What COVID did for piloting is the same as what it did for us. It reduced the number of pilots flying for the airlines. For us, it stopped us from training, having the same effect. The difference is we are government and giving us a raise takes a literal act of Congress, and we see how well the those who want to dismantle all government in the House are getting along. Dare I say an argument for privatization? Don't @ me.
Hopefully it never comes to this, but when the airlines inevitably go through another bankruptcy cycle and all of these great contracts are thrown out I think we'll be sitting pretty happy again, relatively. Again, it will take a literal act of Congress to change our pay. Should the US Government go bankrupt? Well, then we have bigger problems.