They have been cutting our wages for years indamiddle!
Whenever management comes to the pilot group as in '96 and pleads for a 2 year wage freeze because times are tough, and promiss to make it up at the next EBA, Pilot Group agrees for the greater good. 2 years later Management renegs!!! Fact!
Parent airline goes t!ts up in 2001. New EBA signed after no negotiation by new owners. Reduced terms and conditions with wages set at the
previous EBA rate. Another kick whilst down. 2 years later management ask for a 2 year wage freeze (remembering that wages are now at rates that are 3 years old, and 6 years out of date!) with a promiss to make it up at the next EBA. Pilot group accepts for the greater good. Can you see a pattern here? At next EBA Company states that times are still tough! Are they ever not tough!? Instead of making it up to the pilot group, company proposes pay rise less than inflation, and a profit share system. Pilot group asks for what was promissed. Company says "Take it or leave it". without leverage, pilot group reluctantly accepts. Company rejoices.
Current EBA has now been expired for nearly a year. In that time the company has not had to pay wages that are in anyway adjusted for CPI. Company tells Pilot Reps that backpay will not be paid, shortly after announcing a record profit! Win Win for company.
Rex Pilots wages are now approximately 20%
less in real terms to what their counterparts were earning 15 years ago. Sucessive managements are aware of this and have embraced this situation with relish. Even though wages remain static, the tactics employed to obtain this have resulted and will continue to result in a real wage cut!
And the fair pay commision don't even rate a mention.
