For those of you still interested in this contract you might like to know the latest. Since the catastrophic events that have affected Japan many of us have remained here working as normal. Some of our colleagues, for obvious reasons and with the Companies quasi-consent, have decided that the radiation risk is too high and have either stayed at home or returned to their domicile to await developments. The Company response has been two fold;
1. Those who want to leave or do not want to come back have been told that they can stay away on unpaid leave
2. Those who have stayed have been put on standby duties or blank days. If not prepared to stay in the Tokyo area they have been offered a free flight to Kansai, though all ground transportation, hotel charges and time involved in positioning are to be found by the crew member.
At the same time one of our fellow contracting airlines here in Japan is paying crew 'danger money' for helping out while the radiation threat is prevalent.
In the meantime PARC, our hardworking agency, has sent a mission to Japan to talk to ANA. Only through the detective work of one of our pilots was this secret mission brought to the attention of other crewmembers who then had to fight to organise a meeting with them which resulted in nothing! Many crew members are coming up to contract completion. Meanwhile we are in the invidious position of being mid-pay cut, which is now on hold, while the 'management' who have had a whole year to sort things out debate what needs to be done! Whilst the resentment grows in the contracting camp the Japanese mainline is losing almost 300 pilots per year, training about 50, trying to introduce a new aircraft type and start a LCC. I came from a mediocre job but would happily go back tomorrow to get away from this circus. The only good thing is that they are consistent just when you think the airline can't make things any worse the contracting company cuts your medical benefit or implies that your life insurance is invalid!
Happy days!!