99% of easyjet pilots reject pay offer

[10002level]

NSF,

I have read many of your posts and come to respect your opinions on this forum. Like yourself I think this deal needs to be thought about over a period of time. However I am tending to lean towards the view that says that what we have is "mutton dressed up as lamb" (not my words).

The principle of moving taxable sector pay and loyalty bonus into the basic salary is sound providing the uplift in basic salary is sufficient to ensure parity with the previous net pay plus a small increase for the annual pay rise. My concern is that what we have here is a new basic pay which has not been uplifted to ensure parity. In your case you "only" operated 450 net sectors last year which is much less than most - may I ask if you are a sim trainer?. I more realistic figure for the average line pilot is 500+ net sectors - at John Lennon 500 is an absolute minimum that I would expect to operate. Now complete the calculations for this figure and you will see that the proposal becomes less attractive.

Then there is the question of pension. I thought (hoped) that the company's pension contributions to become comparable with those of Mytravel, Virgin, First Choice, Thomsonfly, etc. This would have required a doubling of the company's pension contributions and for anyone saying that this is not achievable, if it can be achieved in the aforemantioned companies, it is attainable in easyJet. Now I would add the rider that the salary sacrafice needs to be explained somewhat, but from what I see it is in fact a tax-advantageous method of getting the staff to pay towards their own pension which is fine. BUT it should be done on the back of a 13 or 14% company contribution.

Finally there is the matter of differential pay which appears to have been accepted by the cc. This is a deal breaker for me and is totally unacceptable.

Please remember that we are in this for the common good. A balanced decision has to be reached taking all aspects of the offer into consideration. As I said, I am leaning towards a no.