Virgin Crew Pay Ballot Have You Had Enough
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I think Realworld's obviously getting frustrated at the lack of action and opportunity in his/her job as a fire warden in a Luton call centre...
To be honest, Suki Girl, is 28 days leave actually that good when you bear in mind that you are rostered bank holidays? Take them away and it's only 20 days leave which is pretty much standard in the UK in any company.
Well, as Suki Girl said, if you all join the union and let them know how you feel hopefully they can thrash out a better deal for you. Don't forget they won the recent claim on behalf of the part-timers!
Good luck.
To be honest, Suki Girl, is 28 days leave actually that good when you bear in mind that you are rostered bank holidays? Take them away and it's only 20 days leave which is pretty much standard in the UK in any company.
Well, as Suki Girl said, if you all join the union and let them know how you feel hopefully they can thrash out a better deal for you. Don't forget they won the recent claim on behalf of the part-timers!
Good luck.
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Airlines don't make money!!! What are Lufthansa, British Airways, Emirates, KLM-Air France & Virgin Atlantic (to name but a few) then or at the bottom of your tickets does it say "thanks for flying XXXXXXX, a registered charity"
You better tell all the shareholders who so foolishly invested in airlines that "THEY DON"T MAKE MONEY", indeed SRB is probably reading this as we speak wondering how he can offload all is 747 & A340 aircraft that he stupidly leased for his business that could never possibly "MAKE ANY MONEY". The Swire family must be around the family dinner table thinking how stupid they are having their money tied up in Cathay Pacific when it could never possibly "MAKE ANY MONEY". Willie Walsh is saying to his wife, "why did you let me take on another airline management job, it's now obvious to me that British Airways will never MAKE ANY MONEY". Stellios is getting new a new logo on the easyjet aircraft 'fly easyjet we NEVER MAKE ANY MONEY". As for Ryanair, may be they don't "MAKE ANY MONEY" either.
To 95% of the population the job is easy! I'll give you that one, I’m sure going away to sunny beach side destinations is always fantastic. I bet cabin crew never miss a loved ones birthday, a friends engagement do, are stuck downroute (that’s the other side of the world) when a family member is sick or in need. And I know for a fact they get EVERY public holiday off NEVER, EVER work Xmas.
Indeed after reading the second paragraph of this, the major airlines are probably looking at a complete restructure. This would see them NEVER flying at weekends or public holidays (a bit like 50-60% of the population). After all as a major airline they'll never possibly "MAKE ANY MONEY".
So to summarise;
1) Don’t waste your allowances downroute on beer & wine, be more sensible.
2) Suggest to VS that you all pay for your own transport to/from the hotel downroute.
3) Forget doing SEP, it’s just a waste of time & money, spend the extra time fine tuning different ways of offering “chicken or beef” & “tea or coffee”. In an emergency just keep shouting "CHICKEN OR BEEF”.
4) Learn to feel sorry for your boss, any profit they make (and remember airlines don’t MAKE ANY MONEY”), has to then be dealt with. This causes him sleepless nights worrying about which offers the best investment (please don’t invest in an airline, it’s just plain lunacy as they never, ever “MAKE ANY MONEY”).
5) Any upgrade you may have earned through length of service etc should never be used, give them away to some poor needy airline investor, they can’t afford those big posh seats at the front.
6) Finally if it’s all too hard working for a modern airline, you just can’t hack it anymore, you don’t want to work together for better working conditions & pay, then please just leave and find another job like realworld at did!
Realworld, your either a VS manager trying to be clever, a sad ex VS cabin crew member who couldn’t get promoted or just a complete comedian.
You better tell all the shareholders who so foolishly invested in airlines that "THEY DON"T MAKE MONEY", indeed SRB is probably reading this as we speak wondering how he can offload all is 747 & A340 aircraft that he stupidly leased for his business that could never possibly "MAKE ANY MONEY". The Swire family must be around the family dinner table thinking how stupid they are having their money tied up in Cathay Pacific when it could never possibly "MAKE ANY MONEY". Willie Walsh is saying to his wife, "why did you let me take on another airline management job, it's now obvious to me that British Airways will never MAKE ANY MONEY". Stellios is getting new a new logo on the easyjet aircraft 'fly easyjet we NEVER MAKE ANY MONEY". As for Ryanair, may be they don't "MAKE ANY MONEY" either.
To 95% of the population the job is easy! I'll give you that one, I’m sure going away to sunny beach side destinations is always fantastic. I bet cabin crew never miss a loved ones birthday, a friends engagement do, are stuck downroute (that’s the other side of the world) when a family member is sick or in need. And I know for a fact they get EVERY public holiday off NEVER, EVER work Xmas.
