hmmm......nice and measured FatEric. Firstly, you seem to think that I would only 'go' and join DHL if they paid me a 'bandit' salary....and that somehow my desire to earn a wage that represents my value is somehow 'outdated' and unreasonable.
What is so unreasonble about expecting 'responsible' employers to provide a salary and benefit package that allows an individual to do the following:
1. Buy a home
2. Support a wife and children
3. Educate those children
4. Provide for a comfortable retirement
5. Enjoy some time off (ie: afford a holiday once in a while)
6. Afford to run a car
...etc...
The sad reality of the moment is that we are going through a period of time in the industry that sees the accountants running airlines with 'short-term' results as their main goal. This completely ignores the fact that in the long run, an airline will slowly spiral to their grave if they are constantly dealing with turn-over, low morale and the GUARANTEED results of a lowered safety record.
It is also a sad reality that there is a group of pilots who value themselves so poorly that they will ACCEPT what are UNDOUBTABLY unreasonable conditions. An airline like Southwest Airlines here in the US can use proper management techniques that result in a low cost basis, but still manage to provide amongst the highest salary and benefit packages in the industry. Perhaps you can explain why DHL seemingly can't...?
Fact is FatEric, you are trying to justify your own low self-esteem, and your decision to work for what is nothing more than indentured servitude. Whether or not you resent that conclusion is of no consequence, as the facts stand for themselves.
Incidentally, you mention that they are swamped with applications. I have an insight to what is really happening at their recruitment office, and I can assure you that they are having a GREAT deal of difficulty recruiting SUITABLE applicants.
FatEric, the answer is simple. If there weren't pilots who would do the job for penuary wages, the wages would rise.
You question why I am 'so worked' up about DHL......but I am more interested why you seem so adamant about defending it (...defending the indefensible).
BTW, your own costings on food, housing, car, school etc demonstrate that you wouild be going backwards financially from the moment you started.
To those pilots out there who don't want to find themselves in a VERY miserable situation, don't even consider this joke of a job.