Weigh in, Airline Pilots: White collar or Blue collar

[furlodpilot]

I'm not one to be very vocal, perhaps I'm more of the proverbial "fly on the wall"... tending to peruse rather than voice an opinion on message boards. However, as I am sitting here and reading the news about Delta and my "alma mata" USAirways and the continuing setbacks we are suffering as airline pilots, particularly financially, I am seeing more and more the brotherhood of pilots taking a signifcant beating to the point now where we show such animosity toward each other, for reasons which we have no control over! First of all, my hat goes off to the Delta group of pilots and the USAirways group, who are continuing to persevere during what I can only imagine is a tough time. But not to stray, I read a comment from a poster who basically said, another pilot exhibited a bad attitude for saying that we are not white collar workers???!! Am I missing the point, or are we as pilots historically been "blue collar" labor and will always be considered labor? Do we have visions of grandeur to where we see ourselves as "white collar" workers because of our earning potetial? Have many read "Flying the Line VOL I & II" or "Hard Landings" to know the history this industry has taken? Am I in the minority to believe that we are in fact "blue collar", sans the hard hat and boots? Someone please weigh in and express your opinions! Have we as pilots morphed to where we are our own worst enemy? When will we realize that this is truly a brotherhood, to which we are fortunate to be a part of? Instances of pilots flipping one another off and verbal joustings both in public forums and on radio frequences reflect our frustrations, but most importantly our unprofessionalism! Let's hope that these frustarting times will soon return to periods of prosperity for this industry. (If only I hadn't sold my crystal ball!!) Till then, let's maintain our decorum and professionalism.... I will step down of my soapbox now.....

 

[TonyC]

Am I missing the point, or are we as pilots historically been "blue collar" labor and will always be considered labor? Do we have visions of grandeur to where we see ourselves as "white collar" workers because of our earning potetial? Have many read "Flying the Line VOL I & II" or "Hard Landings" to know the history this industry has taken? Am I in the minority to believe that we are in fact "blue collar", sans the hard hat and boots?

We are hourly employees, and I believe that is considered "blue collar." We are labor. Large W-2's shouldn't confuse us into thinking we're "white collar" or executive level. We may dress differently, but we're paid essentially the same way.

 

[1stCivDiv]

Nice post

When will we realize that this is truly a brotherhood, to which we are fortunate to be a part of? Instances of pilots flipping one another off and verbal joustings both in public forums and on radio frequences reflect our frustrations, but most importantly our unprofessionalism!

Agree, the problem is that most if not all pilots are type A personalities which = I am better than you. Gents we have to stick together, if not, Divide and Conquer will be the game...If it's not already...

 

[MJG]

Blue collar workers, we just happen to wear a white collar instead....

 

[COpilot]

Most work under some kind of labor contract, Most payed by the hour, Loss of D.B. plans, and as a whole the industry pay is going down.

Let me see??? "hummmmm"

Blue collar, "duh"

 

[Ty Webb]

"Blue Collar or White Collar?"

This question pops up on this board every year or two, jest as it has for the past 6 or 7 years.

The answer is that we are technicians. Highly skilled technicians. We're not Joe Sixpack, and we're not Mr. Middle management or Mr. Businessowner, we are highly-skilled labor.

Regardless, a more important question is, "When are all the unions going to get together and come up with a minimum pay per equipment type? That's a more uselful question.

 

[XTW]

We are hourly employees, and I believe that is considered "blue collar." We are labor. Large W-2's shouldn't confuse us into thinking we're "white collar" or executive level. We may dress differently, but we're paid essentially the same way.

Not all of us are hourly, some of us are salary. And non-union.

 

[holdon]

Blue collar workers, we just happen to wear a white collar instead....

Some of us actually do wear "Blue Collars" (B6)

 

[Tripower455]

We are hourly employees, and I believe that is considered "blue collar." We are labor. Large W-2's shouldn't confuse us into thinking we're "white collar" or executive level. We may dress differently, but we're paid essentially the same way.

100% agreed......

We have a fairly large contingent at SWA who feel differently though.....

 

[capt. megadeth]

I don't care what you call me blue collar or white collar....I just want to get paid reasonably and not have to have a second job (like I have had for the last 6 years) just to get by in a 1000 sq. ft. house in the armpit of the Midwest (Chicago). Getting treated with a little more respect than a friggin piece of crap on the street would be nice too....
I know I am asking alot.

 

[RVR300]

Seems like someone has some issues!

This whole blue collar/white collar thing is pointless. You can look at it from either point of view. A doctor in a hospital can be considered an employee. His salary can be broken down into hourly just like ours.

I know my salary. I also know my hourly rate. If I'm blue collar, okay.

Personally I don't think many blue collar guys are charged with $1 billion in liability every time they go to work.

Perhaps we are Bleu collar.

 

[MW44]

Here are a couple good "blue collar" jobs for comparison.

Recently the New York Times ran an article on New York firemen and stated that the average salary with five years seniority was 75k. After twenty years the average NY fireman have a pension worth 1.75 million. To top it off they stated that most of these guys/gals only worked two 24 hour shifts per week. Not bad for a job where you only show up 8 days/month. I also remember when the dockworkers out in Seattle went on strike the local newspapers stated that a longshoremen can make about 150k per year.

 

[GogglesPisano]

Here are a couple good "blue collar" jobs for comparison.

Recently the New York Times ran an article on New York firemen and stated that the average salary with five years seniority was 75k. After twenty years the average NY fireman have a pension worth 1.75 million. To top it off they stated that most of these guys/gals only worked two 24 hour shifts per week. Not bad for a job where you only show up 8 days/month. I also remember when the dockworkers out in Seattle went on strike the local newspapers stated that a longshoremen can make about 150k per year.

(sarcasm On)Those pinko-commie unions! Socialism I tell ya! (Sarcasm off)

 

[flybrowntails]

I am most certainly a blue collar union worker. I am a truck driver. Hold on--that's not true. Oh--I meant to say thats what my employer considers me and my type-- underworked, overpaid union "truck" drivers.

This may or may not be true--I don't really care what they think. Just show me a contract!!!

fbt

 

[TonyC]

Not all of us are hourly, some of us are salary. And non-union.

I am guilty of generalizing, but I think that's allowed in the context of the question about airline pilots.

If you're salaried and unrepresented, you can consider yourself "white collar." Good luck.

 

[capt. megadeth]

How about if you are an executive and steal from your company, screw all other employees out of pay and pensions to contribute to your golden parachute...you are white collar.
If you are anyone else at that company, you are F&^$ED!

 

[wms]

I consider the ones who maintain and lead the maintenance (having been them myself) the real technicians. What we do is skilled, but not very technical by comparison. Now I just drive the bus; definitely blue collar.

 

[FlyChicaga]

White collar, blue shirt... just like Lumbergh.

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