I wouldn't swap for a job with an American carrier - as the "fighting" for their terms and conditions has caused some of the problems they have, which in turn erode their T and C's massively when the need to keep heads above water arises.
Of course even in the financial dire straits that the American carriers are in the pilots at the majors still earn
far more than us in the UK whilst flying fewer hours and thats
after the reductions in their Ts&Cs. It's all relative.