EASYJET PILOTS DENOUNCE NEW CONTRACT
01/02/2013
Jim McAuslan, BALPA General Secretary, commenting on easyJet’s announcement today about a new contract for some pilots said: ‘easyJet has been dragged kicking and screaming by BALPA into offering a permanent contract to some of its growing casual pilot workforce. But, despite the spin in today’s easyJet announcement, this “take-it-or-leave-it” contract is being denounced by pilots across easyJet.
‘BALPA has been inundated with concerned young pilots, desperate for a job and experience, who will still have to put up with two years on a zero hours contract and uncertain lifestyle. And, because of their £100k loan repayments, these pilots will take home less than a McDonalds employee.
‘And this from a company that is knocking on the door of the FTSE 100 and is hugely successful with a management team rewarded as such.
‘Pilots – and we believe the travelling public – still want to know if a pilot is good enough to fly for easyJet, why is that pilot not good enough to be on a permanent and reasonable contract?’
Jim McAuslan concluded, ‘The most interesting reaction to easyjet’s announcement isn’t the concern of the young pilots, but the anger of the longer serving and experienced pilots who are outraged at the treatment of their new colleagues. Little surprise that the vast majority of them are proud to be a pilot, but few would now recommend it as career under easyJet conditions. BALPA’s campaign for a decent contract for all easyJet pilots – one which does not exploit the enthusiasm and desperation of young cadets – will continue both publically and industrially.’