yes is the thin edge of the wedge...I couldnt follow the logic as when they introduced productivity ( 96) it was around 82 hours, then ( as we got more longer routes etc) it went down to the current figures ( if you all remember the sales pitch on that one?) and now they are saying that more long haul means it has to move the other way?? Seems a back flip to me.
The thing is that they should be moving productivity down not up to get the desired effect. If we were all rostered properly for say 75 hours +/-10 per month x 10 months of avail time that would get them the 750 they are after each, and if productivity kicked in at say 60 or so then we would always be in productivity and as such the 'greed is good' would kick in and there would be less sickness, ,more motivation to do extra time ( used to be called grey days once in another life) , consequently reduce reserve coverage etc.
But no... they didn't see things this way and have gone the other direction... the result is likely to have exactly the opposite effect on what they are trying to achieve.
If the managers used some modern leadership notions - such as adaptive concepts - where those with the problem come up with the solutions then all things could be put on the table and negotiated to arrive at a win - win scenario.
But I digress - there has never been any leadership shown in this Company - very good mangers when it comes to budgets, rules, targets etc but those techniques fail to work when the problem is as undefined as the current climate might suggest.
I wonder how come companies like Southwest manage to operate with 80 employees per jet but we need 150 .. maybe there is around 70/jet unneccesary dead wood in the system and we should do something about that ...not to mention the fact that a country the size of the US has one president and one VP and we have ... hundreds!!
but I forget .. EK is not about efficiency it is about providing employment for a bunch of folks from a sheltered workshop..
If it was about efficiency there are several other major initiatives they could use to increase crew utilisation - like remote rosters, job share, basings etc etc but these are not even considered as the political fall out is too great.
So, sorry AS, give me a break with the logic of long haul requiring higher productivity thresholds... it will work in exact reverse.. but I know you are just the messenger..this comes from much further up the line..... and we know who that is.. and all this after such a nice letter about the latest fog event etc... so much for motivated, keen and engaged workforce.!
