Yes, I'm one of those people that bailed out (retired) after more than 30 years and found that there is another life other than avaition. My retirement compensation is not spectacular by no means even with it frozen back in 1993. I did do well with the 401K, so that helped out a little more. However I'm the not the type to set at home or just fish, play golf daily so I found another career and it's working out well. Life is really not that bad.
I've been reading this bulletin board daily because I'm interested in what is being said and where the company is going. I do not post that much and only when I feel I have something to say. I finally came to the conclusion that it's not an equally fair board. Yep, there are references made to the res and ATO agents problems, but nothing that can measure up to the pilots. This group is by far the most spoiled and they seem to expect the red carpet rolled out to the cockpit everytime they are to fly. I have yet to understand this group even though I have delt with them for more than 30 years. Here is a group that is being payed 6 figures yearly and even if they take a pay cut of 50% they are still in the 6 figure salary if not the high 90's or 80's. I have known pilots that have other ventures and are by rights considered millionaires. I also know pilots that have been married as many a five times and paying child support to each X, no wonder their balking. I also know that a good majority of the pilots have other investments and even with todays market are far still better off than the res and ATO agents ever thought about.
Another aspect of the pilots is that they do not like for anyone to inquire about their salaries, pension and other benefits. It's like the boys club with a few girls mixed in. My experience has been that when trying to get a pilot to talk salary, benefits, etc is like you trying to open a clamshell with toothpick.
U has a long past history of giving the pilots everything they wanted and what makes everyone think that in today society that is going to change. The only difference is the Co. will make them sweat and cry a little bit and once the Co. thinks they have been punished long enough a deal is made and the Co. will say that they saved the company from ruin, forgetting somehow about the little people out there that gave too, who are probably in worse shape than the pilots will ever know.
I for one understand that to ba a pilot, one has to go through a lot of training to get certified to fly a commerical aircraft. This takes a lot of hours and time, but you boys also have to understand that when throw that in the face of those other working classes that you deserve everything even if it means at their expense, YOU are creating the hostile working enviroment.
I've said enough and I'll probably be critized, shot down by a good many. I have a right to state my observations and opinion. I've had my tail feathers on fire a good many times before, so it will not be so bad.