wow- that's it then huh?- There's a difference between an experienced pilot not accepting a low wage and an inexperienced one doing it to build time. How did you build time and how much were you paid? \\
I started out as a flight instructor out of college, making $30 an hour back in '94, flying 3 or 4 hours a day. Did that for 18 months, while moonlighting around the field and getting to know the 135 operators. That was around $18k a year, equivalent to approximately $27k in today's dollars.
At 900 hours I got on as a C-90 King Air F/O making $75 a day (20k a year, or about $30k in today's dollars). Upgraded 6 months later at 1200 hours to PIC, flew single pilot 135 pax and freight for another year making $150 a day. That was '96-97.
At 1,500 hours I got my ATP and at 1,800 hours got hired as a Lear F/O making the same thing ($150 a day). Upgraded 8 months later to CA on the Lear, making $300 a day.
Got hired by Flexjet in '98 at $36k a year starting pay in '99. Upgraded in 5 months to CA, went to $55k a year.
There's been ups and downs since then; went to a 727 freight company, made CA in a year on the 727 at 29 years of age, then the entire company got furloughed when FedEx took over the US Postal Service contract and I had the option between Netjets (which was about 4 years old at the time and only beginning to really boom as a great place to be) and Pinnacle as a street CA. I chose the 121 route because I wanted to fly for the airlines... biggest single mistake I ever made, but hindsight is 20/20. Hated signing for $55k a year at a regional but it was what it was, and I fought tooth and nail with the pilot group fighting for our rights and trying to obtain a better contract before I left for airTran.
It *CAN* be done without paying $50k to GIA (or whatever it is these days) to get a job for $18k TODAY as an F/O... It just takes patience and perseverance. I turned down several "buy-a-job" type offers along the way, because I refused to whore myself out.
I honestly think the spiral down the tube happened back in the mid-90's when the regionals were really ramping up, scope was sold down the river, and pay-for-training became an accepted "norm". You probably weren't flying then (I had just started), so it's not your fault, but here's the kicker:
If you want better wages, better quality of life, you're going to have to stop blaming everyone else and pick up the bar and raise it YOURSELF. Don't blame the senior pilots, even though they gave scope away long ago and started this mess. Don't blame the mid-level guys who are senior RJ CA's or junior Major pilots, even though many of them PFT'd.
Simply accept that ALL of us are going to have to simply say "no more", and lead by example, even amongst our peers (including wherever you happen to be) who might try taking the easy route. LEADERSHIP happens when ONE person makes it their PERSONAL responsibility to do the right thing for themselves, their coworkers, and their profession.
Until this happens, you're NOT going to get a better wage. You're NOT going to get better Quality-Of-Life. Nothing comes for free, or simply because "it's the right thing for management to do", because we all know senior management is only doing right by the shareholders, often at the expense of the employees.
YOU are going to have to "take it back". Legally, for certain, with help from your coworkers, absolutely, but take it back, nonetheless, by solidarity, negotiations, and willingness to STFD.
Those who aren't willing to step up and fight that fight should simply STFU, quit their complaining about poor wages and work rules, and realize it's their own fault.
If you aren't part of the solution, you're part of the problem.
And yes, that's the way it is. Sorry if that offends you, but reality is often harsh.
