GF increases accom allowance - for singles only!!

[Dixons Cider]

This one is fact gentlemen - the wise ones upstairs have seen fit to increase the housing allowance, finally recognising the obvious fact that the allowance is well below market values in Bahrain.

However, here's the kick in the guts. They have deemed this shortfall is relevant to the singlies only, and completely ignored the married guys. The single housing allowance is now increased by 50BD, backdated to Sept. So to all the single guys on the allowance, congratulations. And to the new joiners who fought so hard to improve their situation, well done. Some are going to say its only 50BD, but its 50 extra in your pocket if you are having to supplement GF's inadequate contribution. Its a step in the right direction.

The fact that GF have chosen to completely ignore the married contingent stinks, and stinks bad. Most guys that I know of are having to supplement the allowance, therefore the allowance is not enough. Simple.

Some will say that I choose to bleat now and ride on the coat tails of others hard work, well maybe so and I dont give a sh!t really, the fact is that my employer has shown complete disregard for me and a large group of my colleagues.

I'm p!ssed!!!! Anybody else...?

[tbaylx]

If that's true then it's time for me to go in and have a serious bitch fest at someone in housing....

[Dixons Cider]

Its indeed true, seen it in black and white with thine own eyes.

Unfortunately it'll do no good walloping the guys in housing - its come from higher up the food chain....

Time for a collective voice I say

[jackbauer]

Dixon's, FYI there has been a difference in the housing allowances for a long time in GF. Some of the new single guys are already getting more than the senior married ones! The thing is if you joined 7 or 8 years ago your rent is probably half that of those joining now, the market has risen considerably in recent years. The new allowance is to reflect this and make it a little easier on the new guys. As for a a collective voice....things will not change til people start leaving, so you jump first! If you believe any different then you have not learned anything in you time in the kingdom. PS Its indeed true, seen it in black and white with thine own eyes.
I think that should be MINE own eyes.

[virgin camel]

jackbauer...
I dont know whose side you are on here. Do you think this change is fair and correctly implemented?

That aside, GF policy is flawed and short sighted.
As a married FO (with kids at school) its simply not feasible to hang around with GF when the strategy they are choosing is patch work to fix problems.

GF need to sort out housing and schooling allowances. People are leaving and will continue to leave if they dont....

That has been said before.....nothing gets done beacause either:

1. Management are daft sods,or
2. The coffers are empty.

Feel free to add to the list.

[jackbauer]

Fact is I am on my side and thats the only way to be in this business. There is no loyalty in aviation from the airlines or your colleagues. As for it being fair or not, well no its not fair but its not going to change so whats the point in getting upset about it. You say that GF need to sort out housing and education and people are leaving. Sorry to tell you but there has never been a better retention rate of pilots since the Tristar days. I agree that housing and education are big issues (for pilots) but it has not got to a point yet where they have to do something about it. That will only happen when people are leaving in significant numbers, so hurry up so I can get my increase! So far there's you and Dixons, we only need about 60 more and we have the whole housing/education thing sorted. ;) I have already made posts to the effect that anyone with more than one child should stay away from GF as it's not financially viable on FO salary. The time to command is so long that you will be on the breadline for a long time before you have a living wage. What more can I say!!

[tbaylx]

Dixon's, FYI there has been a difference in the housing allowances for a long time in GF. Some of the new single guys are already getting more than the senior married ones! The thing is if you joined 7 or 8 years ago your rent is probably half that of those joining now, the market has risen considerably in recent years. The new allowance is to reflect this and make it a little easier on the new guys. As for a a collective voice....things will not change til people start leaving, so you jump first! If you believe any different then you have not learned anything in you time in the kingdom. PS I think that should be MINE own eyes.

jack,

There has been a difference in the housing allowance because the married guys were getting about 100 BD more a month to cover the rent on a larger place that they would need for a family. If that difference has now been reduced by increasing the singles allowance and not the married guys then i take issue with that. And if you think tghat the rent hasn't been increasing for everyone, regardless of their date of joining then you either are clueless to the rent situation here, or have a very generous landlord that hasn't increased your rent in years.
And i don't believe for a sec that at least bringing the issue up dosen't help, if enough guys bitch about it then it will change...eventually, otherwise they wouldn't have raised the single guys housing now that the retention is supposedly so good. Anyway the if you don't like it leave attitude just irritates me, i'd rather see it change and make it worth staying.

In any case i'd like to see this verified on a few guys pay before i get all excited...

[Sal-e]

My take on this is that every pilot knew very well the allowances and most probably the inadequacies of it before they joined up. Being GUESTS of the kingdom, would it then be fair to rise up against the owners of the house? How about if every single one of the pilots signed a petition of REQUEST? It's kinda like asking the owner of the house for a better room. Would management consider then? And who would we address the petition to without a CEO? VPO? HOFO? His Majesty himself? The point I guess is that we gotta ASK and not demand these kinda things. It's called courtesy. You never know. You could be surprised. Please don't ridicule this post if the above hasn't been tried.

