...let's just keep a few FACTS straight shall we..?
The annual increments are woefully inadequate to 'keep up' with the annual increase in cost of living in most of the base areas and HK.
The company cynically destroyed the value of a basing in Australia, by firstly stating that the new pay deal would 'take into account the 23AG tax benefit', then, when the Australian Govt cancelled said benefit, CX management decided to ignore the fact that the pay deal should have been increased back to a level to reflect the loss of the benefit. What should be good for the goose...should be good for the...
The USAB pay deal was IMPOSED by the company, based on a basket of US airline salaries (and they insisted on including TWA, with their artificially low number). Since 99 (when USAB was implemented), most US carriers increased thier pilots pay by an average of almost 35%. This doesn't take into account their more favourable retirement age, medical and pension benefits (..before you mention what has happened to UA and DL pensions, AA still has a biggie). Starting in about 03, many of these same airlines have cut pilot pay...by about 35%. Therefore, their pay is STILL about the same now as it was in 99....and ours has not moved AT ALL in that same period. Basically, there is no net difference between salary scales between 99 and now ( I would however like to see the USAB pilots be paid the extra salary that the US carrier pilots recieved over the past 6 years, not to mention the rest of the base areas).
Europe. Even with much more difficult circumstances to cope with, most European airlilnes have NOT cut their staffs pay. Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, BA have ALL maintained or increased the pay of their pilots, and improved their guaranteed pensions. There is NO talk of attacking their employees to help cope with the difficult enviornment. It is interesting to note that Rod Eddington has left BA with the praises of his staff ringing in his ears, as he smartly decided to MANAGE instead of taking the easy route and treating his own employees as the enemy. THAT is a record that is honourable and commendable. BA is a better airline for it.
HK. The only thing that has changed is that Turnbull has left. No one notices. No one cares. Perhaps the present management will reflect on the fact that after 12 years of attacking the value and respect of the most loyal group of staff in the airline, they should perhaps focus on our competitors, our product and our expansion. We would like to help...but don't try growing this airline at our expense.
ps. let's all stop bickering amongst ourselves. Focus on the real issues.