Yes MacDath, a wind up indeed, but with a purpose.
By the way, my story's true enough and kindly note that the peas and potatoes weren't by choice. With the city locked down under curfew, that's all that was left in the hotel pantry. Some former employees still suffer ill health to this day as a result of working up there. Its interesting that your viewpoint focuses on what food you can buy for twenty quid in Kathmandu. At the time my main concern was with staying alive. I still feel that twenty pounds a day wasn't fair compensation for putting my health and safety at risk. Certainly conditions have improved up there, but the Maoists are real enough and the threat is manifest. Where would you rather be - Auckland or Kathmandu?
The whole issue here isn't just about pilots' reduced allowances on a particular contract, its about allowances generally. Where people are detached away from base for extended periods it is fair to consider the local conditions in setting the amount to be paid. There doesn't seem to be any consistency in setting rates and some staff are treated differently to others. Don't you agree?
Lets get on to the bigger issue and discuss things like why allowances are reduced by 40% after 28 days in one location? How do you find somewhere cheaper to eat just because you've been in a city for a month? And we haven't even touched upon the removal of transport allowance without discussion.
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Through difficulties to the cinema
Last edited by Blacksheep; 2nd October 2002 at 13:54.