That's absolutely correct ABX, but I wouldn't be too hard on the previous and current pilot groups. If there is one thing that I have learnt over the years, it is that these "negotiations" are about one thing only,
Leverage!
Unfortunately in years gone past the company(s) have always had the uper hand in this regard. Short of something along the lines of '89, what can we do? The unilateral decision to ban working on days off would have brought the crewing issue into serious focus, and perhaps, just perhaps, may have made the company take notice. The problem with that is that under Work-Choices it was made illegal to organise any sort of ban on overtime. That was deemed illegal industrial action! As there was no official direction in this regard, most pilots, especially low paid F/O's were reluctant to knock back working on days off. with work choices gone, maybe now is the time to start talking and acting tough?
Any sort of action in this regard will bring condemnation from the company (In the past they have even taken veiled swipes at the pilots for going sick!), so if it is going to be guerilla warfare, it will get nasty. Most professionals would rather see a concilliation process aimed at a mutual benefit for both parties. Sadly, sucessive mangements have proven themselves completely defective in this regard!
So there are really only 2 options.
- Get tough, get united, reject any substandard EBA proposal, refuse to work over-time, but work legally within the EBA.
- Leave for greener pastures
As long as the majority of pilots choose the latter option (and who can blame them), then we will continue to see an erosion of the REX pilots wages and conditions...
17% since 1995 and falling!