Michael Moore Comments on Regional Pay at Labor Rally

[LoveGun]

The part about airline pilot pay starts at 23:38. It's a pretty good speech overall. You gotta love how the crowd chants "Shame! Shame!" after Moore says some pilots get paid only $19,000/year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgNuSEZ8CDw&feature=player_embedded

 

[WalterSobchak]

Cue the Michael Moore Hate Brigade in 3, 2,....

 

[AntiJedi]

Doctors fresh out of med school working on you in the emergency room for $40,000/yr. News at 11.

 

[WalterSobchak]

Doctors fresh out of med school working on you in the emergency room for $40,000/yr.

$40k per year is a relatively livable wage. $19k is not. Especially when you have comparable student-loan payments.

This Walmart-ization of wages in this country, combined with the developed belief in this country that jobs that require manual labor are bad and not worthy of a livable wage, is killing us.

 

[PA44Jockey]

Doctors fresh out of med school working on you in the emergency room for $40,000/yr. News at 11.

Doctors also don't have their home base switched on them multiple times in a year. Can you imagine if a pilot didn't commute and moved his/her family every time their base was changed? All while making 20K a year.

 

[AntiJedi]

$40k per year is a relatively livable wage. $19k is not. Especially when you have comparable student-loan payments.

Considering the student loan costs, I'd hardly call $40,000 livable even in a low cost of living area---especially when you consider that you will more than likely be paid less working there as a doctor. It's a wash, really.

As for payment comparability, while both are a mortgage (cost vs. income,) The doctor is paying out more of his money to the bank, but the pilot would be paying a much higher percentage overall.

However, we're looking at first year pay here. It's not Walmart wages, but given the experience, neither are deserving of top dollar, either.

Granted, the doctor won't have to worry about going back to square one if he changes hospitals/networks. That, IMHO, is what needs to be fixed in this industry, and with that, I mean the WHOLE industry, not just pilots.

 

[Max Q]

Good. This industry needs exposure.

 

[wms]

Those same people who think pilot pay is too low aren't willing to pay higher, more reasonable fares. If ticket prices go up they'll be complaining we make too much.

 

[Smarta$$]

Those same people who think pilot pay is too low aren't willing to pay higher, more reasonable fares. If ticket prices go up they'll be complaining we make too much.

The actual affect of pilot wages is negligible. It is not as much as you think.

 

[Plainsman]

Stop shopping at Walmart

 

[wms]

The actual affect of pilot wages is negligible. It is not as much as you think.

We know that. But mgmts play that tune and pax believe it.

 

[damnflyboy]

Capitalism is a double-edged sword. Supply and demand. I don't like extortionist practices either, but I prefer it to the alternative of no freedom and government planned roles in society. Michael Moore would beg to differ, but he's another planet of his own.

So long as there are Han Solo/Maverick wannabees out there with more access to money than sense, we will be fighting over the jobs by whoring ourselves out. The problem is the supply overwhelming the demand.

 

[Max Q]

So long as there are Han Solo/Maverick wannabees out there with more access to money than sense, we will be fighting over the jobs by whoring ourselves out. The problem is the supply overwhelming the demand.

So is the problem that up and coming pilots are willing to endure low pay and poor QOL to be airline pilots or that there is a disconnect between their perception of the industry and reality? Seems to me like the airlines have done a wonderful job of fooling pilots just entering the field. $23/hour!?! That's AWESOME! 3-day weekends every week?!!? YES! Travel Benefits?!! Where do I sign up!

Until now. The word is out. Let's see what they do now.

 

[damnflyboy]

So is the problem that up and coming pilots are willing to endure low pay and poor QOL to be airline pilots or that there is a disconnect between their perception of the industry and reality? Seems to me like the airlines have done a wonderful job of fooling pilots just entering the field. $23/hour!?! That's AWESOME! 3-day weekends every week?!!? YES! Travel Benefits?!! Where do I sign up!

Until now. The word is out. Let's see what they do now.

Probably a little of both. The idea of swimming in it is easier to swallow than actually doing it. Keep in mind, $23/hour looks awesome to someone that just came from a $7/hr minimum wage. It's all relative.

 

[Max Q]

Except that it's less than $11/hour when divided over a 40 hour work week.

 

[ex j-41]

Probably a little of both. The idea of swimming in it is easier to swallow than actually doing it. Keep in mind, $23/hour looks awesome to someone that just came from a $7/hr minimum wage. It's all relative.

And we all know that the $23/hour is just as truthfull as them saying we get paid $23,000/hour.

Management: "We pay our pilots $23,000/hour".
Pilot: "Yes but i only get paid for 1 hour/year".
Management: "See no matter what we pay you, you will still complain"

 

[Jar Jar]

Except that it's less than $11/hour when divided over a 40 hour work week.

Never met a working pilot who only spent 40 hours a week away from home.

I average 80-90.

 

[Max Q]

Never met a working pilot who only spent 40 hours a week away from home.

I average 80-90.

And you're only guaranteed 18.75 hours of pay/week + "lunch money".

 

[damnflyboy]

And you're only guaranteed 18.75 hours of pay/week + "lunch money".

All I can say to this is spread the word. Debunk the myths. Use mainstream outlets: Facebook, newspaper, comments sections of online articles...Whatever. Management is pandering to the lazy. Well, let's tell the lazy how tough and thankless it really is.

 

[Always deferred]

Unfortunately in management's eyes (as well as the shareholders') you have to add the pilot salaries together. To them, the FO is an apprentice, training to become a captain in an aircraft that really only needs 1 pilot to fly.

So you take your average Capt salary at a regional of around 65000 add the 20000 and you have an $85000/yr pilot. To them, that's the market. Fair? Maybe not. But there is a supply of pilots that have to start their airline careers somewhere. As the CEO your one and only concern is to make money for the shareholders or you're out. So why would a CEO pay more when he has plenty who will accept the current pay?