Thanks Bloggs,
I hear what you are saying and I absolutely agree that leadership should come from the top down, also that fish rot from the head first and things have certainly become fairly rotten. Having said that there is also a form of leadership that can come from behind, this is something we can begin to do and is within our control.
It is difficult for us however to have influence on Management, one must recognize that we have become a very damaged and fractured group ourselves, thus making it easier forums to be taken advantage of. My point was that we have in some ways become as bad as management towards each other and I feel this is the biggest victory CX have had on us as a body.
his we do have influence over!
The other reason I'm sorry to say that we have found ourselves in this situation is that frankly our Unions have not had the skill to negotiate the dangerous waters of the corporate minds. We are pilots not negotiators and not business people as much has been lost by the albeit good will but naivete of our unions as has been done to us by management.
With the current 'market forces' we are in a stronger position than ever. With the integration challenges facing us regarding the KA takeover we should be thinking way out of the box. For example there is much talk about this Y system that seems to be favorably considered by the majority of both CX and KA. Why not join the unions on this, study the facts and figures and employ professional business legal strategists
pr and get them to help us prepare a proposal and request a hearing with the Board of Directors and shareholders. If we can present a case that is win win and ultimately crew saving cost saving and moral saving, put figures on it and it proves to be financially wise then Management WILL be forced to implement it. his would certainly turn the tables. Madness is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.
In a company that is responsible to shareholders if the managment can be proven to be damaging the company by their actions then they well be held accountable. we just need to learn to communicate our message in a language that is understood by the shareholders
Equally we need to begin to improve our own moral and standards of behavior, stop this them and us idea both within our pilot bodies and towards the company. It is our company, our careers and our livelihoods. There is so much damage and hatred in our pilot body and it is lashed out in all directions without anyone ever challenging it. Its up to us older guys who have a bit of experience under our belts to protect our colleagues from each other.
As to the C+T, it is one of THE worst environment of abuse. Shame and shame on all those who step into those responsibilities and then ruthless humiliate degrade and destroy the dignity and confidence of those under their influence....
A bit early for me for the old scotch but nice suggestion
