Bristows heading for a pilots strike

[MaxNg]

I have heard that yesterdays talks between the company and it's pilots reps have ended without any measurable increase in it's offer.

The Bristows management are taking the Osteridge approach to pay talks and seem to be working on the assumption that the shortage of pilots is stuff of fantasy and fiction, promulgated only by those that would benifit, that those they have in their ranks will still be layal to the company despite the appalling way they have been treated over recent years and that although CHC pilots are paid more, treated better, and have a far better pension that their pilots would want to change uniforms beggars belief.

It seems that finally the pilots have had enough (and not before time either) and they are getting very pi**ed off with the constant errosion of their well earned terms and conditions and will soon be holding a ballot to give the management a very clear message, my contacts tell me that the mood of the pilots is such that aircraft will be parked up at Christmass and I would be very concearned if I was a Bristows customer at the moment.

Whilst CHC are in a massive recruitment phase to cope with the increase in recent long term contract wins and recently announced as the prefered bidder in the UK SAR contract (at present serviced by the very experienced and professional Bristows crews) I would encourage all those at Bristows to look very closely at what they are worth and look outside the Bristows world, for CHC is paying more today and even more tomorrow with an inflation plus paydeal protecting and increasing in real terms every year up to 2010, commiting more to it's workforce by way of a industry leading defined benifit pension scheme, implimenting a equal time roster that has had dramatic results in moral and productivity in Aberdeen and a willingness to engage with it's workforce for future mutual improvements.

I would encourage all those freethinkers to wake up and vote with your feet and let the remaining diehards do just that.

I'm sure that the Bristows management think that if they deny things long enough then it becomes the truth, hense the "osterich approach" well the trouble my friends with burying your head in the sand is that you leave your ARSE exposed.

:D

Bristows Crew, start Kicking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS Scotia short of 14 pilots in Aberdeen alone

Call 01224 846211 for a brighter better future, help yourself and those that can't (won't) leave the Old regime.

[exhemsdog]

Interesting comments - FB Heliservices (part of the Bristows Group) at Shawbury are short finals for a strike with their Pilots. Been prating around since last January over a derisory pay settlement. The pilots at Shawbury have had enough, and are serious this time for a decent settlement. Maybe Bristows have more to focus their mind on than first thought - if they even care!!!

[MaxNg]

Flugdung

I have re read it and it's perfic 2 me

:O

[[email protected]]

Ohhhhhh...its ostrich - I thought Max was alluding to some advanced management technique given an odd name like Oestereich by its European inventor - silly me.

PS max it's its not it's when it's possessive ie of it but it's it's not its when it's a shortening of it is.

[Night Watchman]

PS max it's its ........

Should that not be a capital 'M' for Max because you are calling him by name?

[serf]

Must be quiet at EGDC.

[wallsend]

I hear that Premier crews aren't very happy either. Perhaps time for BALPA recognition?

[nutcracker43]

You know, it's a sad thing, authority without responsibility, which is what I have been reading in some of the mails above. It's known as the prerogative of the harlot.

[Weasel Watcher]

Any Bristow pilots contemplating strike action should first seek the advice and guidance of one of the leaders of the last Bristow strike, someone who, like it or not, now appears to be directing the future of all matters helicopter, namely JimL.

[Thomas coupling]

My. Serious unrest on a number of fronts:
Offshore
Mil training
emergency service support

Perhaps the time has come for a proper Helicopter Union?

Surely not, no-one could organise such a logical step.

If someone could co-ordinate this unrest properly, there could be some serious disquiet in the country.

But, alas - when has this industry ever got its act together???

[catdriver]

Not sure where maxng gets his info, but if hes right.......?
Imagine bristow pilots standing up for themselves. Just to much to bear! Cant believe it myself, to many old hands and wimps in the ranks. They wil get stuffed by the managers as always.

the cat

[bondu]

Just to put the record straight.
The Bristow BALPA CC are conducting an "Indicative Ballot" for strike action, should the next stage of the protracted negotiations fail. The next stage is the "Standing Conference" bit, where the MD of BHL and the Gen Sec of BALPA get together with the two negotiating parties. If no progress is made, then the real ballot will go out to the members; this will be the legal one that could start the industrial actions. Just in time for the Christmas rush.
If the management are prepared to agree to deal that gives the BHL pilots some form of parity with their Scotia colleagues, then there will be no industrial action. Simple!!

bondu

PS Get a life cat driver!!

[The Missing Piece]

Thanks to Bondu for putting the record straight.

After MaxNg’s grammatically incorrect ramblings and yet another attack on Bristow pilots by Catdriver the whole argument is being lost.

Catdriver would you change the record you boring old fart? The more you go on, the more I’m convinced that you’re one of those Bristow line pilots who spend their life flying the line complaining they have no money because they’ve had to pay for a hip replacement for their daughters horse and a new engine for their sons Ferrari! If you are going to make a contribution to the debate is it at all possible that you could come up with something new and constructive?

