The starting pay at most places is quite low and with due respect the starting salary at WestJet is reportedly higher than the starting salary at Air Canada.
I think the issue of a low starting salary is more of an industry wide phenomenon than a particular Airline...
As for the Share Participation, the 20% I did from day one has now grown to a nice little nest egg inside my RRSP. By putting it in my RRSP I also gain the tax deduction. That is one way to "I'd like to know how you afford to pay for wonderful Westjet shares when you are making jack in the first place."