Had a beer with a GB mate last night and he mentioned this thread so thought i would have a look as several of GB's men (and women) are coming to join us. Lots of valid stuff but also lots of usual Ppruners naive twaddle!! A few years ago GB was the place to be in the short haul business but the new team seem hell bent on eroding any kind of trust and confidence that has been established. There have been many new joiners who are of the opinion that because it's a better place than their last outfit why worry about the possible changes!
Well at the moment the bottom line is that the pilots almost took industrial action a few years ago and tracker was introduced to avoid lengthy discussions and avoid disputes. If tracker says zero you get zero and if it says 5% you are supposed to get 5%, we are all aware of the difficult trading conditions out there and i would suggest that all pilots are behind saving costs and improving efficiencies but the DFO's intransigent attitude is not helping matters. You don't get nothing for nothing, if tracker was agreed tomorrow the union would have no problem discussing other issues.
As my mate sees it this is the DFO trying to show some muscle and if you guys don't stand firm then you will be hammered on every issue in the future, you also need to show the incoming MD that you are a fair and moderate bunch and if that he plays ball with you then you will play ball with him.
The market for Airbus rated guys - especially captains is excellent and from what i am told GB, having recruited so many cadets (who are all good guys), has a real issue with finding F/O's with enough hours to promote. If any more captains resign it will dent the budget a bit to run courses - and this is where companys really lose out, F/O's come and go in search of a better deal but when a guy has a command in a company like GB and starts looking elsewhere, particularly back in the RHS, it must set off alarm bells in the managers office - musn't it??
Anyway there we go the result of a few beers!!
