FlaplessDork wrote:CL30 wrote:We live, family of 4, about an hour away from CYYZ. A 3 bedroom house rents for an average of $1200 per month. On one income and $1000 of debt payments ($600 for the student loans that paid for the flight training) and other costs such as car expenses, food, etc, this salary is not going to go very far. Taxes eat a fair chunk of it before you even see it. With two small children your spouse would have to make close to the same amount to make childcare an option.
I agree with everything you're saying.
But just to stir the pot some more, for about $16K/less less a year same expenses I was able to save $5K a year to save for a down payment on a house, and not really worry about money or worry as where food was going to come from. Rent was actually more than what you're paying for a 2 bedroom appartment. Mind you we had no student loans to pay off as I worked to fund my training. It also ment that I had to start going to Tim's instead of Starbucks, and the wife worked occasionally on my days off. We have a family of 3 soon to be 4.
So, if I took that job on a better airplane, and better salary I am still a whore?
Don't get m wrong. I think we don't get paid enough for our experience.
I understand your point. When I started my business, my wife and I lived on her income (less than $25K) for two years so we didn't do much of anything.
To further stir the pot - yes you are a whore.
The reason we worked hard to live on next to no money was it was benefiting us in the end, we were the shareholder. If you make the sacrifices to live on a lower income than normal for a position that should be paid at a much higher rate, you are basically working for a pimp. The difference between what an owner pays and what is paid to you is the margin the management company makes. You've just made them a tidy sum of money as the salary you are willing to accept is a lot lower than what they would have paid to somebody who would work a bit harder for themselves, not the middleman.
If you move to a better airplane what does it matter?
You've already established that you'll work for nothing (you'll get surprise when the guy beside you is making more for doing the same job). When there is no movement and the musical chairs act has stopped a while, you are only making what you are today. You can see the effect of this on the regional airlines (Colgan). A better airplane doesn't mean better jobs down the road.
This position also requires a 2 year bond, there is no guarantee of advancement. The catch 22 with most companies today is they want you to stay for 24 months because its cheaper to sign a two year training agreement with the provider than a one year contract. After two years (one initial and one recurrent) your training is no good to another company unless they retrain you. If you leave early you'll pay up to $40K. Most companies seen the job postings want somebody typed and current. If you made $57,500 and left owing $40K what did you just spend your time doing? Taking the job while waiting for something better to come along isn't a great idea if you've signed an agreement. They will sue and have won.
Just for the record I did stock shelves and paid off my private license myself. At 18, its hard to come up with $40K plus to move away and do flight training (CPL, MIFR, Instructor, Sea) in a compressed time without loans. (mind you I have taught a lot of students that were 100% government funded through diversity programs - that's another subject)
I put my family through these ups and downs.... why? Maybe i should have chased PPC's my whole career? In the 6+ months i have not been working it has been a roller coaster of possibilities followed by repeated dissapointment. Do i start over??? F*that I havent treaded this sea of B.S for over 10 years to quit!!! Will I change? No, probably not. I think eventually my dedication and performance will be rewarded instead of pissed on. For all you in similar situations i feel for you! For those of you who havent been in this situation unfortunately you most likely will. Hang in there!!
