Nice one Roobarb...
This is what we've been telling our esteemed leader for some time now... Rod, please wake up and do something about Waterworld. We are not saying this because we're looking after ourselves instead of them. We are saying it because it is fact! We, as an airline, have far more office staff than any one else! That can't be good. So ignore what those idiots who brief you are saying... and do the right thing. Controlling costs is good, but we as pilots are subject to the airframe x y = pilots. (With y being variable depending on the shorthaul/longhaul mix.) This, put soimply means that when you have the most productive pilots of any major airline worldwide (I stand to be corrected if anyone knows better...) then you cannot make them work harder!!!! The law prohibits it!!! So, you work it out.
Currently we have cabin crew who work extremely hard... ( and I am careful about my choice of words here... because they do spend a lot of time at work which is tiring!) Sadly, due to the insanity of their rostering rules they are ridiculously unproductive and yet still always tired! You need to sort that out Rod...
Morale is at an all time low since I joined (about 5 years ago...) and it's not all post Sep 11.
As our ultimate boss- although I don't report to you directly- I expect you to LEAD. You don't seem to be doing that. With my job title comes responsibility (SFO Shorthaul fleet) and I cannot escape that. (Not that I would want to!!!!) You bear the responsibility for the airline's ultimate outcome. I am pleased to read in your statement that you seem to acknowledge that fact, because there is no escaping it.
So please Rod, when FSAS reports back, although I'm sure you're well in the know as to their findings so far... (if you're not then you should be...) then please consider very carefully whether what they are proposing is what is best for us all... Because what is making me nervous in seat 1R (that's a window seat) isn't terrorists coming into my flight deck- My maglite has that covered- but filling out form UB40 in the benefits office. And I think I probably speak for many of us. We're normal people Rod, who just want to fly aeroplanes for a good employer.
Right, I've said enough!!!!!
Best Wishes all,
Fat Tony