Essentially, Emirates management have confirmed our status as expatriate workers in their company. We are discovering what it feels like to be utterly powerless in relation to our own working conditions. This is not only about pay but flight time and duty limitations, rostering practices and scheduling. All these factors affect fatigue and safety but are also at the heart of our working conditions.
Our bosses regard posting on PPRUNE as unprofessional but they deny their workforce any other avenue for discussing their worth and bringing up legitimate arguments for better conditions. They will say this is untrue because we can raise our problems any time. But they demonstrate that they don't want to hear them. However, this is exactly the case for all other expatriate workers in Dubai and the Middle East.
Management is about managing, not denying problems exist and papering over them. Amongst the pilots are many guys trying to help and do the right thing by the company but are denied the opportunity because of a lack of legitimate dialogue.
Disenfranchising your workforce must be regarded as cutting off your nose to spite your face. We may not be the face of the airline but we have significant authority over its safe operation day to day.
The one size fits all solution to airline business utilised by the company from its foundation doesn't work any more and more robust strategies for dealing with all conditions needs to be found.
First world image, third world standard.