What's with lumping all us F/Os together as job-hungry, sticky-handed shaftees with no hours and slim chance at employment? Some maybe.
But others, like myself, joined because we liked the look of the company, where we'd be based, working conditions, the ability to actually speak to someone in crewing etc who would try and help out..... And it wasn't the only offer on the table.
It takes two up the front end to get the jet there and back.
I feel bad for the folks at BOH being told to move north. It's not so grim as some make out and I'm sure that there are underlying commercial gains, but I hope that those gains outweigh the inevitable loss of (a lot of excellent) personnel which will occur from such a decision.
As for the sector pay, I was pleased when I opened the letter to see it had been agreed and implemented - and not 'cos of the money, but because value is being recognised for hard effort shown and we are being brought up to the standards of our peers. Then I saw the amounts and felt very insulted - not so much effort recognised then. Especially after tax and in place of a pay rise in line with inflation.
I like working for the company, but feel abused by this offer. I would rather have received no sector pay than this offering. I feel sad about the inevitable bad feeling that will come about because of this, since it will sour what is, at the moment, an overall decent working environment. It makes the company seem cheap, penny-pinching and arrogant of feelings of their workforce.
I hope the company looks at this and does something - soon - before it needs to become a unionistic "us and them" scenario. Floodgates may or may not open, but there will be a number of people for which this will be a push in the outward direction.
You can't rely on base complacency to make up for too much, J2.
As I said, I like the company and I like the work, so I really hope that they recognise this as a source of discontent and address it.
Cheers
G
