Jabba - your friend must have started on the Frieghter - the terms that were intially offered where so poor they got less than 10% of the numbers they wanted - so for frieghter ops things could only have got better, and as some one mentioned, the conditions for the third time have improved for the better.
Would you believe that this months pay slip still has a "wage cut" entry - that's the 16% cut that was shoved down the crews throats during SARS - yes bloody SARS - how long ago was that!! So a basic salary of a 777 Capt for the month of March is S$ 7800 - that dear fellows is just under US$5000. Embarrassing is it not? And yes, when you work you can bring that number upto around K13, but, when you don't work, i.e do a course, go on leave or are sick for a few weeks, that's the sum you get. Pittance working for a "major airline"
Jabba - there are very very few positives. "Leave if you don't like" some say. Well, if a few could they would, but they can't beacuse of bonds and so called contracts.