Norman, seasexsun is spot on. As I said a few posts ago, low-cost is the McDonaldization of aviation.
The only reason why we have yet to plumb the hideous depths that Ryanair have in employee treatment is due to the presence of a 70%+ BALPA membership at easyJet. If that were 95%+, we would not be having this thread right now, as there would be no temporary contracts at all.
BALPA have absolutely
squandered their credibility and high % of membership that they had a few years ago (remember that a
lot of pilots joined when they offered us that lousy pay deal in 2005?) by rolling over trying to appease management.
IMHO, the introduction of local contracts in MAD was the thin edge of the wedge that started the beginning of the end for BALPA in easyJet. Most continental based pilots are left to fend for themselves (just look at DTM & SXF!) and as the number of continental based pilots gets bigger and bigger, BALPA's membership (and leverage!) gets proportionately smaller and smaller.
As the saying goes: "one has to strike when the iron is hot," and BALPA absolutely failed to do so during the economic boom years.