Originally Posted by
BEagle
cynicalint, that was precisely the point I made to when some potential MFTS people came sniffing around to speak to us...
Also some of the first QFIs who left the RAF to work for a contractor instructing at basic level soon found that the pay rates which had been quoted were nothing like what they were being paid. Also they found that the contractor was assuming that the salary on offer when added to the service penion would be equal to the former military pay. Needless to say, they left the organisation pdq!
One ex-A1 QFI told me that during his 'acceptance check' with a contractor's instructor, which involved close formation, he'd actually had to take control and teach the checker how to fly close formation, because she was so bad!
That's interesting because, presumably, they were given the salary range prior to joining?. Unlike the following.
Not so long ago, a not so cunning plan was proposed to consolidate training, all three services, and free up what is now termed defence estates. This plan was called....Metrix. In theory, based at St Athan, cue artists impressions of leafy roads, luxury living, the usual promotional BS in fact. However, this plan seemed to fluctuate at times, funding being mentioned, in passing, as to why. But then, some sort of momentum occurred and visits from said organisation began.
It would be fair to say they didn't endear themselves to the RAF, let alone us, and gave the impression it was a done deal (which it was far from) and they were there to take over. Enter the various interviews, or "scoping" as they termed it. Enter also Ms Vacuous from HR, only capable of speaking in HR speak, and, one suitably attired, snake oil yooof. The questions set the tone. "did I have any experience as an engineer ?" "what do you do ?" ....faced with such a target rich couple, I indulged myself at their expense. But, eventually, we got around to remuneration. The answer to my question, inc pension plan, was...."competitive."....so I asked for something more tangible. I was curtly informed I would be advised,
"IF" I was selected ...
But then came a more telling meeting, one of those semi formal style types, conducted by the front man, a former senior officer no less. 0/10 for presentation / 0/10 for conviction 0/10 overall in fact, not that the audience were overly enthused anyway. But then came the killer question from a usually quiet individual. along the lines of, so far nobody has mentioned pay scales, would TUPE be applied and, what sort of redundancy package would be offered.
At this point, one of the minders intervened and demanded to know why he was asking these questions. His calm response included a selection of Anglo Saxon words and phrases....the meeting, was, as they say, rapidly adjourned.
Karma came a short while later when the project was, sensibly, cancelled. Those on the Station were given 1hr to clear their desks / leave. I understand the RAF "kindly helped" them to find the main gate.
We never did find out the proposed, and probably mythical, salary scales or pension plans.