SA
Generally quality of life was good. Now however the money is much the same in numbers terms it hasn't even kept up with RPI we all all work like dogs and the benifits package is virtually non existent.
Welcome to the real world - that description could fit any number of different professions I could think of. Most people now work harder, longer with more stress for the same as they earn't several years ago - its called competition.
If the conditions were so bad nobody would do it - there is no shortage of highly qualified individuals entering the job market every year and aviation still has no problem attracting new entrants even with the competition from other careers.