Major Airline Mechanics-overpaid?

[Buck]

A manager today told of a counterpart at Tucson that brokers A&P's and Engineers. He said that this guy has all the A&P's he needs for $17 or $18 an hour. I believe he was referring to FBO based mechanics.

 

[Bob Owens]

Just an update to my previous post.

The authors name is Gary Stanley Becker and the book I spoke about is named "Human Capital"

Synopsis
"Human Capital" is Becker's study of how investment in an individual's education and training is similar to business investments in equipment. Becker looks at the effects of investment in education on earnings and employment, and shows how his theory measures the incentive for such investment, as well as the costs and returns from college and high school education. Another part of the study explores the relation between age and earnings. This edition includes four new chapters, covering recent ideas about human capital, fertility and economic growth, the division of labour, economic considerations within the family, and inequality in earnings.

Sounds like a crock to me.

Some professions require a huge investment in education but pay crap. Education is only a part of the equation that is subject to contradictions and exceptions. For instance many pilots, who may have gone up through the ranks without college degrees make more than doctors who made a huge investment in their education. You could have a pilot with all sorts of college degrees stuck at a commuter meanwhile there could be one at a major with little college education at a major making triple the money. They could have even started flying together but while one chose to pursue college the other went right to work.

Success requires many things, initiative, luck and intelligence are probably the most important things. While an education is important, without the other three its a waste.

Personally I never liked much of that Chicago Economic Theory, Trickle down, my behind!

 

[MOACCRecipient]

Hi Bob,

First of all, I would have to say I agree with you to an extent, but I can also agree with 91Imports synopsis of the human capital theory. So, my question to you is this: Why should a union or non-union federally licensed A&P mechanic with basically similar responsibilities make more or less than one another? Generally speaking the educational requirements to obtain an A&P are standardized. I believe that this was the point of this thread's discussion. And furthermore, why should a fleetservice clerk make just a few dollars less an hour than an AMT? Considering the requirements for becoming an AMT versus a FSC....
Thanks...

 

[sentrido]

Why should a union or non-union federally licensed A&P mechanic with basically similar responsibilities make more or less than one another? Generally speaking the educational requirements to obtain an A&P are standardized. I believe that this was the point of this thread's discussion. And furthermore, why should a fleetservice clerk make just a few dollars less an hour than an AMT? Considering the requirements for becoming an AMT versus a FSC....
Thanks...

To answer the first question. A lot of it has to do with ambition. I knew plenty of mechanics who could have made more money but chose the stability of their current position or didnt have the nerve to take a chance or maybe had a family to think about. Its the same situation outside of avaition. I dont know what my coworkers make.I make what I negotiated for. Im sure there are significat differences beetween some of us. Your second questoion describes a typical union situation.Its better for the union to have a higher average wage across different workgroups than have one group a lot higher than another. They can get more dues that way, among other benefits.

 

[Bob Owens]

Generally speaking the educational requirements to obtain an A&P are standardized. I believe that this was the point of this thread's discussion. Considering the requirements for becoming an AMT versus a FSC....
Thanks...

So, my question to you is this: Why should a union or non-union federally licensed A&P mechanic with basically similar responsibilities make more or less than one another?

Logically, I cant see a reason assuming that they are equally competant and productive. However in the real world you get what you negotiate. The ability to sell oneself is often more effective at getting better wages than the ability to actually deliver as promised. I've seen this happen in non-union workplaces where someone would demand a higher wage and then get trained by people who were making less. Those who were doing the training were competant and productive however they lacked the courage to demand more. Thats the way the free market works. You dont get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate.

And furthermore, why should a fleetservice clerk make just a few dollars less an hour than an AMT?

Once again, you get what you negotiate. Our problem is not FSC pay, its mechanics pay. The fact is that if the airlines want competant, reliable, drug and felony free workers that can pass the muster of a 10 year background check to show up, work holidays, weekends, in all sorts of weather they will need to pay them a decent wage. Our problem as mechanics is not convincing the world that FSC are paid too much but convincing our fellow mechanics in overhaul that we are not paid enough.