Unfortunately this is going to be my last post for a while, but don't worry I will be back.
PPrune, particularly on these threads, offers a great opportunity to provide a balanced perspective on airlines such as Emirates. However, the majority do not post. The minority, such as LHR Rain and a few others (maybe a maximum of 10) provide the majority of the input which takes any balance there was out of it. A lot of what they claim is true but it needs to be corrected in context. Occasionally these more prolific posters whip up some emotional sentiment amongst newbies that "want to be one of the gang" and they resort to pathetic little posts that provide no substance or content of merit that is worthy of a response.
Guys, if you spent a little more time reading my posts for meaning and intent you would realise that I am neutral on most of what goes on in Emirates. Why neutral? Because I very much doubt that it's going to change and I acknowledge (albeit reluctantly) that the contract I signed is the contract that I am working. If the definition of a "contract full of holes" is "an incredibly vague and open contract", then we agree on something. Just get used to the fact that you have signed (as I have) a contract that allows your employer to alter policy at will with no impact upon contracted terms. Do I support this fact? No, but I accepted it and acknowledged the flaws in my contract because it was the best deal going at the time and believe it or not still is. The reason I accepted a less than explicit (by definition: clear, precise) contract was because I looked at everything else that was going on, both here and elsewhere, and came to a balanced decision. When a better offer comes along, I will go as many others will too. However, I'm not going to blame Emirates for a contract that I signed in a good state of mind.
If the contract doesn't suit you, then tell people on pprune why it doesn't suit you and what you intend to do about it, but don't claim the company has changed your contract because they haven't. People DO need to know that the contract they sign will provide conditions in accordance with company policy and that the company policy may (or should I say will) be amended from time to time. Those of you with legal experience in industrial law already know that. People DO need to know that everything outside the contract, including life in Dubai, can and probably will change. LHR's comments about the driving and infrastructure are spot on.
If you want to bag the company and Dubai for meddling in policy to our detriment, then you won't find any argument from me. My only claim is that the contract has not been breached.
Thanks to all the guys that have sent me PM's acknowledging my angle on the subject and thanking me for the balanced view.
PS
Sorry about all the slander Kevin, I'd suggest you send a note down to recruiting asking them to tighten up on the psychometrics.