Here's a letter that was sent to Forbes Magazine from one of our flying partners.  Thanks to Marshall for letting us publish it here. -- Chris

To: readers@forbes.com
Sent: Friday, July 21, 2006 8:55 AM
Subject: Your Article of the Top 10 Paying Blue Coller Jobs
Attention: Managing Editor and Staff

I would like to call attention to some serious inaccuracies regarding  your article "Top 10 Paying Blue Collar Jobs".

In my opinion you have misguided your readers on a false and potentially harmful perception that being a Professional Flight Attendant is highly paid and a great career choice for individuals who are entering the job market or facing a job change.

To imply that becoming a flight attendant will be compensatory to the duties performed is highly inaccurate and in some ways insulting to the individuals currently providing this service.

As a frequent traveler on many airlines I witness everyday what these dedicated individuals are subjected to. From enduring passenger verbal and sometimes physical abuse to companies reducing their pay and benefits, this profession is performed for the love of travel, while providing safe accommodations for the passenger  and offering phenomenal  customer service in all types of conditions. This career is obviously not chosen for the monetary incentives or "paycheck".

If your writers had researched collective bargaining agreements fully they would have found that flight attendants are paid only for flight time and some other incremental services.

If proper research had been performed for your article, your writers would have found flight attendants barely making minimum wage in light of the non paid hours encountered while waiting for planes, operational delays, layovers and weather. If your writers had researched collective bargaining agreements fully they would have found that flight attendants are paid only for flight time and some other incremental services. They are not even allowed to work more than certain amount of  hours for safety reasons and consequently do not even come close to having a calculated wage at 40 plus hours a week which your article has indicated.

From my perspective as a labor negotiator for management companies, and a organizational and transportation management consultant, I believe your article would have been better served by highlighting careers for individuals that can help stabilize the US economy by providing a well educated, and technically skilled work force.

In my opinion you owe the Professional Flight Attendants of the world a public apology and need to devote several pages of your publications to really highlight the real environment that the traveling public puts them in while performing the most needed and safety related duties.

If you have any questions or wish to discuss this matter further I can be contacted at the following address:

Marshall Pierce
Managing Partner
MMPA Logistics Consulting
932 Edwards Ferry Road
Suite 37
Leesburg VA 20176

I will be looking forward to your recognition of the individuals that serve you faithfully during your travels.

Regards
Marshall Pierce