Facts contributing to why we are underpaid.
We are viewed as a liability as opposed to an asset.
We are easily segregated, have too many different views in respect to uniting.
Many of us fold under the personal desire to move an aircraft (lots of grey area) on the line, this desire could also be explained as for the companies benefit, more likely personal advancement.
There are many levels different type's of employment in the field, we are not all Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers or the Aircraft Maintenance Technician in the USA.
Having said that we should look at the pilot trade as our performance is not measured as easily, neither is our value. We have no benefit for saving the company money as pilot's can (single engine taxi, fuel savings bonus etc). We can drop a couple hundred thousand dollars in parts to attempt to correct an intermittent failure just doing our job, We are the bad Guy until the Airworthiness release is signed. But hey when we find that pushed back pin that is really the cause we receive no appreciation. We save the company money by being proactive in a reactive environment. Our brothers up front look out for the company by following SOP's (this is not how it has always been).
There is a great disparity between the Line tech and the Base maintenance folks, they really are 2 different jobs thus the disparity I spoke of above. Similar to the difference between a doctor in the ER/EMT/Fireman and a factory worker/plastic surgeon.
We all hold lives in our hands by our actions, we all hold safety critical careers.
Sorry for the thread drift.