easyJet pilots favour strike

[pilotofjet]

On the private company site for easyJet at pprune, a poll is running to gauge the support for strike action amongst the cockpit crews. A staggering 93 % are in favour!!
Pilots have been told to expect a 1.3% rise for First Officers and 2.3% rise for Captains this year. This offer has been rejected overwhelmingly by postal ballot. This month, senior managers announced plans to award themselves a £10 million bonus once Go have been integrated into the easyJet .

[Commando]

There's a big difference between voting for a strike on an anonymous forum and actually voting to strike!
Hope it doesn't come to that, even though management have 'taken the p1ss' - big time!

[Lapsus linguae]

Pilots have not been told to expect the quoted pay rise, it was offered and rejected!

[Deadleg]

Commando are'nt strike ballots secret as well-I think secret =anonymous!

[alpha charlie]

What Pilotofjet forgot to mention was that 'staggering vote' was only a total of 39 votes of 42 cast of what, 420+ pilots at easyJet, ? Think you might wish to do a recount there PilotofJet!

[FlapsOne]

pilotofjet

Looking at your previous posts on these fora, you work for EZY but quite obviously hate it and submit nothing but negative comments in an attempt to grab attention.

What on earth are your motives for putting up this mis-leading information on the public forum? Did you simply forget to mention that only 42 people had bothered to vote?

If you're that unhappy, get vectors for the exit!

[Commando]

What I meant Deadleg is that you're usually going to put a bit more thought into actually voting to strike rather than clicking a box on a pprune forum.

[pilotofjet]

I have to disagree that my post is negative, I deliberately tried to keep it neutral. It is a statement of facts. Statistics are often presented in a snapshot to make a point appear stronger. 42 pilots might only be the total number to have voted , but that also might be the total number with access to the company forum.If a company wide ballot is to follow, and it very might well, could we not expect a similar result?
The other point I was trying to make was that if it is so easy for the management team to find £10 million for a bonus for themselves, maybe they could look a little harder to find a bit more of a pay rise for us pilots. I would like things to be better at easy, so please do not construe that as a negative .

[Seriph]

Is a union recognised within EJ? Only union members can vote for or participate in any industrial action. Large numbers are required fo any action to be effective.

[flybhx]

Srikes tend to have predictable effects for a Company anyway. They have the option to make alternative arrangements. Working to rule is far more effective as a disruption tactic as the results on any given day are totally unpredictable and you still get paid.

[zippyz]

As another eJ employee I would rather we didn't hang the dirty washing out here. We have our own forum for this sort of thing and your post is only inflammatory and does nothing to serve anyone any good. Like you, I and every other hardworking eJ employee is unhappy at the current state of our Company and really P%%%%ed off at the GBP10M 'slush fund for the boys at the top' as they continue a deliberate campaign of profit maximisation regardless of the cost to us personally and our working conditions but S###stirring here will not help the issue. They are only doing what every other moneygrubber does. This is not meant to limit your freedom of expression or speech in any way but please just think a little before you press the "POST" button.
Ta,
Zip

[Agaricus bisporus]

Stick with it chaps! Remember Go had a similarly derisive pay rise last year due "nothing left in the bank" which changed instantaneously to a 20% ish rise upon Easy's announcement of a £25K golden hello...

Remember, there's a big difference between leaning forward and !bending over !

[Stelios]

I think what's happening is that the company realise that they can't possibly keep going in the long term, so they cream off all they can for themselves, before they shut the door on us.
Get your CVs up to date, it's another sinking Greek ship.

[penguin]

Well boys and girls, go get your raises like the United folks did. :rolleyes:

[Oleo]

Well Penguin, I guess the 10 mill to be spread around the senior managers as a bonus upon integration could be spread more thinly around all the employees in the much touted caring and sharing Easy way. The pot can't be that empty.

Four legs good, two legs better (Animal Farm)

[touchedrunway?]

:confused: :confused:

Hear hear Penguin, there are so many people looking at the negative side of airlines at the moment.

Wake up guys and smell the coffee. The grass is not always greener. We have jobs. There are about 10,000 others that would give there right arms ( and other parts of thier anatomy) to be sat in our seats. The industry is completely up the spout at the mo. Hang on and just think how lucky we are compared to our friends accross the pond!!!:( :( :(

[Groundhog Night]

touchedrunway

Our friends across the pond have a good reason to be 'up the spout' - easyjet and others are thriving.

