What is our future?

[SaifAir]

From what I am seeing most people are happy with the idea of 150/yr with a 401K. So if they want to attract new people they will just raise the starting wage and we will not see such a big spread between the junior salaries and the top salaries.

 

[Futura]

From what I am seeing most people are happy with the idea of 150/yr with a 401K. So if they want to attract new people they will just raise the starting wage and we will not see such a big spread between the junior salaries and the top salaries.

All of these theories are well and good but these things don't take place in a vaccum. Many things have influence over pilot salaries.

As much as unemployed/underemployed pilots are willing to work for what ever, the pilots who are currently employed at that company have more control over salaries than those who are not.
Even if by some big business inspired miracle unions were to dissapear from the face of the earth or if the McCain "baseball arbitration" BS actually passes, the pilots still have some control over their destiny.

Airlines know that if their pilots are not happy many operational performance areas begin to suffer. Things that break are written up immediately at non-maintenance stations, fuel burns increase, extra fuel added where it is expensive to buy, flights are just one minute late.........every time. The list goes on.

So as much as most of the recent posters think pilot pay is exclusively driven by the supply of qualified applicants, it is only PART of the equation.

 

[Futura]

I hope you dont lose your medical.

That's what long term disability insurance is for.
That might actually be the best thing that could happen to a UAL pilot right now. If you're on LTD the money comes from the insurance company. The airline can go down in flames and you'll still get your benefit until your 60th.