Indeed after reading the second paragraph of this, the major airlines are probably looking at a complete restructure. This would see them NEVER flying at weekends or public holidays (a bit like 50-60% of the population). After all as a major airline they'll never possibly "MAKE ANY MONEY".
So to summarise;
1) Don’t waste your allowances downroute on beer & wine, be more sensible.
2) Suggest to VS that you all pay for your own transport to/from the hotel downroute.
3) Forget doing SEP, it’s just a waste of time & money, spend the extra time fine tuning different ways of offering “chicken or beef” & “tea or coffee”. In an emergency just keep shouting "CHICKEN OR BEEF”.
4) Learn to feel sorry for your boss, any profit they make (and remember airlines don’t MAKE ANY MONEY”), has to then be dealt with. This causes him sleepless nights worrying about which offers the best investment (please don’t invest in an airline, it’s just plain lunacy as they never, ever “MAKE ANY MONEY”).
5) Any upgrade you may have earned through length of service etc should never be used, give them away to some poor needy airline investor, they can’t afford those big posh seats at the front.
6) Finally if it’s all too hard working for a modern airline, you just can’t hack it anymore, you don’t want to work together for better working conditions & pay, then please just leave and find another job like realworld at did!
Realworld, your either a VS manager trying to be clever, a sad ex VS cabin crew member who couldn’t get promoted or just a complete comedian.
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But seriously folks.....
Funny, but not a full picture reply so far.....
...can one person answer the following.....
"I don't like my job. I don't like the pay I receive. I don't like the T's & C's the company is offering"
Why don't you leave?
...can one person answer the following.....
"I don't like my job. I don't like the pay I receive. I don't like the T's & C's the company is offering"
Why don't you leave?
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Realworld I can happily answer your questions:
1) I love my job and the industry I work in - and yes even the airline(s) I work for
2) I don't like the pay I recieve - its not nearly representative of the work and stress on our bodies... but of course I am going to be proactive and try to change it rather than bitch and moan about it and expect it to change itself! How many times in history has someone been given a payrise without asking/fighting for it??????
3) See above re terms and conditions - if everyone was to accept the first thing offered to them, the chances are no-one would get anything they want.
You are thoroughly missing the point of this debate/thread - we are *not* bitching and moaning (in general) about our job. We are *not* expecting anything unrealistic from the company as far as our pay offer goes. We are *not* unaware of the rising fuel costs, rising security costs, rising airport landing fees etc. At the same time we are also *not* unaware of the money saved through changing caterers. We are *not* unaware of the money spent (wasted) on the uniform redesign that is soon to occur, the money spent on sending out little canvases to all employees to paint a picture on, the money spent painting the side of an aircraft with the picture of a huge pair of boobs etc.
In my personal opinion, VS has a few of its priorities in the wrong order - hence we are here to hopefully change that!
(And let me say one more time just incase it was not heard - I DO LOVE MY JOB! Ask anyone that knows me or of me - I am one of the most passionate aviators/cabin crew out there....)
1) I love my job and the industry I work in - and yes even the airline(s) I work for
2) I don't like the pay I recieve - its not nearly representative of the work and stress on our bodies... but of course I am going to be proactive and try to change it rather than bitch and moan about it and expect it to change itself! How many times in history has someone been given a payrise without asking/fighting for it??????
3) See above re terms and conditions - if everyone was to accept the first thing offered to them, the chances are no-one would get anything they want.
You are thoroughly missing the point of this debate/thread - we are *not* bitching and moaning (in general) about our job. We are *not* expecting anything unrealistic from the company as far as our pay offer goes. We are *not* unaware of the rising fuel costs, rising security costs, rising airport landing fees etc. At the same time we are also *not* unaware of the money saved through changing caterers. We are *not* unaware of the money spent (wasted) on the uniform redesign that is soon to occur, the money spent on sending out little canvases to all employees to paint a picture on, the money spent painting the side of an aircraft with the picture of a huge pair of boobs etc.
In my personal opinion, VS has a few of its priorities in the wrong order - hence we are here to hopefully change that!
(And let me say one more time just incase it was not heard - I DO LOVE MY JOB! Ask anyone that knows me or of me - I am one of the most passionate aviators/cabin crew out there....)
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Note to real world .. this is a discussion forum for people in the industry to share opinions and information not for you to abuse,insult and rant at people in such an unneccessary manner.
