EK takes revenue in many currencies. It pays many of the big bills in USD -including the pilots.
The following major currencies have risen against the USD:
EUR 12%
GBP 14%
AUD 8%
You dont need to be a genius to work out that even if they gave us a whole 10% increase you would be worse off than this time last year.
The effects of the drop in USD will ensure that inflation in Dubai will be a healthy marging above any of the currency changes - thats a given.
As for the imminent salary announcement - Give me a break! This is a rumour propagated by management to keep us hopeful until the yearly review. Hopefully by then they will have relieved the manpower pressure thru failing airlines, 3rd world recruitment etc. and won't have to give us so much.
Like I said - It happens every year. And every year without fail EK has got more work for less money. That's an absolute Directive to Management. Their own jobs depend on it.
This January you are worse off than you were in January 2006 but be happy - You are better off than you will be in January 2008!