Just a view from an outsider.
Sometimes the CC don't recommend a deal because they think it is a great deal or that it will meet with the pilots' aspirations, sometimes they believe it is the best deal they can negotiate. We have had this in the past at Britannia when the pay talks have dragged on and on.
The thing the CC need is solidarity and a real desire to give them the mandate to push harder. You MUST let them know what you feel and just as importantly, tell them what support you are prepared to give. With that mandate you can send them back to the company again and again.....
I wish you all well. I think this years pay round is vitally important for all pilots in the UK. Thomsonfly are in talks where the offer has fallen well below our expectations, I read GB talks have stalled and easy talks don't seem to be yielding what you guys want yet either.
If we all cave in and accept a minor RPI related rise this year the employers are going to be laughing all the way to the bank. The recruitment increase and lack of experience in the job market mean that the post 9/11 tide is shifting in our favour. If we don't significantly re-adjust our positions and stop the rot in the renumeration field this year and next we are all doomed to many years of lowering terms and conditions. The next downturn can only be around the corner and the employers are still using the time honoured excuses from the last one to suppress terms.
Good luck to you all in Easy, we all watch with much interest.
PP