No one has said they hate their job but airlines are not treating there employees fairly and these days we have strict employment laws to support us. We really would be muppetts (as you so charmingly like to call us) if we just said "i love my job but this company is not treating us accordingly so i will do nothing and sya nothing and just p@@ off.
me thinks there maybe more to the reason why you are no longer crew and perhaps you are a wee bit bitter.
No one has said they hate their job but airlines are not treating there employees fairly and these days we have strict employment laws to support us. We really would be muppetts (as you so charmingly like to call us) if we just said "i love my job but this company is not treating us accordingly so i will do nothing and sya nothing and just p@@ off.
me thinks there maybe more to the reason why you are no longer crew and perhaps you are a wee bit bitter.
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Unfortunately the attitude and opinions given by Realworld are shared by airline management and that is, "If you don't like it then leave because there's plenty of people waiting to step into your shoes". In fact easyJet's Chief Executive was once alleged to have stated that he could find new cabin crew by going down to Tesco. (It was never clear if he meant the store's staff or customers).
As repulsive as this attitude is it is true that there are people out there who would be prepared to do your job for worse T&Cs than what you currently have. You only have to look at the "strikebusters" recruitment list one airline is (again alleged) to have - wannabe crew who are willing to step into the breach if the existing crew striked! To describe these people as 'scabs' is being kind... OK so attrition would increase and the service offered wouldn't be as good but the management wouldn't care as long as they were saving a few quid and at the end of the day many passengers complain about the service they receive but very few will actually vote with their feet as long as the price is right (Ryanair are living proof of that).
The airlines know they can get cheaper labour and hope that by holding out to your demands they will break you...it's up to you not to allow that to happen and too also remember that a union is only as strong as it's members!!!
As repulsive as this attitude is it is true that there are people out there who would be prepared to do your job for worse T&Cs than what you currently have. You only have to look at the "strikebusters" recruitment list one airline is (again alleged) to have - wannabe crew who are willing to step into the breach if the existing crew striked! To describe these people as 'scabs' is being kind... OK so attrition would increase and the service offered wouldn't be as good but the management wouldn't care as long as they were saving a few quid and at the end of the day many passengers complain about the service they receive but very few will actually vote with their feet as long as the price is right (Ryanair are living proof of that).
The airlines know they can get cheaper labour and hope that by holding out to your demands they will break you...it's up to you not to allow that to happen and too also remember that a union is only as strong as it's members!!!
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Have the crew actually been balloted for strike action?.
I work for BA,meet loads of you VS crew downroute and think you're a great bunch.I've also had the privilege of flying with you and your're hard working and deliver good service.
I hope it does'nt come to a strike and you get a 'fair' and just pay rise.Stick to your guns and SRB may stop telling you how good you are verbally and show it in your pay.
Good luck to you all.
WTDWL.
PS. REALWORLD. As you were crew should should know that the job is NOT 95% easier that other jobs.Like swans we're very smooth above the water(the cabin) but under the water(galley area etc) our little legs are working hard. Yes we get layovers but we also get jetlagged 5-6 times a month and far too many x-rays at 35000 feet!!.
It is said long haul crew live 7 years less than the average.Never read it myself but it is common knowledge.
There again it could be too much Bacardi in my case
PSS. If the job was so easy why did you leave!!?>
I work for BA,meet loads of you VS crew downroute and think you're a great bunch.I've also had the privilege of flying with you and your're hard working and deliver good service.
I hope it does'nt come to a strike and you get a 'fair' and just pay rise.Stick to your guns and SRB may stop telling you how good you are verbally and show it in your pay.
Good luck to you all.
WTDWL.
PS. REALWORLD. As you were crew should should know that the job is NOT 95% easier that other jobs.Like swans we're very smooth above the water(the cabin) but under the water(galley area etc) our little legs are working hard. Yes we get layovers but we also get jetlagged 5-6 times a month and far too many x-rays at 35000 feet!!.
It is said long haul crew live 7 years less than the average.Never read it myself but it is common knowledge.
There again it could be too much Bacardi in my case
PSS. If the job was so easy why did you leave!!?>
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realworld, Your post is very derogatory and really quite offensive.
To say that we have as much responsibility as a fire warden in an office block shows a lack of understanding for the job we do and ignorance.
To the crew out there remember this....
Next time I’m on my hands and knees on the floor of a filthy galley at 3am (no jokes please!!), cleaning out a trash compactor, absolutely knackered after a one night layover, in the middle of 2 12+ hour sectors (yes it does happen - JNB!) ill remind myself how easy you think our job is and be thankful I don’t have 8 hours in an office, during the day, with 3 breaks, and a nice comfy chair to sit on - coz that’s hard work!
