Originally Posted by bluepilot
much as i am an advocate of the seniority system, i beg to disagree. If a manager (pilot) decides you are unfit for command your number might be up seniority wise but they can still make life very difficult for you to get that LHS.
I agree, but imagine how much fun it's going to be at Open Skies with a 'meritocratic' promotion system.
but the deal openskys offer most non BA pilots is quite attractive and some of those applicants may be BALPA members...difficult decision for those guys
Well I'd take issue with the attractiveness of the offer. The money might be OKish for captains but it's pretty poor for FOs and the proposed schedules are horrendously debilitating. Flying 900hrs per year on two crew transatlantic flights is not a job anyone will tolerate for more than 2-3 years. Even if people do find the prospect of that attractive, they have nothing to lose from the BA dispute. If the BA pilots win OS pilots will have the choice of staying with OS or moving to BA mainline. The choice is theirs. If BA pilots lose then OS pilots either stay where they are or go to another airline.
one of the BA members pointed out on here that we should support this action because BA lead the t and c every other BALPA member aspires too.
I've never believed that everyone aspires to BA, but for as long as somebody else pays more people will leave and employers feel the upward pressure on T&Cs. Once the top tier starts to come down that pressure on employers eases and it's not good for pilots.
What you guys need to realise is that sometimes for VERY GOOD REASONS some of us work for other companies and do not or cannot work for BA, BUT we may call upon your support on issues that may seem small to you!! BA is not the be all and end all.
I don't think I've met any BA pilots who wouldn't offer moral support to any other UK pilot body. We pay our subs to BALPA, and we pay more in than we get out, but we are willing to accept that for the greater good of the pilot body. We can't offer direct industrial support because that would be illegal, but we continue paying our subs into big BALPA even though we could realistically form our own union with our own money if we wanted to. BA employs pilots from all backgrounds and we stick with BALPA on the basis that we genuinely believe that the pilot body needs to stick together.
good luck to all at BA. despite my seemingly anti post you really do have my utmost support.
Thank you. We appreciate it.