For any non Monarch pilots reading who don't know the story. The cost saving exercise started by recruiting 30 odd ctc cadets in early 2004 to serve a six month 'trial employment' period. You can understand why the existing pilots were upset with the dilution of experience of a relitively small company and the strain it put the trainers under. But you get 30 pilots for free for 6 motnhs!
After six months some of us were offered permanent contracts and some were not. The trouble was the market was still slack after 2001, airlines were not recruiting and the cadets had to take any opportunity they were being offered, even if this involved; a £32k starting salary (low hrs pilots) , capped salaries, one of the worst money purchase pensions I have seen and many other kicks in the arse.
We knew this was a rubbish deal and were concerned that we would be undermining the position of the company council and everything they had fought for over the years if we accepted it. Behind the scenes we had all agreed to stand firm and not accept the offer until we got the old one or it was significantly improved. What happened next I did not expect from Monarch.
We were split into three groups of 10, those they were 'definately offering jobs to', those they 'might' and those who can go and find employment else where thanks very much. The letter which accompanied the offer effectively said to those of us in the 'definite' 10, ' You have a week to sign this contract and if you don't accept it, your job will be offered to someone in the 'maybe pile'. So we were stuffed and had no choice. Divide and rule! The cheek of it was every one in the 'maybe' pile was offered a job anyway! They couldn't refuse the contract because 10 of us had just signed it
It set the precident and everyone joining after 1st Nov 2004 has to suffer the same deal. So RS has saved the company a lot of money he must be doing a good job!
But has he noticed how suddenly Monarch is no longer the place to stay and build a career for new joiners. How many people have left in the last 18 months for greener pastures? What is the cost of recruiting, type rating, line training, kitting out with uniform all these new guys that are being hired to replace the leavers? But that will be costed somewhere else so books still look good.