The stunning thing is that some of our colleagues still think they are on minimum wage!! On the comments after the Times article yesterday, there were people stating what they get after they have paid National Insurance, Pension/BARP contributions, Crewcard and tax, and trying to get sympathy.
I think that timesonline graphic is fair enough. It does represent the truth.
Lets face it, a 9 day Singapore, £762 for most, £905 for the CSD............and a dinner in the food court costs 4 SIN $. Its a fact. How many crew do you see rush down to the supermarket to stock up for their 48 hours. We cant honestly say that we take 3 meals in the hotel restaurant, can we?
One thing it really highlights is the differential between CSD's allowances and the rest of us. I am now, more than ever, sure that BASSA really does stand for British Airways Senior Stewards (or Stewadresses) Association.
If we cant attract enough people onto the aircraft, and cant entice them to part with enough cash for their seats, we are going to have to alter, and yes, shock horror, probably reduce our remuneration. We will have to make sacrifices, maybe work a bit longer than we had planned, so that we can make ends meet now.
This is our opportunity to control our destiny, if only BASSA will allow us.
Otherwise the future will be dictated to us.