I think danny has hit the nail on the head: nobody wants to move from where they are (if that's where they want to be of course) and keep the advantages that RYR provide. And they are in this industry pretty exceptional: in a nutshell 5 on 4 off, the ability to plan your life a year in advance, back at home every day, nice airplanes, etc.. that is easy for everyone to understand and no wonder we want to keep it that way.
However, what is happening here is that all this can be changed any time now, and indeed has already been changed previously. And it has nothing to do with BALPA being there or not, the management will squeeze us as long as we don't react. So what you are offering Slim is for all of us to keep it quiet, don't rock the boat, it might wake the dragon. This is our problem, management knows this and they are having a field day.
Can you honestly say that it is BALPA’s campaign that has provoked all this roster and basing uncertainty? Or perhaps our agreements have always been fragile, at the mercy of whatever the company wants, it's just more convenient to ignore that fact?
This is what we are fighting for: the power to discuss any changes, to lift some of the uncertainties that we face. And in no particular order this is what we aim to achieve with BALPA recognition:
- A fair paydeal (ask the last upgraded cpt what his basic is, it might come as a little bit of a shock to you)
- A transparent pay scale: you know where you're standing, no secret excel sheet
- The choice of contract: permanent by default, contractor if you wish to do so. Clearly the contractor option will be associated with less stability, ie you'll be the first one to go if laying off
- Fair basing system with associated compensation if base reduction/closure, a more "humane" system than the usual "We can send you anywhere tomorrow if we want to"
- Fair and transparent A/L system: we all know the restrictions in the summer but otherwise we should be able to use 5x 5 days, etc.. Ask your easyJet mate.. what stops us having a similar system?
- Compensation for simulator, flat fee or similar
- Let's send a shockwave to the RYR community: a seniority list! Not for A/L, maybe not even for upgrades. However I am a supporter of LIFO and I believe that that system would stabilise our situation, give you some reassurance. It's not a perfect system, might not even be completely fair, but it is a system (and it doesn't involve little presents to a girl in the backoffice in STN)
The list goes on and obviously dignity and respect are the foundation of such a deal.
Now here's the choice: we don't do anything and no pilot will be able to ever have a say at the future management plans to reduce our T&C's. Or we get together in this, bring representation with BALPA and start the upward curve. And yes, there will be unhappy times in the immediate aftermath of recognition, let's not ignore it. However for me the benefits far outweigh the temporary strops and disruption to our little lives.
There you go, have the balls now or for the ones with another 15,20 or 30 years of career leave your conscience at home when you go to work and never say anything upsetting to the management.
It has been done guys, it's called easyJet. And don't tell me you haven't applied... I would love to know the number of RYR pilots applying to EZY.. just the number hehe
Last thing: number of pilots in RYR: about 2,200 / number of key shaftmeister managers : about 4 ...
rant over
BALPA - Home