For info to prospective joiners, after a spirited campaign from BALPA and the pilot group, our new joiners this year maintained their pensions in line with the rest of the pilot group. It was a great result and showed that even though less than 1% of the pilots were affected, the 99% wouldn't accept it.
Unfortunately this isn't the end of the problem as the company has intentions of reducing new joiner pension provisions over the next few years. How this will pan out is anyone's guess.
The company makes no secret of its problem with seasonality and a new joiner should expect a PPY contract to potentially last for several years, added to this the £7000 one is expected to pay for training (this I find particularly unsavoury) makes TOM not quite the option it once was.
If however, one gets over the £7k and manages to get full time fairly soon then it can still be a good career airline.
Just my opinion, good luck to those who choose to apply later in the year.