Sacked for a Sandwich...
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 393
Likes: 94
From: UK
Although not in the UK, I did actually witness the farcical scene of two heavily armed police ... machine guns, hand guns et all setting off the scanner as they walked through ..... and then being brought back to be checked with the wand !
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3
Likes: 5
From: Wor Yerm
A and C - You are totally correct. But this is where we come in. If the cabin crew are not able to fly because they are unable to bring in their own food you delay the flight until they are properly fed. Nothing works better than delaying a flight. And don't forget the ASR should any pressure be placed on you. I've not had a problem and I don't expect one.
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,415
Likes: 2
From: Europe
Well said, Piltdown Man; you could even have changed it slightly by saying; "Nothing works better than delaying a flight while you wait to be properly fed, if your objective is an immediate interview in HR about why you are not suitable and maybe should think about an alternative role".
I'm sure that's what you meant.
button push ignored; I - just like the senior Ryanair exec I mentioned - was talking about yield and income, if you read it a bit more carefully, not operating profit.
I'm sure that's what you meant.
button push ignored; I - just like the senior Ryanair exec I mentioned - was talking about yield and income, if you read it a bit more carefully, not operating profit.
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3
Likes: 5
From: Wor Yerm
No I didn't Capot. Not at all. The buck stops with us in ensuring that our colleagues in the cabin are fit to fly, especially if the system does not permit them to have appropriate meal breaks. But you are quite right, I am not a suitable employee for a grotesque penny pinching, unsafe airline that treats safety, its employees and passengers with contempt.
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 138
Likes: 119
From: Off the map
What you describe is political corruption, and should be outlawed.
But if you want to be able to carry Joe Public by air for pennies on the dollar you need to find other revenue streams besides selling tickets if you want to stay in business, and looks like Ryanair found it.
I'm not condoning their business model, just stating the facts.
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: UK
Given how hard it is to terminate employment this must have been the "excuse" easyjet were looking for. While most of the crew are hard working there are several at all bases who are carried for various reasons. These " few " are well known and should be unceremoniously released in order to improve the lifestyle of those who are required to cover for them.
Was " sandwich" girl one of the " few " ?
Was " sandwich" girl one of the " few " ?
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 450
Likes: 0
From: UK
I don't think EJ find it the least bit difficult to sack people, especially cabin crew. Whilst pilot management in general is pretty good cc management is awful, utterly awful. Mainly an over-promoted cabal of ex cc themselves there is a simply shocking lack of tolerance and brutality in their methods and the cc are in the main terrified of "disciplinaries" that can be had for the most trivial of matters. Their sickness policy is the worst; exceed two (?) periods of sickness in a year, no matter how long, and you're on a disciplinary (that they deny is a disciplinary, but it is indistinguishable from one apart from the mealymouthed name; wellbeing meeting). More than one of those and you're teetering on the brink. It matters not how long you're off for, one day or one month, each counts as an event and it matters not how sick you are when the third one comes along. Thus cc turn up for work when they should be in bed for fear of the sack. They have been known to break down in tears and beg the Captain not to offload them despite being completely unable to work. How illegal is that, yet their union (Unite) is so weak that nothing has ever been done about it.
Pilots face no such difficulties with sick days.
Don't wonder, then, that pinching sandwiches is frowned upon. Everyone knows the penalty, and as alluded to above any previous form and your position is shaky to say the least.
Pilots face no such difficulties with sick days.
Don't wonder, then, that pinching sandwiches is frowned upon. Everyone knows the penalty, and as alluded to above any previous form and your position is shaky to say the least.
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 748
Likes: 23
From: Not Aviation House
I once authorised a sandwich for the FO when the crew food was not provided correctly.
It was all recorded on the flight paperwork, with explanation given. Totally honest.
Repercussions?
30 minute interview with a manager for me to give a full explanation for my conduct.
It's not just CC.
No-one defends 'stealing', but there has to be proportionality.