If there is going to be a ballot for a strike then can we discuss the issues without all these emotional rants?

[nutcracker43]

Not sure about that.

Catdriver's spelling is atrocious and the thinking flawed. Not sure he is one of the boring old farts. Some superbly balanced retard perhaps...with chips on both shoulders. Plenty of those about.

NC43

[happy69]

I believe the FBHeliservices guys at Shawbury have already had an indicative ballot that came out in favour of strike action. Now awaiting the outcome of the latest pay talks, but me thinks the guys are not happy and fully prepared to go through with striking.
The company management need a shake up and reality check, could be very embarrasing for them, how many companies would want a record of industrial action when negotiating new contracts?

good luck guys

[catdriver]

missing piece

I]"come up with something new and constructive?"[/I] why? Obviously bhl management cant and neither can the pilots.

the well balanced cat!

[offtrack]

bondu,

If the management are prepared to agree to deal that gives the BHL pilots some form of parity with their Scotia colleagues, then there will be no industrial action. Simple!!

what we need, is for Bristow to go past CHC on pay and terms. The limbo dance the other way around...

[The Missing Piece]

Hey pussy,

You can't even post on this and get the italics to work!

So it's little wonder you can't come up with something new and constructive!

Pathetic.

TMP

[bondu]

Offtrack

Just to get some form of parity with Scotia will be a huge success for BHL pilots!
Scotia get more pay;
have double the employer contribution into their pension fund; work 30 days less per year;
have a better LoL deal;
enjoy much greater offshore allowances.

I could go on, but it will only depress BHL pilots even more! Though, maybe they will get even more angry with their management!

A straw poll so far shows a huge majority of YES votes in the Indicative Ballot; feelings are obviously running high.
Just heard tonight from a colleague that BHL management are dragging their collective feet once again; they cannot make any of the dates for the 'standing conference'. Incredible! Will they never learn?

bondu :suspect:

[sarbee]

Just check out Flight International's latest advert from PremiAir... wanted: permanent staff for a seasonal contract...

Yes - you read it here first. Would you like to be contracted to work for half a year only, every year on half of the onshore salary and to be locked into returning every summer every year?

Really? I'll bet a whole lot of R22 learner drivers will be applying for their first S76 conversion!!

To all at Bristows - good luck chaps, stand tall and be counted for once! To all at CHC - well done chaps, hope the equal time is enjoyable and the S92 fun to fly.... and to all in SAR - keep up the good work, for you fly where angels fear to tread!

[offtrack]

bondu

A few years ago, the pilots in Bristow Norway (Norsk) got parity with CHC Norway, after beeing way behind since they first started their operation. It was a long haul, and the union board took a lot of heat from the managment (as everywhere else).

When the PHI pilots formed their union, owners and managment threatened to shut down business alltogether, and they would all be out of a job. Sure.

What we need now, is for the Bristow pilots to stand tall, preferably your agreement should go past Scotias, at least on a few accounts. That way the benchmark will continue to move in the right direction.

For that reason we are all behind you, no matter what company we work for.

Btw, Scotia is still short of a large number of pilots.

[bondu]

Bristow negotiations have not been going too well! The union have now fallen out with the company and are in dispute mode. The next stage is the formal 'standing conference' where the MD and the union Gen Sec join in, on the 2nd December. Yes, it is quite a long time between the last meeting, 10th November, and the next one; apparently the MD is away somewhere!

The result of the recent 'indicative ballot' was;

Returns 84%

Yes (in favour of strike action) 95%

No (against strike action) 5%

Seems no doubt as to where this is going.

bondu

[bondu]

In my last post, I said the the BHL MD 'was away somewhere'. It was supposedly Egypt. But it would appear that the new breed in OLOG/BHL are as bad at geography as they are at counting money! The MD was in Norwich last week and in Aberdeen early this week. Perhaps he had been referring to that well-known Egypt, just north of Slough, Buckinghamshire! (Grid SU957858 or N57 33.74 W000 37.07).

bondu :confused:

[nicknorman]

I am in Egypt right now and I can't see him, so he is definitely not here......

Nick

(from Egypt - really!)

[Jigsaw]

So whats the news on the Bristows pay deal meeting with the management? is it :ok: or :mad:

[vertalop]

I spotted said MD much further away from Blighty than Egypt last week! Confirmed sighting in the Far east. :cool:

[212man]

Vertalop,
I suppose you are having to slum it in Langkawi this week; how awful!

[bondu]

Meetings were held on Friday and Monday at Redhill HQ. I presume the results will be released soon.

bondu

[catdriver]

been away for a few weeks.
so whats going on with the bhl pay deal? bondu said meetings were last week, so whats new? Probably nothing as bhl pilots wont fight for anything anyway.

suntanned cat!