What do you suggest for the 49ers?
 

:gents, with all respect, but you are doing exactly what management wants :us to do : start fighting with ourselves instead with the enemy.
:let's stay united

Good plan. What do you suggest for the 49ers?

Kitsune,

On that note...you are correct.

We are our own worst enemy.:ouch::*:ugh:

We voted against the payscales offered to Direct Entry F/O's in OZ

So, yes we did something about it and can sleep straight in bed knowing full well WE TRIED to stop them.

You did NOTHING.

stillalbatross, you are the definition of a moron. The A scalers care as much about this as you do. The reason: we saw what the long-term result of ASL/Bscale was on our earnings (salary down 55% in real terms). Talk big...but what CONSTRUCTIVE suggestion to you have? The history of this airline the past 15 years should tell you that nothing short of dramatic, hard-hitting action will have any chance of affecting the outcome of the companies strategy. Without such action, YOUR career will be hollowed out, depressing and frankly miserable. I suggest you stop attacking A scale, and use your 3 brain cells to figure out exactly what it is you can do that will save YOUR career.

Gents,although the company has bypassed the FACA (ftr aircrew agreement ) in relation to forcing Passenger 400 drivers to fly the rubber dog shi** , no FTR training captain is permitted to TRAIN on the passenger fleet. Of course if we get rid of FTR payscales and we become a big happy family that would change. ( then we would have another very bitter group looking at pilots in the left seat 11 years out of seniority?)

I think we are going to see a crewing oversupply very soon if kero stays above $150 mark, the classic gets parked then what do they do with that crew group?? All senior to the dragon air and oasis boys, maybe the special leave scheme will rise from the ashes again.

Once again we have lost our chance for a payrise, the fight is on to now hold the line and very carefully defend the contract as it stands, build our unity and concentrate on who the real threat and act accordingly.

How about we up the FRT pay scales, however keep the FTR Captains flying the freighter till they are senior enough to fly PAX, they shouldn't complain :eek: they got a pay rise and had expected to not fly PAX when they opted for a FRT command. :=

Any new Command on the -400 will go back in order of seniority so F/Os should see a drop in time to Command time. :D

S/Os will still suffer however CX always had the right for DE F/Os.:{

Yeah, but they are SUPPOSED to be paid bypass pay and be upgraded in seniority - neither of which is consistently happening!!

Nevermind, the SOs are revolting (buddum-bum, TISH!). There will be a changing of the guard soon with a few SOs on the AoA. Nothing more frightening than a one-striper with literally nothing to lose!!

A-Scalers be afraid, be very afraid...:E

A scale
 

I can guarrantee any agreement for 65 will involve a pay cut for the A scale crew..yet again.
If all non A scale aspire to become the lowest common denominator..so it shall be.In the face of non stop company cost cutting pressure do you honestly believe they'll stop once all A scalers are gone?
The most senior B scale can look forward to a lifetime of cuts,hours hikes and a degradation of conditions delivered in exactly the same way they have been for the last 15 years.
Incidentally A scale crew have fought longer,harder and seen conditions deteriorate much more severly than any crew member to date...and to say they didn't fight is absolute crap....most of you weren't here to see it.None of them wanted B scales and still don't.But the work force and the AoA are totally compliant and perhaps you should ask yourselves if you're prepared to put your job on the line to defend a pay cut or reduction in your contract...what's that???? no i didn't think so...just a deafening silence.
But don't fret...your turn will surely come.

A scale holding the line in 99?
 

I guess that would be the same A scale that supported the action of 99?
Threat of being fired was not enough, it took the B scale to defend the line for what? Be careful , people have long memories and when they smell bullsh** its hard not to comment.

