If BA can get their union ( oops, sorry, our
Union)to get them 30% then good luck to them.
They have been overpaid for years when the
various allowances are taken into account but
that perception is only true when taken into
account against other UK operators - the same
view cannot be held when viewed against the
world's major players - some of whom have
gone of course in part due to labour costs !
BALPA's recent performance in pay negotiations seems to have been little short
of pathetic especially when a newly gained
recognition means that subscriptions increase
thus reducing in part the benefit of any increase.
One of the problems facing BALPA and indeed
any other negotiating body is that we as a
group tend to be conservative (small 'c') by
nature. We are unlikely to go down the road
of industrial action unlike some of our
EU colleagues and as such we are seen as a
soft touch. Many are just so damn grateful to
have a job despite years of training and much
expense that they become sycophantic in their
attitudes to THE COMPANY.
So who is at fault ? The Companies want the
most for the least. BALPA are too concerned
with BA yet are themselves hindered by pilot
indifference. I don't pretend to have the
magic wander so where do we go from here ?