Okay, okay. I know, I have no business in this discussion, but I've had a couple, and G4 is getting to me. Over the past 40 years, the flying profession, like most others, has seen real compensation decrease by at least 50%. There are many reasons, but basically the price of flying has decreased for the public, and compensation for shareholders and executives has shot through the roof.
It used to be that a company had stakeholders; employees, customers, and shareholders. Now, shareholders hold sway over both employees and customers. As a result, customer service has gone down, and compensation for employees has been chopped in half. We have a new reality. Management wants the money, and are not interested in employees or customers except in how they can be convinced to cough up as much money as possible.
So what do you do? First, concede nothing. Trust me, management won't. Second, explain to management the cost of an unhappy workforce. They will understand the expense of unhappy pilots on the road with millions of dollars of assets. Be constructive about how you can help the bottom line, but make it clear that you will tolerate nothing less than being treated like a partner. Accept nothing less.
As pilots, we are where the rubber meets the road. We have educated ourselves at great expense, and we handle a multi-million dollar asset, as well as customers, far from base. We are the most important piece of the puzzle. Expect to be compensated accordingly. If you accept less, you merely line the pockets of those who do less.
Sorry for the rant. Couldn't take it any more. Back to my hole.
Wacoflyr