Opinion Piece Response: The Real Value of Skilled Maintenance Engineers in
After reading Ashley Nunes’ opinion piece, “ WestJet mechanics make only $109,000 on average. Oh, the humanity ,” I feel compelled to point out how short-sighted and unhelpful this opinion is. Photo by Steve Harvey on Unsplash The author expresses shock at the salary aircraft maintenance engineers earn, framing it as excessive compared to the average Canadian income. However, this perspective ignores the significant expertise, responsibility, and risks associated with aviation maintenance. The claim that higher wages for aircraft maintenance engineers are unnecessary ignores the realities of the current market demand and the critical need for skilled labour to maintain the safety and reliability of air travel. In fact, WestJet has acknowledged the need for a better contract to remain competitive during a time of growth. Nunes suggests that if aircraft maintenance engineers believe their labour is worth more, they should seek employment elsewhere, implying that their cu...