Originally Posted by autofeather
The aircraft (F100) are still on leases to KLMuk (Formerly Air UK) and not KLM.
...sorry to get into the semantics, but KLMuk and KLCuk are now entirely different entities. KLMuk became Buzz, and Buzz then got swallowed whole by Ryanair. The leases cannot have remained with Ryanair, and were definetly not transferred to KLCuk. They were transferred back to KLMuk's parent company, and that was / is ............ KLM.
But, the real problem is this:
The UK pilots want, (and deserve) to join the mainline list on better terms than the previous pilots who transferred. Better terms now, may affect pilots already on the mainline list. The VNV, and the dutch pilots will not agree to this without major concessions from KLM management. KLM management appear not to be willing to make any concessions to the VNV, and want the cheapest solution. So,..........deadlock!!!!
If BALPA and the VNV can agree to UK pilots joining the bottom of the list (maybe better if it is agreed now, but effective date of March 2007, by which time all UK pilots are forecast to be Captains) with a seat / function freeze until seniority permits upward bidding, no current mainline list pilots are disadvantaged, the uk pilots get mainline listing with no adverse future demotions or pay cuts, and KLC management get a highly skilled and motivated group of Captains who are stable for at least 5 years (and not constantly outflowing to KLM thereby causing manpower shortages in KLC, as is the current case). Everybody is happy.
That is all BALPA and VNV can do. The rest of the stuff like pensions, bases, etc is all down to KLM.
( One thing I would add is this - I personally do not think it is realistic to want both to be on the mainline list, and to be based in the UK. Something has to give. You can be BASED in amsterdam but live in the UK, as is currently the case...........covertly, of course
)