Very good points Kraut.
Congrats to the likes of Rubik101! I hope you are happy that you avoided industrial action by chickening out and 'keeping your powder dry for the next battle.' This pay deal was not so much about numbers (nickel and dimeing about 0.5% here or there), it was more a show of strength (or rather weakness...) and now it's clear who the winner is.
The @sses of the pilot community have been presented on a golden plater to the management and the door is now wide open for: local EU contracts, random rostering, less leave, no loyalty bonus etc. The worldwide economy is slowing down, it only takes one big airline (Alitalia?) to go t!ts up and then management/Cor will be able to dictate the terms in 2008/2009 under the motto "take it or leave it."
As for local European contracts: don't underestimate the effect this will have on the BALPA membership numbers. Most in Italy, Germany, France and Spain will not see a reason to either join or stay with BALPA.
This in turn will further weaken BALPA, so I hope people are not so naive to think that random rostering in combination with some kind of bidding system will be a taboo subject in the near future.
Don't start crying when this whole lifestyle issue (or any further deterioration in terms and conditions) blows up in your face next year. Just try to remember the following: "we told you so!"