To say that we have as much responsibility as a fire warden in an office block shows a lack of understanding for the job we do and ignorance.
To the crew out there remember this....
Next time I’m on my hands and knees on the floor of a filthy galley at 3am (no jokes please!!), cleaning out a trash compactor, absolutely knackered after a one night layover, in the middle of 2 12+ hour sectors (yes it does happen - JNB!) ill remind myself how easy you think our job is and be thankful I don’t have 8 hours in an office, during the day, with 3 breaks, and a nice comfy chair to sit on - coz that’s hard work!
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hi everyone,
thank you for your feedback on this on going debate..
realworld... well what can i say ... to be honest nothing... cause your post has made alot of crew stronger on their opinions with regards to the pay neogiations so with that i thank you..lol
just picked up the push to talk at work this is the cabin crew magazine published monthly... our lovely friend Linda moira head of cabin management would prefer we cabin crew keep our opinions within the "virgin family" and not express our opinions on the internet.. how nice of you linda...shame i cant feed my own family.... hmmm
everyone keep up the good work and spread the word with regards to this forum and get new recruits to join the union!!
thank you whattimedoweland we all have a great time with the ba crew and its really great to have your support!!
thanks
thank you for your feedback on this on going debate..
realworld... well what can i say ... to be honest nothing... cause your post has made alot of crew stronger on their opinions with regards to the pay neogiations so with that i thank you..lol
just picked up the push to talk at work this is the cabin crew magazine published monthly... our lovely friend Linda moira head of cabin management would prefer we cabin crew keep our opinions within the "virgin family" and not express our opinions on the internet.. how nice of you linda...shame i cant feed my own family.... hmmm
everyone keep up the good work and spread the word with regards to this forum and get new recruits to join the union!!
thank you whattimedoweland we all have a great time with the ba crew and its really great to have your support!!
thanks
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Can i just say to everyone out there...keep up all the good work, join the union and lets get a better deal for all us guys and galls in the sky and if we end up strikeing...i will be outside queens building with the tea and biscuits for all!!
And if anyone out there 'real world' has no constuctive comments apart from 'just leave' then dont bother to say anything. I take on all coments but calling us muppets is just pathetic and 'saftey just goes in the bin' is the biggest load of rubbish i have ever heard.
Safty really went in the bin when Jetblue A320 made a emergency landing and every one got off fine thinks to the calm and organised crew. Or when a medical emergengy happens on board and we have to do CPR for half a hour to save a mans life.We really do do nothing on board. Yeah right!!
Lets be recognised for what we are trained in and what situations we have to handle...its not just chicken or beef, tea or coffee. And if real world is ex crew, he or she will remember being trained in how to handle a disruptive pax, childbirth, medical emergency, fire fighting and knowing how to handle every sitution that could occur on board, as well as remebering where all equipment is located on board three differnet aircraft just in case any thing does happen Remember? Six hard weeks of training, resiting exams every year . And belive me all this training does get used more than what you know.... Its all part of the job and we need this to be represented in the pay. So REAL WORLD sit and remeber what it was really like and then make comment.
Finally,I love my job, and i enjoy working for thr company and yes there are perks (Staff Travel), seeing the wounderfull places and yes...sitting on a beach but like some one else on this forum said, virgin have certain priorites wrong and we need to help sort them out.
So construtive comments please. Or just dont bother and let make a better comapny for all!!!!
And if anyone out there 'real world' has no constuctive comments apart from 'just leave' then dont bother to say anything. I take on all coments but calling us muppets is just pathetic and 'saftey just goes in the bin' is the biggest load of rubbish i have ever heard.
Safty really went in the bin when Jetblue A320 made a emergency landing and every one got off fine thinks to the calm and organised crew. Or when a medical emergengy happens on board and we have to do CPR for half a hour to save a mans life.We really do do nothing on board. Yeah right!!
Lets be recognised for what we are trained in and what situations we have to handle...its not just chicken or beef, tea or coffee. And if real world is ex crew, he or she will remember being trained in how to handle a disruptive pax, childbirth, medical emergency, fire fighting and knowing how to handle every sitution that could occur on board, as well as remebering where all equipment is located on board three differnet aircraft just in case any thing does happen Remember? Six hard weeks of training, resiting exams every year . And belive me all this training does get used more than what you know.... Its all part of the job and we need this to be represented in the pay. So REAL WORLD sit and remeber what it was really like and then make comment.