So many people are looking at the negative side of airlines at the moment because the airlines are running amok.

I take it you would have told Ghandi and Nelson Mandela to ' wake up and smell the coffee' because they were no longer slaves and didn't have aids!!

:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[Flap 5]

There have been a lot of opinions expressed on this thread, but facts are more relevant. Are easyJet expanding too rapidly? The symptoms are certainly there. One of these would be the present chaotic rostering system. The danger here is the apparent management attitude of: 'there is no problem'.

Pilots who are provided with training sign a 3 year agreement. After the 3 years they are free to leave. easyJet had better beware that many pilots are just waiting for the 3 years to be up before moving on.

A poor pay rise is frankly less important than life style. Unless easyjet can sort out the rostering problems and their general attitude to their pilots (which is at odds with their advertising campaign) their problems will just get worse. It should start with treating their applicants better, right through to better support for their commanders on the line.

[BigRab]

Is it not more useful to air these types of subjects in public rather than on private forums?
Pilots in other airlines who may be considering their options will benefit from more information on which to base their decision. Employers who are shown in a good light will be more able to attract new entrants, and vis-versa; encouraging them to make things more attractive.
As a long-term admirer of EJ, I am getting the impression that the grass is turning orangey-brown.
Is that correct?

[zippyz]

BigRab,
I agree with you that these issues need to be discussed and well out in the open! What I was trying to ask was that 'pilotofjet' just thought a little about the use of the 'post' button. To say that we are voting for strike is erroneous and even misleading. I make no bones about teh current level of dissatisfaction throughout eJ atm. Most people are very unhappy and see very little light on teh horizon.. but that S%%%%stirring will achieve nothing positive.

Zip

[Stan Woolley]

zippyz

' To say that we are voting for strike is erroneous and even misleading '

That may be true but it's not what 'pilotofjet' wrote.

[FlapsOne]

Flap 5

You mention FACTS and then don't discuss any! You pose a question instead, and then raise the hypothetical issue that pilots approaching a 3 year point might leave. You also give your opinion that EZ is expanding too fast.

As I understand it, the management of EZ stated quite clearly last week (OK several weeks late!) that the new rostering system had failed badly and was being withdrawn with effect from September rosters. So is that not 'old news' now?

That doesn't sound like case of saying 'there is no prblem', does it?

Using the same priciples, BA should still be talking about what a disaster Robert Ayling was for their company. They just accept it now as historical fact!

[Flap 5]

Flapsone,

You dispute my lack of facts. On the contrary my post has a number of facts:

Fact 1. The symptom of a chaotic rostering system. An airline that is not expanding requires no change to its rostering system.

Fact 2. Pilots have a 3 year agreement and many ARE looking to possibly leave after that period of time unless the situation improves.

Fact 3. easyJet's attitude towards their pilots IS at odds with their advertsing campaign

Fact 4. The many complaints of applicants to their job application website shown on this forum

Fact 5. The lack of support to commanders on line e.g. requiring them to extend duty hours by the disretionary 2 hours, leaving them to face the passengers when things go wrong down the line and many others.

My post was certainly more constructive than yours, which just criticised with no helpful comments at all! :rolleyes:

Furthermore Flapsone easyJets spokesman on the TV was heard to say when questioned about the 14 cancelled flights last week that there was 'no problem'. I understand that he is a spokesman for easyJet management.

[no sig]

Flaps 5 , where have you been?

EJ's Ops Director letter was in the nation press for goodness sake and highlighting the problems. He also confirmed that the rosters were returning to where they were by September, it simply isn't the case EJ said there is no problem.

The discretion to extend a FDP rest solely with the Commander, no Company CAN require a Captain to exercise discretion and if you're pilot, you know that only too well, I'm surprised you even mention it.

[FlapsOne]

Flap 5

Re FACT 1: An airline that is not expanding requires no change to its rostering system.
EZ is expanding so is looking to change it's rostering system. They screwed up, but then (finally) admitted it.

Re FACT 2: Pilots don't have a 3 year agreement - they are bonded for 3 years - different thing.

'Many ARE looking to POSSIBLY leave......' bit vague don't ya think?

Re FACT 3: Don't quite know what you're getting at here.

Re FACT 4: Sour grapes perhaps?

Re FACT 5: If any pilot has been forced to operate into discretion (and I know of NONE) why has he/she not taken any action - because no-one has.

