>The pay is crap, and no pension rights!
True, but for some folks it is a step up.
$120K for 90 hours a month hard time as a widebody captain would be peanuts even at a bankrupt U.S. carrier but it is great money in Canada, the UK or Oz.
And it's $120K more than you're making if you're out of work. Just think of all you'll save on union dues <g>.