Finally,I love my job, and i enjoy working for thr company and yes there are perks (Staff Travel), seeing the wounderfull places and yes...sitting on a beach but like some one else on this forum said, virgin have certain priorites wrong and we need to help sort them out.
So construtive comments please. Or just dont bother and let make a better comapny for all!!!!
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how do, my friend just sent me the link to read what everyone has wrote about virgin and the possible strikes etc.
by the looks of the things, real world has already got a pretty decent roasting, particularly by lamostyn, who from what i can see knows what theyre talking about.
my friend has worked for virgin for 3 years, and in all honesty i can see this is her dream come true. she gets to see so many parts of the world, and quite often can take me with her. this is why i felt i wanted to say something too.
i could of slept for a year after the trip we went on. i have never in my life been so tired, i also had a week off before i went back to work, my friend had 3 days.
as someone who is not entirely relaxed when flying, i really depended on the fact that these hardworking virgin employees would be able to help me in any eventuality. at 30 odd thousand feet in the sky i like to know that the people looking after me are being looked after themselves, and if this means paying them more money then i am happy with that.
well what is there else to say? other than Real World, if you once worked for an airline taking care of people, thank god you dont do it now
by the looks of the things, real world has already got a pretty decent roasting, particularly by lamostyn, who from what i can see knows what theyre talking about.
my friend has worked for virgin for 3 years, and in all honesty i can see this is her dream come true. she gets to see so many parts of the world, and quite often can take me with her. this is why i felt i wanted to say something too.
i could of slept for a year after the trip we went on. i have never in my life been so tired, i also had a week off before i went back to work, my friend had 3 days.
as someone who is not entirely relaxed when flying, i really depended on the fact that these hardworking virgin employees would be able to help me in any eventuality. at 30 odd thousand feet in the sky i like to know that the people looking after me are being looked after themselves, and if this means paying them more money then i am happy with that.
well what is there else to say? other than Real World, if you once worked for an airline taking care of people, thank god you dont do it now
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I wouldn’t let realworld worry you, as previously mentioned his comments are far from the “realworld”.
Good to see that LM is canvassing the FSM’s for their comments and feedback with the “obviously I don’t have to explain the financial situation” line in her note. So plan A of scaring the juniors into thinking that a pay rise will bankrupt the airline didn’t work this year, so it’s plan B. I wonder how many have actually responded and put forward any ideas???
The discussions are all dragging out which will result in people forgetting what they wanted to achieve in the first place (is this plan C). Funny how something as sensitive as pay talks for such a large percentage of the airline workforce is put on hold so people can go on leave!! May be I’m a bit mad, but I’d want to get the talks moving, resolve the issues & try to build up the morale in the front line staff (lets face it part of the appeal of flying with VS are the crew, no point if they’re all miserable as sin & uninterested).
Fingers crossed that in the coming weeks some positive news will come out of the talks.
Good to see that LM is canvassing the FSM’s for their comments and feedback with the “obviously I don’t have to explain the financial situation” line in her note. So plan A of scaring the juniors into thinking that a pay rise will bankrupt the airline didn’t work this year, so it’s plan B. I wonder how many have actually responded and put forward any ideas???
The discussions are all dragging out which will result in people forgetting what they wanted to achieve in the first place (is this plan C). Funny how something as sensitive as pay talks for such a large percentage of the airline workforce is put on hold so people can go on leave!! May be I’m a bit mad, but I’d want to get the talks moving, resolve the issues & try to build up the morale in the front line staff (lets face it part of the appeal of flying with VS are the crew, no point if they’re all miserable as sin & uninterested).
Fingers crossed that in the coming weeks some positive news will come out of the talks.
Hi Denzil,
Dunno where you are at the moment will be passing through HK en route to NZ arriving 5.50 pm on VS200. may get to see you there for a minute if you are in HK........ For the rest of the cabin crew dont let people who know nothing about what you do affect you.....in all my years of flying I relied on the eyes and ears down the back for helping me with my problems as well as having to deal with their own......mind you |I did come down the back once or twice to "help" out as well........keep smiling and at least the punters will be on your side.........
Dunno where you are at the moment will be passing through HK en route to NZ arriving 5.50 pm on VS200. may get to see you there for a minute if you are in HK........ For the rest of the cabin crew dont let people who know nothing about what you do affect you.....in all my years of flying I relied on the eyes and ears down the back for helping me with my problems as well as having to deal with their own......mind you |I did come down the back once or twice to "help" out as well........keep smiling and at least the punters will be on your side.........