I don't think there's any such thing as a caring employer any more. The old legends who started the companies for who many of us now work - the likes of the elder Schreiner, Bristow and Bonds are long gone. They were hard men but (usually) fair, knew their workers and although not always likeable, were people to be respected and looked after their pilots. Remember the old days of 'gardening leave' in Bristow for example. Now reading through so many threads it's obvious that accounts, with balance spreadsheets in place of hearts rule the aviation world. Funny hten, how in the 'bad ole days' people like Alan Bristow, Bob Schreiner et al still managed to turn in a tidy profit most years.
However, looking at the number of dinosaurs
still working in Nigeria because these new modernised companies can't find anybody to go there at the cr*p wages they offer, I think 'Geoffers' is right in that in the very near future we're going to see a shift in the balance of power to the guys who are out there in the dust, the heat, the humidity, the dangerous conditions every day; returning at night to their lousy sub-standard accomodation with few amenities and illness inducing food: and not to the bean-counters in their Armani suits sitting in their air-conditioned offices taking long lunch breaks before going back (probably via their expensive mistresses
) to their expensive homes every night. Try spending a few months at the ACN estate in Port Harcourt with nothing like a tennis court, squash court, swimming pool or any form of amenity other than a dingy bar and a curry house and see how you feel all you sleek, managers with your company paid memberships at your local health clubs.
The times, they are a changing
