On Guard,
Excellent post.
It frustrates me that pilots feel they need to justify fair pay and conditions.
If the business environment in aviation were to be in trouble as in 2001 then it is different case.
By Geoff Dixon's own admission we are not in this situation and neither is it forecast.We have made and are forecast to make profits of 1 billion plus for the next few years.Take a look at GD's and AJ's pay increases over the years as a perfect example.
We need to be careful not to be suckered in by corporate spin.The sky is not falling in and there is a pilot shortage.
The mining industry is expanding and is also short of skilled labour.The result of this shortage is higher pay and conditions.Not just for executives but also for the workers.Supply and demand.
Pilots can achieve the same if we are correctly represented.The Airlines use professional companies to negotiate pay and conditions.Perhaps we should all do the same.JPC, AFAP and AIPA take note.
It makes no difference if we fly for JQ, DJ, Eastern, Sunnies, NJS or QF.We have all invested much time and money into our skilled profession.We are all highly trained professionals and deserve to be treated as such.
It would be a crying shame if we could not better our terms and conditions in a time of unprecedented expansion.Time to grasp the opportunity fellas.
Solidarity, smart negotiation and good old fashioned bottle are required if we are all to take advantage of the "gimme" that has just been delivered to us in the current environment.It will be a long time coming before the next golden opportunity.
CARPE DIEM......................