Gender and age affected crew workers' choice of pay method. As part of the interview process, some crew workers were asked for suggestions they would give to employers in general or to their own employer. Many had no suggestions, or only positive comments to make about their present employer. Of 91 respondents who offered some suggestion, half dealt with pay issues. Another lamented that conditions had gotten worse over the past 10 years.
Numerical data show that workers are split between a preference for hourly and piece-rate wages.
Crew worker comments explaining their reasons for pay preferences are illuminating. The most common reason for preferring piece-rate pay was increased earning potential. Workers could acquire greater earnings in fewer hours of work, even though it took more effort to do so. Workers also felt they could work at their own pace without being pressured. For one crew worker, piece-rate work was more exciting and less boring.