The fact sheet has been published this morning.
Why are the KLCuk Pilots Balloting for Industrial Action?
Dear Colleagues,
The present KLCuk Company began life as AirUK; this company was formed by the merger, in 1980, of several smaller airlines. At its peak, AirUK was a very profitable airline, employing almost 500 pilots, flying 49 aircraft on an extensive European domestic, charter and feeder network. It was the third largest UK airline and from a pilot’s perspective was regarded as a very prestigious employer.
In 1987 KLM, seeing the prospects and profitability of the Amsterdam feeder network from the UK, purchased a 14% shareholding in AirUK. This shareholding continued to increase until in 1996 KLM owned 100%. During the time of increasing its shareholding in AirUK, KLM, with seats on the AirUK board, saw the asset stripping of the airline, selling off many valuable routes and airport slots within the UK.
During this period of time a typical UK pilot had the choice of flying 4 different turboprop aircraft or 4 different jets and a variety of lifestyles to match.
From March 1998 AirUK operated under the brand of KLMuk and in 1999 her name was changed to KLMuk, following that, over a very short period of time, the entire emphasis of the business changed to that of a feeder airline into Amsterdam. A new airline was formed under the brand of ‘Buzz’ to utilize the then current point to point routes, capitalizing on the expanding low cost sector and to utilize the remaining aircraft and pilots that were no longer required to continue the Amsterdam feeder.
The further asset stripping exercise then came in November 2002 when KLMuk was split into 2 companies, KLCuk and Buzz. KLCuk began its integration into the KLM fold; its remaining assets, (aircraft leases and feeder routes into Amsterdam) were transferred to KLM whilst the pilots remained in KLCuk. As a period of rapid expansion was forecast for Buzz more and more of the KLCuk pilots were planned by the company to transfer into this operation. During this time the KLCuk pilots had the opportunity to move to KLM mainline contracts (subject to file check and age restrictions). The terms of this offer made it only really suitable for those pilots who had very little service within the group; the offer involved resigning from the KLCuk Company and starting as a new entrant with KLM. Considering the option to move to Buzz, at a UK base, the offer was not a viable option for the majority of KLCuk pilots.
After the closure of the ‘once only’ option for the KLCuk pilots to move to KLM mainline contracts the KLCuk pilots retained the option to transfer back into the Buzz operation, at a controlled rate, over the next 5 years. Based on lifestyle issues alone, this was how the majority of the KLCuk pilots had planned their future career path and indeed the way KLM had agreed with the VNV how the planned reduction in the number of pilots to be employed within KLCuk over the next few years would work out.
Then comes the ultimate asset stripping exercise of them all when Buzz was subject to a ‘fire sale’, KLM, against all its assurances made to the UK pilot workforce, decided to dispose of this asset as quickly as possible. The subsequent sale of this airline at a ‘bargain price’ to Ryanair took place.
The KLCuk pilots therefore saw their career choices and aspirations removed overnight, the assurances made for the future all gone and the opening into KLM mainline had been shut - firmly.
This brings us to the more recent history of KLCuk Ltd. The remaining pilots within this group have worked very hard to adapt to a workplace that is changing at an unprecedented pace, even for aviation! We have taken on board a vastly different FTL scheme, new flight manuals, new SOP’s, new management styles and an entirely different cockpit philosophy.
During this time we have seen an enforced rebasing exercise, where pilots have been forced to move themselves and their families to new bases, a proposed detrimental change to our pension scheme, a block on all UK recruitment, a refusal to promote a suitable UK candidate to a management position, continuous and routine breaking of our agreements and a threat to dismiss our pilots over harmonisation issues. You therefore have a small taste of the treatment your UK colleagues have received over the last 3 and a half years.
In short we feel we are being discriminated against on a daily basis.
In November 2002 when the KLMuk pilots became KLCuk pilots there were a total of 249 pilots employed, as of March 2006, there remains only 143 pilots. Over the course of the last 3 and a half years 106 pilots have left the employment of KLCuk creating 106 new jobs for KLM pilots on the KLM seniority list. There can only be one main underlying reason why 42.5% of the workforce has left in such a relatively short period of time.
All this despite the fact that as a group the KLCuk pilots have devoted in excess of 1700 years service to the KLM group of companies, we have Captains with 20 years and more service with 10,000+ hrs of experience.
This must seem a world apart from your very own experiences. We fly the same aircraft, operate using KLM SOPs with colleagues who are paid differently, live in different bases and benefit from different salary structures, pensions, redundancy and workers’ rights than the UK pilot work force. Do you think it is fair your UK colleagues are treated so differently?
Balpa’s action is a stand against this discrimination. There are a number of solutions the company can use to solve this situation. Part of Balpa’s proposal is a re-offering of KLM mainline access to its members under fair and reasonable terms and conditions.
Balpa would prefer a solution that encompasses all UK pilots. Clearly a large undertaking, but the stepping stones towards this need to be set in place now. The company has failed to progress beyond their initial offer, seen by both Balpa and its members, the KLCuk pilots, as derisory.
Hopefully you will now have an understanding to the situation your UK colleagues find themselves in. With nowhere to turn and an inadequate solution offered by the company, the UK pilots have elected to make a stand. By doing so Balpa and its members are attempting to once and for all secure a future that offers equality, mutual respect and a fuller place in the dynamic expanding KLM Air France group.
Please note that the Balpa proposals will not directly affect any of your careers. The KLCuk pilots have invested in the past and deserve a stake in the future.
We ask for your support at this very difficult time.
It can also be downloaded
http://www.klmukpilot.co.uk/files/why_are_klc_pilots_balloting_070606.pdf