Re FURTHERMORE: EZ Ops director was quoted last week in several broadsheets and on Radio 4 as saying the new rostering system was seriously flawed and was being withdrawn. I think that means he believes there was a problem.

I am not trying to defend the indefensible here but let's limit debate to genuine facts. Let's not bang on about a rostering system that has been binned. If 50 pilots resign, it's news - if you think some might perhaps, it's not. No-one is REQUIRED to extend duty beyond the legal maximum - EVER. If you feel forced remember all calls to OPS/crewing are recorded I believe.

Just so my overall position is clear, I think the rostering system was absolute B0ll0cks and we told them so right at the start, the payrise offered in April was an insult and the £10m pocket money for the chosen 40 is nothing short of a disgrace!

Up the workers !

[pilotofjet]

Why do you think I did not think before starting this thread. Have you not noticed the immediate benefits to crew lifestyle since our rostering problems went "public" in every newspaper in the land?I categorically refute your suggestion that this thread is SSSS stirring. It is a statement of facts. Not all of our pilots access the company site and I feel it is important that these people know that a poll is being conducted that may lead to a decision which could affect their working conditions. Also, non BALPA members may be encouraged to sign up to increase the percentage who the union represent. You may think that little thought went into the post, but may I suggest that more thought went into it than you realise. Wag the dog buddy, wag the dog

[Roger de Rofton]

I can see why pilots don't want to air this dirty linnen in public.

Makes the rest of us see what a money grubbing bunch some of them really are. They really should have been lawyers if money means that much to them.

OK, F/Os aren't the richest of people, but still on a lot more than most. However, a smallish percentage of a Captains pay is still a helluvalotta dosh.

If you don't want to do the job go and get another one and let people who do want to fly do the job on your money.

Just now it is a buyers market. It has been, and doubtless will be again, a sellers market then you can call the shots (maybe), just like lots of US airline pilots have done. Perhaps not the best example as pilot/union won pay rises have forced many to cease operations due to high overheads.

(Gets out tin helmet, flak jacket etc)

And no, I'm not a wannabe or anything like that, just fed up of greed.


RdR:mad: :mad:

[mjenkinsblackdog]

Roger de.]
Your comments are laughable when management have just had 10 million between them.
I suggest you stay out of here as Balpa are trying to improve our lot.
Southwest for example are getting a 20 percent pay rise plus further options etc.
Why should only a select few share the cake when the company is profitable.:cool:

[HugMonster]

Roger, it's not simply a question of greed. Rather, a question of benefits and working environment against pay offered.

People will work for very little if they work for a company that really values them, where they are well-treated, they get all the leave they want, etc. etc.

Similarly, people will stand some very poor working conditions if the salary is suitably high. It's a trade-off, one against the other.

The problems start to arise when in the first example above, a new beancounter arrives, and looks at all the benefits, the health schemes, the "all-employees + partners" barbecues and parties, and decides that there is lots of money to be saved here. The team then says - "Ah! If this, that or the other is going, then this won't be such a nice fun place to work. So I either want them to leave the benefits in place, or give me the same sort of money I could get elsewhere, with all the same hassle I'm beginning to get here."

The same problems arise in the second example, where beancounter asks why their employees are paid so much better than XYZ Airlines across the way, and freezes pay, ignoring that the other airline is a much more pleasant place to work...

Either way, you end up with a disaffected workforce. And that, as has been shown time and again, is not a good situation. A workforce that feels valued and respected will work for less money, and will do everything they can for the company - save money for them, willingly work days off, accept roster changes etc. However, in another company where they perceive themselves to be no more than the slaves rowing the galley whilst the upper management want to go waterskiing, you will not achieve any of these benefits.

A happy workforce repays the investment many times over. An unhappy crew will damage you time after time.

[Roger de Rofton]

Should have perhaps mentioned that management are often their own worst enemies. Have to agree with....blackdog, no excuse for their awarding themselves huge bonusses, but that's management for you!!!

Also agree with Huggy, it's the whole package.

Hope it is resolved and pilots don't price themselves out of a job.

RdR

[Shuttleworth]

Roger observed; "OK, F/Os aren't the richest of people, but still on a lot more than most. However, a smallish percentage of a Captains pay is still a helluvalotta dosh."

I suggest that he, and his type - ( remember Andy Walker's letter in he log a couple of years ago?) are everything that is wrong with the profession today!

[Engee73]

Seconded. :(