in the industry, and asking them to take a paycut. Now you have companies asking the pilots to fly a 90 seat airplane for the same wages. If that becomes the norm, you better pick a good regional because thats where you will be for many years.
Just imagine NWA gives Compass, Pinnacle, well probably not Mesaba because they will fight, E190's they could almost cover all their domestic flying with enough of them at regional rates.
Everytime you see a 90 seat plane at the regional level, thats one less narrowbody at the majors and maybe 10-15 less places at the big table for you.
Ask yourself how you are going to own a home, maybe a small vacation place, a boat and by the way pay for your kids to go to college on a 50 seat payrate, maybe as a plumbing contractor but not as an RJ driver.
If more pilots cared about rj starvation wages, we wouldn't see the backsliding of the majors into the regional abyss. Shouldn't a union be judged on how well it takes care of the least of it's members, how it treats it's young.
I'll quit ranting but I really wish to see this industry improve for everyone.