Reality check here for, I dunno and Britney. You have of course left out some of the best bits. The senior pilots wanted the same deal as the other staff, not surprisingly. What's 4 weeks pay per year when you earn €120,000 a year, Oh yes a nice sum indeed!
EI is not under crewed. it's over crewed, certainly compared to the deadly rivals with the blue tails across the way. Hence the need to cut more than 20 grey hairs who are ready for the golf course anyway. If Aer Lingus pilots worked the same hours as Ryanair pilots, (as surely some of them will soon,because that's where you will be going), this would not be a problem.
Go on strike by all means, that will sink Aer Lingus. That's what they want you to do. A pilot's strike cold precipitate the final collapsse of EI to be rapidly followed by a bold new Aer Lingus (2002), with wholly different conditions. Don't count on the CX being sympathetic to pilots, he's a very ex pilot.
That's the reality. we are into the endgame here, don't be manipulated into playing Russian Roulette with an automatic!
[ 17 January 2002: Message edited by: Steepclimb ]</p>