SNAM & Qatari515,
I can assure you that my new salary doesn't even come close to what I've been accustomed to earning in the past, but now that I'm a step closer to retirement I'm more than happy to see my previously hectic lifestyle slow down a little. As I inferred earlier, it's all about choice! I don't wish to be brash and say that I've just about seen and done everything, but what I can say with some certainty, is that the modern aviation world is now a cut and thrust financial industry and no ammount of bashing your head against the management door will achieve anything; except a bad name for yourself! So, like any other buisiness, you have to approach your management with stealth and plant the seeds of your gripes in small batches, but allways leaving the obvious solution within their own laps, which, eventually, should result in those seeds bearing fruit because they will ultimately find that solution that you planted some time ago. You must realise that you are within an Arab business culture, so the good ideas must come from the management team and not from the shop floor... that just how it is and you aint gonna change that culture overnight.
I'm all for fair play, but there are rules & regulations that govern our businness; some we like and some we don't like, but rightly or wrongly, we're stuck with them.
What I will say, is, that there are no totally satisfactory set of rules within the minefield of FTLs; not anywhere on this planet, because there will allways be a new/oddball situation that cannot be adequately addressed by those rules. Those rules are there to protect not only you as flight crew, but also the airline and its passengers; so, the sooner you get to grips with those rules, and thoroughly understand the interpretation of them, the better placed you will be when it comes to any missunderstanding. I mention 'interpretation', because usually it's the company who will have the final say with regard to interpretation... sometimes not a fair judgement, because as I said earlier, FTLs are a minefield of 'shall', 'if', 'might', 'should', 'must', and 'shouldn't'! When it comes to rostering issues, those rules are taken into account when constructing your monthly roster; however, when the whole operation falls to rat$hit due to delays or disruption to service there can sometimes be errors of judgement in trying pull it all back together again, so it's perhaps not surprising that some people do occasionally get the rough end of the stick. If you find that a roster change isn't quite legally correct, ask someone in Crew Control for clarification, and this will usually resolve itself when the errors have been pointed out. They may of course ask you for a 'favour' on this occasion... that's up to you of course? On the other side of the coin, if you are continually getting shafted, keep a record and put it into print for the attention of your line manager... it will allways get their attention, because they so hate paperwork!
On a final note, there's allways the ultimate letout... you have the responsibility to your company (and to yourself) to say that you are unfit for duty (QCAA FTLs). Go and see your doctor and tell him you are tired... if that should be the case?
I've had my own fair share of being $hafted by management and FTLs, and the interpretation thereof, and I could tell you many real stories that would make your hair curl; unless, like me, your forehead has joined the back of your head! Management is all about providing a level playing field and listening to people.
Stay safe, be calm and objective... tell someone!
TCF