Airline management just hate paying pilots "too much". Twas ever thus, just read Ernest K. Gann's "Fear is the Hunter". He cites the management greed from the 1930's, forcing pilots to ply their trade wherever they could.
The chickens are finally coming home to roost. And hopefully no big crashes will force the issue. Employ enough pilots, having trained them to high standards, and pay them very well. That will result in higher fares, greater safety, and no nonsense like walk-outs, strikes, grounding of new aircraft, or flight cancellations.
And people will pay a few quid more for their tickets. Airlines will pay their pilots salaries of a few thousand more. And all may then be well. I doubt it...