Monarch T+C's are good because the membership in that airline is very strong and determined to keep there T+C's as good as they are. The Monarch BALPA Company Council also works tirelessly to preserve proper pay, T+C's and a professional working relationship with management with "Dignity and Respect" between pilots and management a central theme. There is a large amount of trust that both parties have with each other and pilots are respected as professionals which we all know simply does not happen in RYR.
Well done to Monarch pilots and CC for their hard work on behalf of all pilots in all airlines! Monarch CC is also giving active help to Ryanair pilots in BALPA HQ as well as the many other airlines under the BALPA umbrella such as Thompson and many others. I don't suppose you knew about that hard work or cooperation though did you Rubik? All pilots no matter what their allegiance understand the impact and danger that Ryanair poses to them.
Obtaining recognition is a considerable amount harder to achieve in such an anti-union, aggressive management style such as Ryanairs compared to companies that are currently recognised where there is open communications between pilots and management and were pilots at the very least feel that they have a voice.
RYR is a place where bonuses are paid to individuals to make large amounts of cuts and savings. A large percentage of pay compared to other companies is productivity based in Ryanair for these set individuals as much the same way as Bankers pay is and we all know were that got us!
These type of people do not have any long term type of interest with the long term outlook of the industry and the high levels of standards that have been fought for in the past and will continue to be in the future.
While I understand your fears of what might happen. I think you need to realise that there are risks in everything we do in life. These have been thought through in great detail and will be weighed up either way for each individual pilot. I think many individuals need to understand that there are laws of employment that just can't be ignored but it is up to the pilot to exercise these laws if and when RYR break them as well as the commercial agreements with airports and service providers which will come under contracts of Tort. RYR are not on some separate plain of existence outside of these laws and it is up to us as pilots and the other bodies to make sure RYR know this by exercising our rights when broken. The courts though are not the answer to RYR pilot’s problems as has been proved in the past. It is through a well thought out strategy which is planned, responsible, mature and honest.
Pilots need to realise that you have to upkeep your T+C's as much as you’re medical or your license. This is because management do not have your best interests at heart in any sort of way. You are a cost that has to be cut and it is as simple as that. This is a battle or prolonged war that will never be won by either party and will never be lost no matter what job or what company. It just so happens that in the immediate past RYR has been on the winning side and hence why pilots who now fly for RYR, have said they have had enough of this blatant abuse and disrespect in them from a management that shows no decency in how it conducts its business.
The difference to this campaign is that it is led by pilots for pilots. It is in cooperation with other company’s pilots and with the help of BALPA and IALPA.
There is no problem playing devils advocate here Rubik but while you give no facts whatsoever to back up your assumptions it is hard to take what you are saying with any weight. These assumptions have been thought about and anything is always a possibility but you have to look at the risk of what you are saying. Is there a risk of shutting a base? Possibly but is not likely. Is there a risk of shutting all UK RYR bases? Almost definitely not unless the CAA or the government get involved. I also think your analysis of the RYR business model is simplistic at best. It has been looked at in great detail and nothing is always as it might seem. RYR is a scheduled airline and has to be run that way.
Nobody has or will argue the complexity or logistics of what needs to be done. But nothing will happen unless individuals go ahead and do something. Hence why RYR pilots have to act together no matter what your base or your nationality or contract status.
You said: “but to suggest that my efforts on the PLC were insignificant and worthless is both wrong and mildly insulting.” I think what RYR pilots are saying to you RUBIK is that you are being mildly insulting with your tone and down right negative attitude. Can I ask this question. Are you saying RYR pilots are not intelligent, organised or that they posses the will to achieve a voice and some Dignity and Respect?
It is easy to criticise people from a beach in Thailand but a very different situation when you are the one putting something at risk to achieve everything the pilots in RYR are wishing to happen. In your short time in RYR did you not think to get involved and try and change something or were you willing to sit back and arm chair speculate and criticise. This is arm chair politics at the least and very depressing and negative towards some of your fellow past colleagues at the most. You are helping them achieve nothing and not helping their future in any way.
Who has said industrial action would be needed RUBIK? Nobody has said that although no option would be off the agenda because to do so would be narrowing all options of the pilots concerned in what will be very difficult discussions.
Lastly I would like to state that RYR pilots need to act now as your contract of employment is at risk. Your long term future is at threat. All of this is done without any show of Dignity and Respect towards you as a professional.
MOL has admitted many times in the past that some sort of formal recognition will take place in RYR at some time in many forums. He said some sort of professional association will be in place but that he and others would discourage this and put it off for as long as possible through various tactics. He has admitted that this was inevitable at some time.
The time is now RYR pilots!
Sign up to the petition at:
https://www.balpa.org/RyanairPetition.aspx