Ts&Cs
Biddout, you are right in almost every respect. Just one point. The agreements (incl) SESMA were hard won. They were presented as warmly welcomed by management but I can tell you with certaintly that the version they wanted did not protect the anonimity of the crew in event of analysis of an incident.
The very same principle is true of all agreements. They were fought for over a long period. The only airline management I know of that understands that leadership (rather than driving staff with a stick) is more profitable, is South West in the USA. They hold morale and integrity of the operation as sacrosanct, and so reward people handsomely for going the extra mile rather than punishing them if the do not. They have also made amazing profits for 34 years on the trot, whilst paying the biggest salaries & selling the cheapest seats. Notice the apparent contradiction in terms some have been banging on about?
There is nothing that I have heard about Flybe that so far alters my view that it is of a bottom of the food chain airline that treats pilots with the same respect that it reats the toilet cleaners. If this newish MD is as good as some say, he may learn that it is better to work with the CC rather than fight it but the track record of UK management does nothing to give one confidence.
Someone else made the point that the way to solve the crew problem is make it worth staying not trapping people in nasty mean legal contracts. Absolutely right. But it take foresight & leadership...when did you last notice any of that in corporate management?
The real test for the head honcho is can he learn & be original (well almost) but if it were me I would not want to bet my career on it.