GUV,
Re: Steal bread from the mouths of UK/EU crewmembers...
Look Bub,
Atlas is a US Certificated Flag Air Carrier. As such the FAA has rules about who can fly the aircraft, where the aircraft must be registered, etc, etc.
The attempt by Chowdry to open a UK base, and to hire non-US certificated flight crews is nothing more than an effort to stop the US crews from LEGALLY ORGANIZING so as to better their pay and benefits and what not. From OUR perspective it is the "European scabs" who are trying to steal bread from OUR mouths...
Now then, how many US crewmembers are invited to join an EU/UK operation? Every ad that I see for an EU/UK operator requires that one have "right of abode" in the UK/EU.
Back when I was a "low timer", we used to have to compete for a very limited number of jobs with "Europeans" who came over here to learn to fly, and then who saw fit to over-stay their visas ( in direct contravention of the law) and work ILLEGALLY in the US as pilots. These folks were "sponsored" and could afford to work for FREE. My wages were artificially held down by the influence of these illegal workers, as were the wages of many of my friends. Now there would be NO FRIGGIN WAY that a reciprocal arrangement could happen because of the PROTECTIONIST policies of the UK/EU "socialist" states. Add to that the fact that the policies of the UK/EU serve to stifle the aviation industry and therefore limit the number of available jobs even further. You guys should revolt. We would never tolerate that kind of BS over here. (oh, I forgot, you can't revolt. Your government doesn't trust you to keep and bear arms)
I don't blame a kid from Norway or wherever from taking advantage of the non-enforcement of US law. But to hear you deride US crew members because they don't want "scabs" in their organization, driving their wages down (again) is just too damn much, especially considering that a UK/EU flight crew member has NO ENUMERATED RIGHT to employment with a US Certificated Air Carrier. (neither has a US pilot any enumerated right to employment with an EU/UK air carrier, but you conveniently fail to point that out).
Move to the US dude. We'd love to have you. Become a citizen. Pay taxes. Bitch all you want. Hang out and drink beer. Teach us darts and soccer and such. Fly for Atlas.
It is apparant to even the most casual of observers that you have never earned a living as a pilot. In fact, I would be very surprised to learn that you even held a Private Pilot's License.
One other thing. I have a very good friend who flys for American. He's a Brit. Super guy. He came here LEGALLY. He stayed here LEGALLY. He flew here LEGALLY. He paid the taxes with the rest of us. He worked hard. He flew junk like the rest of us. He flew in the heat and the cold and when hungry and all the rest. Now he has the golden ring. He is an inspiration.
You should just shut up. You're an idiot.