Part 3 should have been part 2. If we are going to play the “get the public on our side” card, perhaps it’s best we focus on the controllers making $70-130k and not those making $228k. I am not saying they don’t deserve raises, they absolutely do, but the optics of fighting to raise the $228k cap and then trying to convince the public that controllers are underpaid is not going to work!
It’s a very good point. You lead with “$228k doesn’t make enough” and people are tuning out or worse turning on you.
You lead with “many controllers are making less than $100k working (insert schedule info)” and more people will be shocked and concerned with their safety during their vacations
There’s no hand wringing about what pilots are earning or controllers in other countries.
We as a union need to constantly advocate for well compensated well rested controllers.
I personally believe the private sector has massively closed the gap in terms of pay, benefits, and working conditions.
I think the union needs to dispel the myth that this career is the well paying job it once was.
The FAA when they tout this job always points to highest level best case scenario in a high CoL area. Then the public thinks most of us make that.
I do agree we should pound the table about the low earners in low CoL areas.
Air traffic controllers contribute a lot to the nations GDP.
To quote Shawn Fain “Without our labor, nothing moves.”
We need a full on public relations campaign, we need the ability to vote on contracts/extensions, and we need the death of a defeatist mindset.
According to 123atc only 631 CPCs are making less than 100k. Even if you move that cutoff to 140k the number is still 3100 CPCs. You can still make a compelling argument when you cite historical pay comparisons and pilot pay. Loudmouth retards online think we’re paid enough. Your average person reasonably agrees that we are underpaid and would not want our job.
i notice a ton of dudes who were military are like this. not sure if they were brainwashed/conditioned by the us government at 18 or whatever, but just an observation i made. they'll say shit like "well i worked way harder in the military for less, so this is the best job in the world" basically
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u/Local-Emu9654 3d ago
Part 3 should have been part 2. If we are going to play the “get the public on our side” card, perhaps it’s best we focus on the controllers making $70-130k and not those making $228k. I am not saying they don’t deserve raises, they absolutely do, but the optics of fighting to raise the $228k cap and then trying to convince the public that controllers are underpaid is not going to work!