Michael Moore Comments on Regional Pay at Labor Rally

[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?

 

[Max Q]

We are all fools. The joke is on us.

 

[damnflyboy]

We are all fools. The joke is on us.

Yup. Simple and sweet. Now that's what I'm talking about.

 

[cynic]

That is the funny part. Airline pilots (typically white, male and conservative) need a union to get a decent wage!

 

[ex j-41]

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.

FAA still requires 2 pilots.
I will not fly on an airplane that does not have 2 people up there. Look at Colgan. They could have used a third.
They need us so make um pay.

 

[Raoul Duke]

looking at the first year pay for any profession is completely pointless. Suck it up, pay your dues and it all works out in the end.

 

[Poahi]

You can't rape the willing....

 

[pipejockey]

looking at the first year pay for any profession is completely pointless. Suck it up, pay your dues and it all works out in the end.

Really? Pay your dues? If it were 1 year then sure! But every friggin time you are forced to start as a new hire at another airline? Gimme a break!

 

[damnflyboy]

You can't rape the willing....

Oh, college. Fond memories. Wait, you said willing?

 

[Jar Jar]

looking at the first year pay for any profession is completely pointless. Suck it up, pay your dues and it all works out in the end.

Funny my w-2's for the last 8 years are all sub 35k and that's pretty typical among my peers. Age 65 played a large part in that.

But, the guys who were working in the 70s, 80s, and 90s didn't make enough money yet, so I have to wait for them to make a little bit more. Guess I have no right to bitch.

 

[cynic]

Guess I have no right to bitch.

You have no right to bitch because you took a low paying job. You ARE the problem. RIGHT this second... you are why the pay is so low.

Now if flying airplanes were hard (like building scientific applications on a super computer... that's what I do ) then you would be making a whole lot more money. But it's not and anything with the intellectual capacity of say... an advanced chimp can get through the training so there you are.