Or all pilots for that matter....
I posted this over at aca-lounge....
http://forums.aca-lounge.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=65571#post65571
The problem with todays industry (any industry) is the fact that the upper brass wins with every scenario (golden parachutes) regardless of the final outcome. While the labor point of view has everything to lose except for taking a stand and making a statement.
Put yourself in upper management shoes. They are set for life if Delta remains in business or not. They could care less. Its rather brilliant how upper brass in this country have developed a way to give themselves a win-win situation. The overall negotiation process is completely lop-sided (sp?). Think about it. Bottom line, everyone in this country looks out for number 1.. themselves, when it comes down to the wire. If the Delta pilots go on strike, they may be hero's in the eyes of other pilots (certainly in mine), however, the average layman will always look at them as overpaid spoiled brats. Meanwhile, upper brass retires to their 60" Plasma HDTV's, limestone pools with built in jacuzzi and water-fall in thier 20,000 sq ft mansions. While the average layman remains ignorant to the fact that it costs money if you want professional safe service from a Doctor, lawyer, pilot... or otherwise....
These people complaining about the Delta pilots considering a strike should get their ratings, get hired at Delta as a pilot (or any airline for that matter) then they can complain that 7.8% has the power to shut down a company. Freightpup, i couldnt have said it better myself.... That is also why i would like to see a link to this letter to see the responses....
I said it before and i'll say it again. The only way this industry will change is when there are weekly smoking holes from inexperienced pilots willing to work for peanuts. It will take some time, but the amount of education, experience and capital required to become a pilot and get hired at a somewhat decent airline will soon outweigh the rewards of being an airline pilot. In my eyes, it has already happened. Think about it. Where else would you spend close to 40-50k (some pay in the 100k) on a college degree with an additional 10-15-35k on your ratings only to be rewarded with a 10-20k/yr CFI job, followed by a regional job a few years later at 20-25k, followed by a 25-30k career job many years later at that major league airline you been drooling for all these years. Only to be greeted with, "We need to cut your pay, because we dont have the balls to ask for higher ticket prices. If you dont comply, we go out of business and I get a 5 million dollar golden parachute and you get unemployment or bottom of the list in some regional jet at 20k/yr... your choice". ALPA needs to stop all air service now if they want to save this industry. Or at the very least, create one-list so pilots can move from airline to airline and be compensated based on their experience and merits like every other industry in the USA. Or, the third option is to abolish unions altogether and let capitalism run its course (you treat me well, i treat you well, if not, i go to another company.. .you treat others like crap... you go out of business). If not, the downward spiral will continue to chase away experience and we will see more accidents. The amount of training involved to become an airline pilot today is just not competitive with other career fields (Years ago, airline recruiters were soliciting private pilots at grass fields climbing into a J-3). College grads are beginning to grasp this with the internet being an everyday part of life for research. Frankly, if i were in college today, there is no way i would persue an airline career. My love for flying would direct me to a career that would enable me to buy my own airplane. I would like to hear from one pilot today, that says it was all worth it. Sure, hindsight is 20/20. But i guarantee if every pilot here had to do it over again, they would be learning a career that would afford them their own Baron loaded with avionics while being able to move to another company within their career field having sacrificed very little for the transition, if not gaining, WRT their former company.
Imagine if every pilot today said, "Enough is enough, im not flying anymore till im compensated for my training and experience!".Will they put us all in jail? This country would be at a stand-still. Its obvious the greedy "shakers and movers" of the airline industry dont have the gonads to ask for higher ticket prices. So, its up to pilots to educate. I know... its a pipe dream.... The way the industry is today, Duane Worth-less would be a hero (and most likely have overwhelming support), if he said to congress, "ALPA... all of ALPA, every airline having ALPA, is going on strike next week if management doesnt raise ticket prices to reflect current demand and consumption (fuel). Not only that, but our pilots will not fly for any airline over what we dictate is reasonable duty limits. Put me in jail, but you will not have air service till you comply.... You want to go somewhere? You have two options, 1. buy your own airplane and fly there yourself... or 2. Pay us a reasonable wage for our responsibility, training, experience and cost of living. Until then, you get zero air service from us. "
Basically, what is currently happening is the "Walmart-ization" of this country. I hate to be doom and gloom, but i feel we are all in for a rude awakening if someone.. anyone... a leader perhaps.. doesnt stand up and say... enough is enough!
