SeaSunSandFly - I agree; that's why it's essential that the employees are also shareholders. Shareholders as owners of a company are entitled by law to information that is otherwise not (necessarily) available - and of course they also have the ability to dismiss directors of a company if they are making a mess of things.
Employee board representation is also a must.
ex-expat - that 'unhealthy dose of socialism' you refer to is a heartfelt concern for employees. Is this a bad thing? Rather strange, considering your own posts/views!
:P
Nope, BP won't reduce their fuel prices (though if demand goes down, so do prices). However, if you knew the first thing about economics, you'd know that in a recession people cut back on unnecessary expenses (and often necessary ones as well): and that includes air travel in particular. Companies no longer allow their staff to use premium cabins; this means that overall yield levels fall significantly, putting the company into a loss situation. To add costs - such as significantly higher wage bills - at such a time is suicidal. Ever heard of companies such as TWA, Pan Am, Eastern, Air Florida, Braniff, etc - all of whom have now disappeared to the great airport in the sky because their costs were greater than their income?
If, for argument's sake, one of the US majors were to either go into Chapter 11 or even Chapter 7, you'd have a massive glut of skilled pilots on the market - again. In that scenario, salaries would nosedive as supply once again outstrips demand; and people like you who want the earth will remain grounded.