It was all recorded on the flight paperwork, with explanation given. Totally honest.
Repercussions?
30 minute interview with a manager for me to give a full explanation for my conduct.
It's not just CC.
No-one defends 'stealing', but there has to be proportionality.
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 889
Likes: 3
From: UK
Back in the 'good old days' of BOAC there were several individuals who would routinely remove the items required to provide a three course gourmet meal including wine and aperitifs for a family including the cat!
God knows what they would make of it today.
God knows what they would make of it today.
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,291
Likes: 9
From: BHX LXR ASW
Oh those joints of sirloin they used to put on States side. Many found their way to dinner tables across the UK. 27 in first class on a night flight and no one wanted to eat. I'm sure plenty of cats did well!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3
Likes: 5
From: Wor Yerm
I find it interesting that the jobsworths in the CAA are more interested in smudged text on minor panels and the legalities of deferring worn tyres when they are above legal minimum than they are about the well being of cabin crew. Never, ever have the scumbags in shiny HiViz jackets who have ramp checked me asked about the rosters we are flying, the where's and how's of crew meals and rest periods during a day. The enemy are greedy operators working in cahoots with the oversight authorities. It is a disgrace.
Harsh words? Nor really. Western aviation became safer by reacting to past events. But these events have now been virtually eliminated so we have stopped learning. So to make up for this we are engineering a new set of events. Knackered, worn out crews, underfed, preoccupied with ticking safety boxes on useless forms dreamt up by power hungry scribblies who are totally remote from the sharp end. Kill a few hundred punters with a one or two spectacular incidents and the jobsworths will re-emerge from the bowels of Gatwick Towers and put the world to rights again - but this time it will have been predicted. Avoiding litigation (hopefully criminal) will be difficult this time.
Harsh words? Nor really. Western aviation became safer by reacting to past events. But these events have now been virtually eliminated so we have stopped learning. So to make up for this we are engineering a new set of events. Knackered, worn out crews, underfed, preoccupied with ticking safety boxes on useless forms dreamt up by power hungry scribblies who are totally remote from the sharp end. Kill a few hundred punters with a one or two spectacular incidents and the jobsworths will re-emerge from the bowels of Gatwick Towers and put the world to rights again - but this time it will have been predicted. Avoiding litigation (hopefully criminal) will be difficult this time.
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 190
Likes: 1
From: Milan, Italy
Not sure about EASA FDP law etc... However I found it very interesting, that in a certain country in deep dark backward West Africa, it actually specifies that should crew be on duty between 1000-1400/1700-2000 (something like that), they WILL by law be supplied with ADEQUATE meals. Speaking to mates operating on a West African AOC out there... bags were late, fuel late, pax late... but crew meals were ALWAYS delivered to the crew in time.
Working myself in very remote areas under an FDP dispensation that makes no allowance for the above, I have often had to fly hungry (no airport shops, and despite promises of crew meal delivery non forth coming). Being properly nourished is as important as being properly rested. Low blood sugar is extremely dangerous when flying.
Back to the original article, seems a complete over reaction from EZY. Clearly they are not providing adequate meals for their crews. Seems like this poor girl although very naive, definitely didn't eat the sandwich maliciously. If I was in the same situation, and one of my crew was hungry, I'd record that I was taking the sandwich, let them eat it, and deal with whatever the consequences later.
Working myself in very remote areas under an FDP dispensation that makes no allowance for the above, I have often had to fly hungry (no airport shops, and despite promises of crew meal delivery non forth coming). Being properly nourished is as important as being properly rested. Low blood sugar is extremely dangerous when flying.
Back to the original article, seems a complete over reaction from EZY. Clearly they are not providing adequate meals for their crews. Seems like this poor girl although very naive, definitely didn't eat the sandwich maliciously. If I was in the same situation, and one of my crew was hungry, I'd record that I was taking the sandwich, let them eat it, and deal with whatever the consequences later.
