Originally Posted by
mik3bravo
Well said, Sober Lark.
Most pilots ending up at ATPL levels, have pursued flying as a career which is often born from having years of passion to fly. So I certainly do not buy it when I hear union representatives sexing up their agenda to create an illusion of widespread discontent amongst the flight crews.
FR offer a pilot B737 type jet time and good as experience plus healthy salary levels too. Some go on to other airlines where they can get into the longhaul space flying heavies.
I think the unions in particular and their representatives need be extremely careful in how they push this because ultimately they are fighting a lost battle that has now actually placed pilots job security at definite risk right now. There will be redundancies and personal endebtiness defaulting on pilot tuition loans, mortgages, car loans and so on.
Plus the public opinion towards their cause is not on the unions side or the couple of pilots pushing for more love and touchie feelie workplace culture.
Some people are blind to seeing just how good they actually have it but there again, herd mentality and peer pressure can be cancerous.
There is always a batch of rookies eager to get into that right seat and with no interest in union activation, these rookies just want time on type and good pay and satisfying their passion for flight. Unions totally do not get that.
Sober Lark
There are plenty of forums where you can read how badly Ryanair has treated it's Staff, it's not only about pay to the average outsider (that works for an Airline) but more about recognition and respect. Sadly its been missing for many years.
Ryanair are good at spinning. They will tell you Pilots only work an average of 23 hours a week - shock horror you'll say. That's 23 flight hours so doesn't include the time to report for duty, the turn round time and to go off duty so more like 55 hours a week.
They will tell you that they stop flying every Christmas day so their Staff can be at home. They won't tell you the main reason is their Cabin Crew are paid ****e so cannot afford a car and guess what the bus services don't run on Christmas day.