I wonder if the exemption of airline employee in this raise at Seatac has something to do with National Railway Labor Act. We technicians have been classified by the Deparment of Labor as "NON SKILLED" work group, whereas a truck driver is considered skilled, but a truck mechanic is not. Go figure. I believe they do this to control wages, keep skilled labor cost down in big work groups in the aviation industry It's been this way for years and PAMA has always been vocal about it. I can't believe nothing has changed since I've been in this business for 20 years. We know we are skilled and nothing the DOL says really seems to phase many mechanics. Industry standard wages for airline techs pretty much keeps the title honest. And the airlines know this too We are up for contract negotiations and it's always a fight with these upper level people that don't connect with a workforce that works graveyards in inclement weather with ancient shift differential pay, with tools scattered all around knee deep in grease with language where every other word is #!@%. They just view us as grease monkeys with little consideration on training and pre-requisites. It is reflected in their contract proposals.