This is seriously bad news for UK aviation.
I can understand companies wanting to make econonmic sense etc . . but it sounds like JMC are pushing things to the far extreme.
For those who have lived/worked in the LGW/LHR area and seen so many changes through the 80's/90's , this has got to be one of the worst episodes an airline has enforced on it's staff yet.
People who fly do it for the love of the job and unique opportunities they are given (and the often hard work that comes with that.). .To find yourself 10 years down the line of a career path, with a home/family/other commitments ,then 'just laid off' to make way for some more poorly paid new temps is a situation presented to you by a compamy with no foresight/forethought.
Whatever happened to the V important qualities of LOYALTY AND EXPERIENCE ??? Are some airline management just totally crazy?/blind?
And to put 5 crew on a 235 seat 757 is tantamount to slave labour if they are still required to carry out a full service - it's bad enough with 7.
Need i even point out the security implications??. .There will never be a crew member available to keep a watchful eye on the cabin/gallies/flightdeck/toilets etc....
JMC are asking for a whole lot of trouble imposing forced redundancies on loyal crew and reducing the crew compliment to an unreasonable level .
I can only wish all the crew remaining the best of luck under this regime, and even more so to those who have been unfairly laid off, a fresh start in the coming new season.
I won't even say what I wish to their underhand management.