Originally published at: Union Says Firefighting Pilots Fleeing Poor Wages - AVweb
Super Scooper captains make about $6,000 (USD) a month in Ontario.
Maybe the union needs to step OUT OF THE WAY and open the opportunity up to other qualified pilots in the region and/or pilots from the USA?
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Unions are the backbone of the middle class ,and stand as a bulwark against rampant capitalism. Let arbitration decide !
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It doesnât matter whether there is a union or not. If the pay sucks, pilots will go elsewhere for employment, simple as that. Same situation the regional airlines are complaining about in this country. $$$ If another employer is willing to pay for the skill required that just adds competition for others to match. Thatâs called capitalism in action. The alleged âqualified pilot shortageâwill just make this situation worse.
In the current environment American pilots are simply a non starter. The public service union in Ontario is very likely the real problem - holding pilot wages back so theyâre equivalent to âotherâ union âbrothersâ. The Ontario public service union is famous for their political voice - on issues well outside their purview!
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Absolutely. Ontario has best wake up quickly or they wonât have the critical mass to operate at all. As you say, pilots will & should follow the money. Itâs a precious & volatile skill. The next thing to happen will be an accident caused by inexperience - losing a valuable asset (NL lost one for 20yrs!) and possibly many lives (crew, fire fighters, civies).
I bet that there are lots of adventuresome pilots in Canada who want to build time and experience. Market and advertise it as âwe pay for your trainingâ which will be perfect since they will be training over mostly unpopulated area. Win-win. Hell, offer it for free with free room and board and pilots from everywhere in Canada will beat down your doors for the opportunity!
As said, get rid of the union and just promote this as FREE government provided flight hours and training. Thousands would apply.
Pony up, Canada. You want elite water bomber pilots flying into firestorms? Pay them like the professionals they are.
Sign me up! Iâll do it for half the price. Even less if it means getting the job. Willing to start for free!
This is such a sad Canadian response and typical of government ministries where there is little understanding of the hazard and complexities involved in this work. Time to print some more Canadian pesos and rehire, train and expand the highly qualified pool of waterbomber pilots.
Pilots in Canada are nearly always earning less than their American counterparts. How those pilots are paid now does not recognize their worth.
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People⌠there is no Canadian or American or European response to anything. Its a response. Pilot underpaid, pilot go look for âJerbâ. Pilot find âJerbâ, pilot poof. Empty seat. Ground plane. Fire. No response. Why? No paaaahlot. Fire mean. People dead. Many people mad. Many more sad.
Fundamentals of Learning:
Learning takes place when there is a observable/ visible change in behavior based on knowledge or previous experience.
Politicians explain that to the relatives, whoâs important person in life was killed in a uncontrolled wild/ forest-fire. Cause: Lack of aerial firefighting resources.
Problem is: Politicians are useless. What they say or think has absolutely 0 (Zip/ Nada/ No!) meaning.
Doesnât pilot seniority rules limit their ability to âshop aroundâ for better pay? Wonât such restrictions limit the free market?
Iâm not trying to be argumentative, but if a pilot is âlocked inâ once employed then it seems the only time they really have an unfettered choice is when they first start looking for a job.
Do water-bomber outfits even have seniority rules?
In the US there is no such thing as locked in seniority between companies. If you get employed by another company it starts over again. With respect, why do you think so many American pilots want to fly for the major airlines? Because they pay the best in most cases! In the US there are plenty of highly qualified pilots that are not interested in flying for a living because pilot pay is not equal to the risk and responsibility involved. Problem for some segments of aviation is that the quantity of pilots willing to fly for nothing, because of the enjoyment of flying, is dropping, making it harder to find experienced pilots willing to fly for nothing.
You forgot lifestyle. Pay, risk, responsibility, lifestyle. Pick the order you like.
Thatâs my point - if leaving one company for another means you start at the bottom of the pay/seniority ladder, then itâs not really a âfree marketâ.
In other industries people can quit one job and find another in the same industry that pays more and/or has other better benefits. This puts pressure on companies to provide better pay/benefits to attract and retain talent. But from what you say this is not true in the airline industry. If airlines had to truly compete for talent, would the pay/benefits be the same, better, or worse?
That seems to be my observation, too. Hence the old joke:
Q: Whatâs the difference between a CFI and a pizza?
A: A pizza can feed a family of four.