The correct spelling for my little part of the neighborhood is Scandinavia, just to help some of you posters out a bit. It is always important to show respect to people from other countries and cultures by doing your homework when it comes to geography, political systems and stuff like that.
In Norway our annual earnings are taxed heavily. Still, when you include free schools, free university, first class public health care for all citizens, the public pension systems, unemployment benefits etc. etc. then the picture looks good, from whichever angle you view it.
A rough interpretation of public statistics might indicate approx. 30% less purchasing power for $1 in Norway compared to the US. This does depend on your family situation, as a family with 2 kids will benefit heavily from the establisehd systems, and rightfully so.
When the average earnings for all pilots is above $200.000, this might by some still be considered not too bad. Please do your own math, Ladies and Gentlemen. This figure does include the total earnings, including overtime, offshore allowances, voluntary workover, per diem, insurance premiums covered by the employer
People with lack of motivation or interest might want to distort the picture for their own purpose, to create a poor impression of pilot unions. The fact of the matter is the following:
- 90 % or more of the pilots flying offshore or SAR in Ireland, the UK, the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway are union members.
- The companies are all profitable and well reputed.
- The pilots in general have the best terms and conditions in the industry.
- All companies have Collective Labor Agreements with the pilot unions.
The pilots of Local 108 are in the middle of a struggle which will benefit us all in the long run. They command the utmost respect from pilots worldwide.
With the assistance of OPEIU and their colleagues in Local 107, the highly skilled professionals of Local 108 are working to make the GOM a better place, both with regards to terms and conditions and also with regards to operational safety standards.
You have to take a stand these days: Either you support the pilots, or you support management and forces hostile to pilot unions.
Please, when you look back at your career, make sure you were on the side of the pilots, working for a better tomorrow.