[brassplate]

hear hear sal-e. courtesy certainly has been lacking in our chosen profession.

[sheikmybooty]

Gentleman, it is indeed true................I have recieved the extra BD 50 and back dated from sept. It appears that only those taking the 250 (now 300) in lieu. ie those that handle the house contracts themselves.

A common voice is required!!:ugh:

[Dixons Cider]

Ahhhh Jack....you little little person...

So the old "if you dont like it then leave" chestnut again eh. Easy isnt it.

If you were to pull your head out of the sand (or managements arse, you choose) then you would realise that the situation worldwide is rapidly changing, there are more and more jobs becoming available, and our skill set is becoming more marketable.

People have left, people are leaving, and many more will leave.

In light of todays market, or more importantly tomorrows market, it would be a wise manager that at least attempted to retain some of that hard earned skillset. This recent decision does nothing towards that.

PS Jack...I think that should be MINE own eyes.
I suspect thou has seen it with thine own eyes

[jackbauer]

Dixon, you are always good for a laugh. At least the grammer lesson was not lost on you. You are typical of the kind of person one finds all over this business i.e. one who thinks he is the most important person in the airline and it won't survive without them. When will you realise nobody in GF gives a toss about threats of leaving from you, me or anyone else. I'm not taking sides just pointing out the facts. After all the resignations has it made any difference? Unless of course you consider 50BD (for a few) a real victory for the working classes! Up the workers!!!!(and yours):p

[ironbutt57]

Dont have to do much investigation to come to the realization that people are leaving all carriers everywhere for "greener pastures" they are welcome to, not being critical of those who choose to do so...one must do whats best for him/herself and family...so if the T&C's dont suit you feel free to leave, and leave it to those of us who find it acceptable....gee..the "eurobrats" are sure quiet these days.....:}

[Malakaaaaa]

Gents I for one feel compelled to say that I sincerely appreciate any improvement in our terms and conditions (and I say this as a married guy with kids who is not affected by the allowance increase). It frankly shows me that management are trying to improve our conditions and believe me when I say this is not because some of you are "threatening" here on Pprune to walk.
I can tell you from many years of experience in GF and numerous previous managements that we didn't get T&C improvements even when we were desperately short of crews and leave slots were being cancelled to meet the shortages. So Dixon relax mate, GF can actually survive and continue flying even if you resign.

[jackbauer]

Hey Malakaaaaa I think they got the minima!

[Left Coaster]

Guys, go ahead and leave! The costs of living are not of any issue to the GF dollar wallah's! Plenty of evidence to support it too... Lots have left (inc me) cause the costs of living all over the ME are out of control and does your company care? Nope! (unless you are the landlord) GF is STILL fighting me for the ESB! Over a year now and they haven't sent me a DIME! So leave if you want, they can still F*** ya from afar! Greener pastures? Maybe, but forget GF...Time for a lawyer...:mad:

[gulfboy]

Gentlemen, you all are of course aware that Cabin Crew who are for various resons not able to live in "company accommodation", receive the amount of BD 80.- (as in eight-oh) per month.
This amount has been in place for years and years and years.......

[Trader]

Of course the cabin crew also have very nice apartments. CSM's have their OWN nice apartment and do not have to share.

The cc have better accomodation than the pilots and don't pay a penny to have it.

[ironbutt57]

Did anybody actually try finding a vacant flat in a building that houses cabin crew and request that a flat in same building be provided as company accomodation? :confused:

[tbaylx]

Did anybody actually try finding a vacant flat in a building that houses cabin crew and request that a flat in same building be provided as company accomodation? :confused:

Yes, they won't house pilots in the same buildings as F/A's. The company provided accomdation to pilots when i looked either wasn't available (ie they didn't have any vacant) or wasn't adequate at all for a married guy. You were basically stuck getting your own place. I've heard that they have some 1/2 decent places now, though i haven't seen them.

[ironbutt57]

So the FA's can have a bldg full of Navy blokes for neighbors...as most do, but not GF colleagues?? strange!

[Heleheleyani]

I agree with Ironbutt here, I know one particular sky chef (Italian stallion) living in same building with the FA's.

Does the company think the sky chefs and Navy guys are harmless?

Personally I wouldn't like to be in the same building as FAs but hard to understand the logic if why would the company prevent pilots to live in same building with the FAs if that's the case.

Oh by the way what's the general opinion about the new hotel in Muscat (Golden Tulip), is it only me who thinks its dirty and smelly?

[ironbutt57]

the tulip is well....the tulip convenient for min rest...food situation is better than the safari i think....it's better than the tulip in bah by a long shot...

[Sal-e]

Remember this thread? Allowances, salaries, issues mostly resolved. New planes to come and all the promises of a year ago slowly coming to fruition.