Originally Posted by
mngmt mole
Asturias. What is wrong with Trafalgar advocating that the pilots of CX prepare themselves for what is coming, and devise a strategy to best resist what will surely be the managements wholesale attacks on their conditions? His advice on the matter is sound. He also stated that he felt things would start to turn around soon, and that the company's reaction will be based on opportunism. Surely you know that to be true? If the company wants to attack the bases, then ensure that your only answer is to return on a full benefit package. If the management BELIEVE you are serious in that response, they are far less likely to enact that threat. What is wrong with that advice? Further, the fact that many other pilots are looking for work is irrelevant. CX have to deal with the pilots they have employed now. They can't simply fire them and replace them. Trafalgars advice is pertinent, timely and sound. If you don't think so, then clearly explain why. The ad hominem attacks are frankly reeking of surreptitious management response.
Management’s obvious counter move is to make the Hong Kong base as unattractive as possible, even if it’s a “temporary” measure.
Sure, most of the based guys can return to Hong Kong on expat conditions. But what are they exactly?
ARAP. This is purely company policy. Of course what is not company policy is the contractural obligation to provide “Accommodation and Rental Assistance.” What the monetary value of that is will probably be determined by a Hong Kong court. In 5 to 10 years time. Along with HKPA the pilot body missed an opportunity in 2018 to legally define a value to the allowance.
Provident Fund. Company policy.
Education allowance. Company policy.
Talk to any of the individuals who were involved in negotiations during Cx’s last panic attack in 2017. The company is well aware of these cost saving measures and more.
We can’t brush off the fact that thousands of unemployed pilots are now looking for work. We’ve been banging on about market forces and leverage for 5 years. We had it. We chose to blow it. Now market forces and leverage are to management’s advantage. Will they also blow it? Remember, they don’t have to change our contracts by 1 word. Simply amend company policy.
Will guys leave? Undoubtedly. But not as many as would leave during an aviation boom, and their replacements will be easier to find. So management don’t have to “fire and replace” anyone. Simply replace those that chose to leave and they won’t have to do that for some considerable time.
There is a value to legally binding contracts, but a generation of pilots who’d never seen a downturn didn’t understand that. We blew opportunities in 2016 and 2018 to have a defense in place once the wheel turned. I suspect both Hong Kong crew and based crew are about to face the consequences of that.