just look at what happened to Sabena pilots
Yes, lets.
A HISTORIC AIRLINE IS GONE
After an airline recession and the effects on the airline industry of the terrorist attacks on America on 11th September 2001 all airlines that flew across the Atlantic suffered badly.
Further to this SABENA was owed 84 million by the Swiss airline Swissair. After Swissair stopped operations on 2nd October 2001 and refused to repay the money SABENA was forced to stop flying. They filed for legal protection against their creditors on 3rd October.
This gave SABENA about three weeks to get further financial backing. With most of the main airlines in Europe fighting for passengers in the aftermath of the attack on the USA and on civil aviation SABENA failed to gain the required backing and went into liquidation on 7 November 2001.
This somewhat sanitised version of events misses the disgraceful conduct of the Belgian Cockpit Association throughout the noble attempt to save one of the world's oldest airlines from oblivion. With the airline's back against the wall, the then president of BeCA responded to attempts to fund the airline's future by restructuring, their only viable means of survival, with the infamous quotation;
We would rather see Sabena destroyed than restructured.
As all the dozens of Belgian pilots now flying for Ryanair will tell you, the BeCA got their wish. Not only that, but they marked the passing of their proud "social project" into the pages of history by striking on the final day of trading, sending Zaventem Airport into utter chaos.
Rest in Pieces, Sabena.
Born, April Fool's Day, 1924. Died, 7 November, 2001. Cause of death, pilot union.
This sort of disgusting ignoble behaviour is absolutely typical of the feral stupidity and ill-considered posturing that comes hand in hand with every pilot's union, so perhaps you'll forgive me in not joining you in your enthusiasm for them at Ryanair, FRying.
BLAPA, to be fair, are nothing like the BeCA. What they lack in Gallic distemper and flair for the theatrical, though, they more than make up for in British mendacity. They will, to be sure, happily relieve you of your subscription fees, whipping out those direct debit forms with lightning speed, knowing full-well that they'll be a toothless tiger thereafter, and a deaf one at that. They're broke and they need your money, which explains the uncharacteristic zeal and myopic focus they're displaying at present toward to task of misleading you into joining them. And for what?
BLAPA know very well that, even if 100% of Ryanair pilots voted for them, (and good luck with that, boys) Ryanair, an
Irish Airline with over 25 different nationalities represented in the cockpit and bases spread over almost the entire European Union, would achieve nothing. Their implicit means of ensuring compliance is a strike. Whilst there may well be a vocal few absolutely salivating at the prospect of a juicy strike, those of us with families, children and responsibilities may care to reflect on the relative wisdom of testing the resolve of a Chief Executive not known for his fondness of compromise, and of taking on an airline with far, far deeper pockets than even a completely united pilots corps could amass in a thousand lifetimes.
I, too, would like to see a few things changed at Ryanair and believe they could be with relative ease, but that is a personal opinion. The leadership of the airline is focused, now more than ever, on growing the business in the midst of the worst recession in the history of flight. Diverting management attention from this crucial task is bound to be met with annoyance. Threats of union recognition are of course going to be answered, as all threats are, with a regimental attack. If you seriously think that a few terse messages from Head Office, and a note from our General Manager of Flight Operations is the end of their management strategy to handle this one, you seriously need to think again.
Slim Shady, as so often in the past, has it right again this time. You should be asking BLAPA and the Dwarf precisely how they intend to insulate you and your families against the impact of closing a few bases and sacking the pilots made redundant by the process. Tell BLAPA to phuck off, on the other hand, and watch how quickly it all goes away. Just a thought.
Will BALPA, through increasing existing members subscriptions, underwrite any financial losses incurred by Ryanair pilots if recognition goes through? Will BALPA, unreservedly pay the full salaries of any guys made redundant until they get another job? Will BALPA, without reservation, cover the legal fees of any FR pilot who becomes involved in litigation with the company?
Ah, no. They won't.