Hi,
I've been cruising these boards for a few months and something that I've noticed is that most of you all have gripes with the management of these airlines and how they "underpay" pilots and "overpay" the CEOs of these companies. My question is, if you all have a union (which I thought ALPA is) why don't you all go on strike? What's with all the agreeing to concessions in salary and benefits but then a year later say you got a "raw deal" and want more money?
I see that some of you all place the blame on SJS (shiny jet syndrome) and the younger less experienced pilots (read: not "aviators") that just want to drive a jet. But if I'm not mistaken an airline's biggest profit maker is on cargo and premium seats (especially international flights). What would happen if some 20 year captains decided not to take a JFK-LHR or SFO-NRT/SYD flight or two. Do you think the airlines would listen? I doubt the cockpit of a 747 or A350 is as easy to fill as a CRJ.
I hope this post isn't seen as confrontational I'm just really curious as to why things in this industry work the way they do. I used to work for a labor union and was telling a buddy of mine that I started on my PPL and about this industry and asked me why don't the pilots organize. I couldn't give him a reason as to why ALPA's situation is what it is.
Thanks,
MR.
I've been cruising these boards for a few months and something that I've noticed is that most of you all have gripes with the management of these airlines and how they "underpay" pilots and "overpay" the CEOs of these companies. My question is, if you all have a union (which I thought ALPA is) why don't you all go on strike? What's with all the agreeing to concessions in salary and benefits but then a year later say you got a "raw deal" and want more money?
I see that some of you all place the blame on SJS (shiny jet syndrome) and the younger less experienced pilots (read: not "aviators") that just want to drive a jet. But if I'm not mistaken an airline's biggest profit maker is on cargo and premium seats (especially international flights). What would happen if some 20 year captains decided not to take a JFK-LHR or SFO-NRT/SYD flight or two. Do you think the airlines would listen? I doubt the cockpit of a 747 or A350 is as easy to fill as a CRJ.
I hope this post isn't seen as confrontational I'm just really curious as to why things in this industry work the way they do. I used to work for a labor union and was telling a buddy of mine that I started on my PPL and about this industry and asked me why don't the pilots organize. I couldn't give him a reason as to why ALPA's situation is what it is.
Thanks,
MR.