Friends I wish you all the best in your efforts.
There is nothing new that we pilots get the bashing in media from our own employers. Actually this is done to justify the existence of the over grown human-resource department. At one time the airlines world over employed people to keep an account of the pilots/cabin crew's leave and passages. Later on these guys became the managers and call themselves that they run the airlines. Now every time there are negotiations these guys have to justify their own existence. This is the same very reason that this media bashing of pilots takes place before any pay agreement is finalized, this is not only true for the “Airline of the year” but for all the countries.
What the management forgets is that Pilots, these are same very people who made their airline safest, now are being referred to as people with unethical demands, careless lot, improperly educated. One stage the airline start comparing the pilots with the ramp supervisors etc. But the management knows that the public memories are short-lived, nobody in the public or the media questions them when they start boasting about airlines safety records.
This happened in USA and Korea recently and Indian subcontinent sometime back. Poor pilots were asking their rightful wages that let the market forces play the role. In all these countries pilots were the victorious lot. Reason being they were united, did not buckle down to the stupid management pressure, did not allow the cracks to develop in their ranks, embarked upon various agitations over a period of time, authorities intervened, and impasses were broken, the airlines were saved from losing revenue 'cos of the various agitational approaches by the pilots.
Someone mentioned that why not all the STAR ALLIANCE airlines have the common union for workers. Well this can not be true, however this is true only in the sense that all the STAR ALLIANCE partner airlines not only share their pax., but also the management handling union tactics. This is true for all the partners of the ALLIANCE. You should try and read the thread on Singapore Airlines another partner to this unholy ALLIANCE here on PPRUNE forum. It is really an eye opener I mean the airline and pilots relationship right from the way this airline is being run. How pilots are deprived of their rightful demands in this part of the world. I am sure in Europe we people are better off.
BREAKING NEWS: INDIAN SUBCONTINENT, PILOTS GETS 40% PAY RISE ACROSS THE BOARD IN THE NATIONAL AIRLINES……………………………………………