Contractors
I feel for anybody facing redundancy at the moment and it is sad that the short term knee jerk reaction always prevails. Especially when, as has already been said, it's the people who do the core work that get the boot.
However, I have worked alongside many contractors on a higher monthly wage because they are a contractor and because they want to remain so. Some have turned down permanent contracts because of the better flat rate they get as a contractor and because of the 'choice' this gives them to do what they will with their money. In the helicopter world it is often the case that these contract workers are also those who opt out of joining a union. This combination makes it too easy for large companies to 'shed costs' as they put it and get rid of people quickly. That is the nature of contract work. Hopefully when we come out of this economic dip we are in, people who took a hit as a contractor will seek permanent contracts and union membership, which will only strengthen our industry in the long term.
Hompy