Why this offer is Not Acceptable
In summary, KLM have made the following offer to pilots employed by KLM Cityhopper uk:
1. Go through KLM selection process to ensure "quality";
2. If selected go to bottom of seniority list and have a function in accordance with that seniority;
3. Pay will be 'protected' at current level until KLM pay catches up.
This is not acceptable for the following reasons:
1. If KLM have an issue with the "quality" of KLCuk pilots they should have said this before having us fly with "KLM" on the side of our aircraft. This first happened in 1999. Too late to raise it as an issue now.
2. I can live with starting at the bottom of the seniority list. However there are very big flight safety implications in demoting a pilot, appointing someone with less experience to do his job and then expecting the 2 pilots to fly together. This reverse experience gradient is something an airline which takes flight safety seriously ought to take careful heed of.
3. The term 'pay protection' has not been defined. I will bet my pension (again) that KLM interpret it to mean that existing pay stands still until KLM pay cattches up. That is effectively a pay cut.
KLM want Cityhopper to harmonise the jet fleet divisions (NL and UK) so we all fly together. We will all use the same procedures, fly the same aircraft to the same places with the same cabin crew in the same weather. We should all be on the same contract. To be on different contracts is dicriminatory.
To expect a KLM Cityhopper uk pilot to earn less to be on the same contract is even more discriminatory.