Unfortunately the publics' perception of BA pilots is that they are very highly paid and are afforded very good working conditions
That may be so (the perception bit!) but I think after the efforts of a certain Robert Maxwell the British public is very sensitive to the thought of pensions being eroded, regardless of the affected group.
The current UK Govt with Robber Brown and Bleater Blair has much to answer for. Pensions are in the public eye. We will fight this battle as hard as we need to.
Why not leave and go and be happy somewhere else?
Well, 757-op, the old chestnuts are being trotted out so early in this thread. Many of us were 757 operators in other companies and joined BA
for the pension. The whole point about our industry is that the seniority system means we just
cannot up sticks and go somewhere else - we've done that already to get into BA.
Some facts: BA has sufficient cash inflows to pay off the pensions deficit (over £1.2 billion per year)
BAs cash reserve is sufficient to pay of the pensions deficit in one go.
BAs employee costs (including pension contributions) as a percentage of turnover are lower than Lufthansa, Air France/KLM, Northwest, American and United Airlines.