Indeed. It would be useful to know net figures excluding loans. From memory it ranged from 2300 - 3000 a month. Plus, for many, a few months with no income if between contracts etc. I spent 2 months queueing on Thursdays down at the job centre......
With regard to the flexicrew contracts - most of us had signed up to CTC with the promise of a six month initial contract followed by a permanent deal. This process had been going on for many years successfully already. By the time easyJet introduced flexicrew it was too late for us. We were already in debt and had little choice. easyJet abused their position and twisted the knife.
That is not to say we didn't fight it. Believe it or not, the original contracts offered were even worse than they are now. With no support from BALPA we formed our own 'mini union' and negotiated directly with CTC and easyJet management. We took a bold step and essentially refused to come to work after a certain date if things didn't improve. This was not an easy decision as we all needed work in order to get paid and keep the banks away, and we risked getting fired. easyJet gave in to many of our requests at that point. After all they couldn't afford for 200 FOs not to rock up at work.
To suggest we were weak or foolish to take these contracts is ignorant of the facts. We were trapped by easyJet moving the goalposts once we were already tied into it all. But we didn't take it lying down. Far far from it.