Two more "quicktakes" from me.

I've seen *so* many "average" salary figures tossed around (various threads and other forums) for different aviation careers or jobs. If there's one thing I can say about the things I do know, is that the "average" numbers tossed around tell very little about the "big picture" and simplify things way to much to derive any real meaning or discussion from them.

Second, as far as scabs, the technical term for those who seek employment by taking a union man's job, go, if it wasn't for them, NW would either have to settle with the mechanics or go out of business. Part of the union's job is to, um, discourage replacement workers from taking a union man's job.