Problem yet again is the misinterpretation of what BALPA is. You don't join, sit back and wait for BALPA to fight your battles for you. You HAVE to motivate yourselves. If Emerald was that bad, why didn't the pilots demand action by threatening to strike? Simplistic I know, but if you let the dictator walk all over you and don't stand up to be counted, how can you blame an organisation that provides the backroom staff? Trouble is the 'dictator' knew what he could get away with. Anyone who pays (was it) £12k for an HS748 rating is not going to go out on strike due to lousy terms and conditions, at least not for some time.
It's the same at JET2. So many guys are either in it for themselves having had a career elsewhere or starting out with a huge debt and no experience, that they can dictate lousy terms and conditions for some time. If you stand up and be counted then you could improve them.
Boeingman
if still unhappy they can leave and join a "career airline". Last time I looked nobody was forcing anyone to stay at Jet2 if they are unhappy.
I quite agree. I wasn't including leaving as an option! True though, there will be those who decide enough is enough and leave for pastures new. This can be a big factor if used collectively to bargain for better terms and conditions. I hear Easy and Ryanair are losing guys at quite a pace, as quickly as they bring in new hires!
Trouble is, a certain amount of turnover appeals to companies these days as someone who stays years and years tends to cost more money, especially in a career airline with payscales etc. Evaluate training costs and it can become more desirable to have a turnover rather than retain in the short termism that most businesses seem to follow these days. Once the low cost airlines become 'mature' it will happen there too, this is one reason why MoL despises unions because he knows it will cost him long term.
I think maat has given a very good example that demonstrates that BALPA is not the driver, it is the 'informed passenger' offering support services. So why do those with a bad experience keep blaming 'BALPA'? I just don't get it. What is so difficult for intelligent people to understand about the way BALPA works?
PP
Edited to add that I agree that Jet2 maybe a decent lifestyle option for many right now; not too much flying, decent rostering and friendly crewing staff all willing to help. Rest assured it won't be like that forever and many will be bleating when the lifestyle issues have been eroded
and the terms and conditions aren't good.