I posted this over at aca-lounge....
http://forums.aca-lounge.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=65571#post65571
The problem with todays industry (any industry) is the fact that the upper brass wins with every scenario (golden parachutes) regardless of the final outcome. While the labor point of view has everything to lose except for taking a stand and making a statement.
Put yourself in upper management shoes. They are set for life if Delta remains in business or not. They could care less. Its rather brilliant how upper brass in this country have developed a way to give themselves a win-win situation. The overall negotiation process is completely lop-sided (sp?). Think about it. Bottom line, everyone in this country looks out for number 1.. themselves, when it comes down to the wire. If the Delta pilots go on strike, they may be hero's in the eyes of other pilots (certainly in mine), however, the average layman will always look at them as overpaid spoiled brats. Meanwhile, upper brass retires to their 60" Plasma HDTV's, limestone pools with built in jacuzzi and water-fall in thier 20,000 sq ft mansions. While the average layman remains ignorant to the fact that it costs money if you want professional safe service from a Doctor, lawyer, pilot... or otherwise....
These people complaining about the Delta pilots considering a strike should get their ratings, get hired at Delta as a pilot (or any airline for that matter) then they can complain that 7.8% has the power to shut down a company. Freightpup, i couldnt have said it better myself.... That is also why i would like to see a link to this letter to see the responses....
I said it before and i'll say it again. The only way this industry will change is when there are weekly smoking holes from inexperienced pilots willing to work for peanuts. It will take some time, but the amount of education, experience and capital required to become a pilot and get hired at a somewhat decent airline will soon outweigh the rewards of being an airline pilot. In my eyes, it has already happened. Think about it. Where else would you spend close to 40-50k (some pay in the 100k) on a college degree with an additional 10-15-35k on your ratings only to be rewarded with a 10-20k/yr CFI job, followed by a regional job a few years later at 20-25k, followed by a 25-30k career job many years later at that major league airline you been drooling for all these years. Only to be greeted with, "We need to cut your pay, because we dont have the balls to ask for higher ticket prices. If you dont comply, we go out of business and I get a 5 million dollar golden parachute and you get unemployment or bottom of the list in some regional jet at 20k/yr... your choice". ALPA needs to stop all air service now if they want to save this industry. Or at the very least, create one-list so pilots can move from airline to airline and be compensated based on their experience and merits like every other industry in the USA. Or, the third option is to abolish unions altogether and let capitalism run its course (you treat me well, i treat you well, if not, i go to another company.. .you treat others like crap... you go out of business). If not, the downward spiral will continue to chase away experience and we will see more accidents. The amount of training involved to become an airline pilot today is just not competitive with other career fields (Years ago, airline recruiters were soliciting private pilots at grass fields climbing into a J-3). College grads are beginning to grasp this with the internet being an everyday part of life for research. Frankly, if i were in college today, there is no way i would persue an airline career. My love for flying would direct me to a career that would enable me to buy my own airplane. I would like to hear from one pilot today, that says it was all worth it. Sure, hindsight is 20/20. But i guarantee if every pilot here had to do it over again, they would be learning a career that would afford them their own Baron loaded with avionics while being able to move to another company within their career field having sacrificed very little for the transition, if not gaining, WRT their former company.
Imagine if every pilot today said, "Enough is enough, im not flying anymore till im compensated for my training and experience!".Will they put us all in jail? This country would be at a stand-still. Its obvious the greedy "shakers and movers" of the airline industry dont have the gonads to ask for higher ticket prices. So, its up to pilots to educate. I know... its a pipe dream.... The way the industry is today, Duane Worth-less would be a hero (and most likely have overwhelming support), if he said to congress, "ALPA... all of ALPA, every airline having ALPA, is going on strike next week if management doesnt raise ticket prices to reflect current demand and consumption (fuel). Not only that, but our pilots will not fly for any airline over what we dictate is reasonable duty limits. Put me in jail, but you will not have air service till you comply.... You want to go somewhere? You have two options, 1. buy your own airplane and fly there yourself... or 2. Pay us a reasonable wage for our responsibility, training, experience and cost of living. Until then, you get zero air service from us. "
Basically, what is currently happening is the "Walmart-ization" of this country. I hate to be doom and gloom, but i feel we are all in for a rude awakening if someone.. anyone... a leader perhaps.. doesnt stand up and say... enough is enough!
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