I wouldn't mind betting it has finished. This week the latest announcement to the staff spoke of an immediate suspension of recruitment with only back filling where necessary. Given the managements previous style in handling such situations, I'd fancy that the new and soon to be joiners are in possession of the most insecure jobs in aviation.
Initially, they'll be given very generous offers of unpaid leave, part time working etc. etc. with strict assurances that this will definitely not result in redundancies. Then within one week to month, depending on the simmering level of incompetence and influence of HR (A direct correlation), people will be told that due to 'Unforeseen circumstances', it is with great sadness we have to let people go. The great internal triumph for the management is the guys who thought they were helping by going part time will be laid off on a fraction of his/her original redundancy entitlement.
The last time this happened, with people scattered to the four corners of the globe, burning a hole through any savings and putting their families through untold turmoil, the management had the temerity to administer a self back slap that only 3 people had to be laid off, instead of the original 110 people originally in the crosshairs. Pilots who were safe were told that they were at risk, thus making managers jobs easier.
Sadly in this day and age options are limited and everybody who left for sandier climbs came straight back at the first opportunity, this will have only increased the chances of it happening again, More likely with increased ferrocity.
New joiners please approach with caution, your job security will have a very close link to oil price. We've screwed the pooch in most other areas of the business and have no fate left in the budget, Any further escalation between Israel and Iran and associated price spikes will only lead to uncertainty on the bottom of the Virgin seniority list, good luck to one and all
Still boys and girls, you've still got BALPA......
