It’s not a case that Meeson is one step ahead of Balpa – the union secured trade union recognition despite the company doing its best to persuade pilots from support a length campaign to gain recognition rights. Balpa remains recognised for collective bargaining purposes – but the statutory recognition agreement forced upon the company by the Central Arbitration Committee is not fit for purpose. It allows for a hostile employer like Jet2 to circumvent the prescribed negotiation steps.
Remember what Jet2 was like before union recognition, pilots were some of the lowest paid in the UK. In spite of the fact that Jet2 take an unconventional approach to union engagement, it is worth noting how far the company has progressed since BALPA won a hard-fought campaign for union recognition in 2010-2011. It is incredible to see the company thrive in such a competitive market and in doing so, recognise and award its crew accordingly. Jet2 has clearly developed to become a market leader - however, it could be argued that part of the company’s campaign to undermine collective bargaining is to announce pay increases before the union has been permitted (through the steps prescribed in the statutory recognition agreement) to submit a pay claim. Great whilst the going is good - but buyer beware - what an employer gives with one hand can be taken back with the other - without a strong trade union.
Jet2 was forced to concede at the Hight Court in an appeal hearing just for the company to recognise that ‘hour’s are in scope of pay bargaining. The company has only rostering protocols in place so no agreements or real protections. These protocols were agreed with the PLOG a pilot group sponsored and promoted by Jet2 to undermine Balpa. Ryanair used to have something similar, Wizz currently do. So although Jet2 seems a great place – you would not have the same agreements, protections as you would in easyJet or TUI for example. The company culture is that it resists all trade unions. why? Trade unions speak as a collective wish to address an imbalance of power. It is that simple. If pilots want a voice then they need to get behind the recognised union - it will be too late to build organisation at short notice if something significant happened at Jet2