We are 100 pilots short.
The Boss of Screw Control told CSD a year ago that they were 200 pilots short! Things are far worse now! I suspect tht the A Fleet Office were throwing that line out there for a few laughs at the Fleet forum.
The Fleet Offices are given their script of things to communicate, much like the Corporate Communications department. I find that my bullsh#t filters get clogged very quickly listening to the 3rd floor.
Even if we were 100 pilots short (iso actually being 250-300 short), I doubt that there is 5% extra productivity available in the Pilot force. EFP figures for the last 6 months show that the workload is "just above target" on the Bus, "below target" on the 74, and spiralling out of control on the 777.
On the 777 many Relief F/O's and S/O's are already limited by 900 flying hours for the year. The Trainers are limited by either 1 in 7, 2 in 14 or GDO requirements. So the only extra productivity on the 777 will come from extra pilots. But how can you train the extra pilots when you can't train trainers to train them.
Further symptoms include the fact that lots of guys have only been awarded 1-3 weeks leave (out of 6) for 2012, with some guys still owed leave for last year.
Management must be praying for a downturn, to get them out of this mess. Again
But, to get back to the thread...
The Union is what you make of it. If you just pay your Union Subscriptions and sit back expecting all your dreams to be fulfilled, then you will end up frustrated. We do not necessarily all need to stand for the GC, but you can still participate by lobbying the GC, emailing and helping out with research or recruitment etc. Usually, I find that the Members who whine and complain the most, have done absolutely F*ck all during their membership. If you want value for your money ...get involved.
I think there is a very close similarity between your relationship with the Union and also your relationship with your Investment/Financial Consultant. If you want to just pay the money, stick your head in the sand and expect everything to take care of itself.. then you are in for a disappointment.
The problem we have, is not the Union. It is the Company, and also to some extent the extra challenges faced by poor labour protection in Hong Kong. It is tempting to just say.. "I am quitting, and I will save $1000 a month". But if we all do that, the Company will take that as the green light for their next onslaught.
Management have just set the new benchmark for our terms and conditions, with the recruitment of the iCadets. We will all be on those terms and conditions 5 years from now, unless we get proactive and get them to back off. Now is the time to get spooled up to fight the looming threat.
(edited for poor speeling. Sorry!)