Marlowe, summed up quite succinctly.
Both sides will have to give and take a little. Flybe's lack of a REAL scheduling agreement is quite pitiful in this day and age. You ought to be trying to move out of the dark ages, and this merger gives a perfect opportunity to do so.
For those who are still adamant that BACON crews have no rights other than to get pinned to the bottom of a combined seniority list and accept any sh!t that comes their way... then why are BOTH BALPA CCs talking to one another? Why are they moving through this minefield with care and consideration for each other and BOTH pilot workforces? Because they both know that a combined and united approach to JF will get his attention just a little more smartly. A scheduling agreement does not need to be a financial noose around a company's neck. Indeed, if implemented correctly, it can be a huge benefit to a company. It encourages those who want lifestyle issues as a priority. It attracts new staff due to the stability it brings. It encourages the company to get the crewing levels correct so as not to permanently sh@ft a demoralised workforce.
BACON did not fail due to it's scheduling agreement. It failed due to many other factors..
.. a threefold (at least) increase in managerial posts after BA's aquisition.
.. a seemingly incompetent commercial department who NEVER accepted advice from crews.
.. No defined direction for BACON.
.. No idea who the target market was (firstly it was business... then complete u-turn to belatedly attempt to attract the day-to-day leisure punter.
.. No advertising of BACON routes (or anything outside London) until too late.
.. No investment in modern technology.
.. Inability to find and hence book BACON flights online.
.. Determination that the BA way was the only way.. crews nightstopping all over Europe.
.. Crews based in the wrong parts of the country after FSAS 1,2,3...
.. Resultant £300k per month taxi bills.
...Need I go on?
A lot of these points could have applied to Jersey European before that business was turned around, and JF sees that in BACON. He is laughing, I'm sure, at the incompetence of BA to see what to do, and so he's going to be laughing all the way to the bank when he proves it can be done with us.
the more and more i read on here, the more and more i see Flybe as some ancient company whos work force seem to have this stuck in the mud mindset, do you have to tug your forelock and bow every time jimbo makes an appearance!!! Or do you just have to kiss his ring!!
Indeed, Marlowe, some of these supposedly intelligent professionals seem proud to still have such archaic practices in place.
