Pilots are not going on strike. They are commencing industrial action as the company is refusing to fulfil its side of the Greenfield restructuring plan.
Pilots took 10% pay cut, top 50 took early retirement to lower average salary, an increase in productivity was agreed in return for a system of rostering to maximise days off. (EI A320 crew normally reach their legal limts each year)
EI have taken the productivity increase but so far refused to implement a system of 5 on, 3 off, 5 on, 3 off. (Similar to what other carriers including FR use) EI are claiming that the pattern is 'inefficient for their schedule and staffing levels'.
The action will consist of pilots refusing to work on their scheduled days off or during annual leave. At the moment EI are constantly switching pilots days off and/or asking for volunteers to work as a form of fire-fighting for the operation. (Same with the cabin crew) I believe they will also stop taking phone calls from the company on their days off. All the recent EI hire-ins have been solely due to crew shortages.
This situation was preventable if EI mgmt had of actually addressed the roster problem last year when IALPA pointed it out to the company. Instead they wasted the winter season doing nothing. This dispute along with the earlier cabin crew issue is caused by stubborn EI HR staff refusing to take any suggestion from the staff involved.
As Christoph Mueller recently said:
"this is want happens when you suspend mgmt training for a decade"