That's the argument management is using, and I don't buy it. Are you advocating not getting better pay?
Southwest is successful with a higher non-fuel CASM with almost double the F/O pay, 50% higher CA pay, and health bennies that cost 90% less than ours.
If you want to use Southwest as a model? fine, we can do that; give us their pay scale and we'll STILL be under their non-fuel CASM and the company can figure out how to make it profitable.
There's only so many ways to squeeze the lemon. The company is operating on a shoestring budget trying to play like a major player and those two don't go together long-term. Unless we market this airline better AND attract and retain top-notch customer service talent, this airline will never be more than what it currently is. That means spending more money in order to make more money.
I don't want to bankrupt my own company by ANY means, but maybe there's a REASON Southwest pays better and is successful...?
Just a thought.