Why doesn't someone with all the data publish the T's & C's of the major players in UK? To those who think 120k is a good deal, with no benefits, will be astonished at what is available with some attractive benefits included. And that is also with acceptable more sympathetic rosters.
In my day, what I liked about sympathetic rostering, & rosterers, was my ability to request single or double days off. It was nearly always allowed and built into my roster. Thee was no fixed pattern. Guys claim that a fixed regular roster allows forwards planning. It also, always, guarantees disappointment if your dice falls on the wrong square. I could plan forward with something so simple and human as a request. If I had to then I took a few days leave. We hear even that is not allowed in some of these fixed roster airlines. Guys having to go sick to get married is sickening.
I suspect many of the guys who trumpet the benefit of fixed rosters have not experienced anything else. I agree they would be better than a forever changing roster; no doubt. I once worked for an airline where the daily changes reached rebellion proportions; the worse case being where a month's planned roster did not achieve a single duty as planned. The result was an agreement that any changes greater than 3 hours start time had to be voluntary, including any knock-on effect. Any changes in planned days off the same. The head rosterer was seen kicking the cat, often, but it was that or have no captains.
I still don't see why guys, who want fixed rostering, don't campaign for 4/4 instead of 5/3. With efficient rostering productivity would not suffer, but fatigue would reduce. Flexibility might suffer, but a good payment for days off working might help, voluntary only and only the first of the day off block. Some more imagination on both sides; but difficult if there is no bargaining forum.
Last edited by RAT 5; 17th February 2017 at 14:19.