Direct entry and seniority in aviation
 

The current system in many airlines upgrading f/os to captains and not taking DECs is the most damaging to pilots, period! Airline managements milk it to the fullest, keeping the pilot workforce in subservience. If there is an open market for pilots, free market dynamics will keep salaries, T & Cs and perks up to reflect worldwide demand. Of course there are those who will argue that third world pilots will flood the market...absolute hogwash! Other professions progress but professional pilots stick to this archaic regressive system. Imagine a chartered accountant having to start as an audit clerk when he move company or a top lawyer restarting as an articled clerk or a brain surgent beginning a new life as an intern!

Pilots sticking to the seniority system are like the Japanese " sarariman " s expecting a cradle to grave job security in return for eternal servitude and loyalty. These blokes have no confidence in their ability and hide behind, as jandakotcruiser alluded to, a feudal system with fortresses to protect their pathetic selves from competition. Hey, " the best man wins ' are what they preach BUT NEVER PRACTISE. The hypocricy of the remnants of the East India Company.......free trade, they admonish but then erect barriers like embargos, tariffs, farm/industry subsidies, etc. Likewise when CX, BA, QF, RBA pilots leave to other airlines they demand direct entry but back in their former turfs they fight tooth and nail to maintain their castles and fortresses. Plain greed, lack of confidence and absolutely no sense of natural justice! Bombs away! Flame away guys

selective memory HKDriver.....I was in the Excelsior hotel for almost 2 weeks during the events of 99'...along with many of my A scale colleagues. The irony in the present situation is that the circumstances we are faced with really only threaten the B scalers. Most of us 'old' A scalers really won't be affected all that long by whatever is eventually the settled facts. I suggest you and your army of angry-ant B scalers start to plan a proper strategy that will directly improve your career prospects. Worrying about us is only more time wasted better spent saving your own sorry a**es...

HKG Driver

Are you suggesting all the B scales supported the action in 99?

I was a based pilot at the crew hotel, on the first morning, and along with the vast majority of my A scale colleagues at the hotel, became too stressed to fly. The stress was real, very real. Then to add to that stress, three B scale first officers and one A scale captain flew us home that afternoon on a Company aircraft. How do you think our stress levels were that afternoon, being the first members to call-in? We thought our careers were over (in fact, careers were effectively ended for 49 colleagues that day).

In the next few days, many more crew became too stressed out to fly, both A scales and B scales. I very much appreciated the B scalers who had the courage to step across the line and support their colleagues. It had the desired effect and grabbed the Company’s attention.

But don’t for a minute denigrate the A scale effort by suggesting recalling their action "smells of bull****"; or that 100% of the B scalers took part...that is "bull****".

It was half-and-half on both sides…. The men and the boys.

What was really noticeable and quite remarkable from a "chutzpah" point of view, was that many of the loudest and most outspoken members prior to the event, put their heads down and ran for cover. They did not support their colleagues.

I think of these people when I peruse Pprune these days.

based pilot
 

says it all , how would you know what was really happening? At causeway bay yep must have been real hard slinking back home first class. Agree with you on the loud mouths running for cover like cockroaches when the light was shone on them disgusting gutless wonders. My point was that the majority of my fellow group walked the walk , paid for it by a vindictive management years later and to say otherwise by a poster needed a retort. Anyway the main issue is now is to simply defend our COS, the S/O's are getting screwed by the company, F/O's having their options taken by new joiners because its cheaper? finally age 65, housing and RP08 coming up for barter?? The question needs to be asked what are you willing to do about it? I would not go on a sick out, make questionable operational decisions but would fully support a contact compliance stance and sign a undertaking letter stating that to fellow union members. I actively try and recruit new union members, encourage active debate and ring email the GC members concerns that I have. We all have our concerns and issues how many actually put pen to paper or even pick up a telephone? rant over

ravin11
 

Ravin 11 well said:ok:

I am looking forward to the day when the last A Scale leaves. B Scales will be frozen (the only reason B scale get pay raises is because of the A scale disparity) and C scale will get the pay raises instead. Then I am going to sit back and laugh myself silly as ACMS ( who is actually a B+ scaler) and his mates keep crying like the 5yr olds they act like.

When the new AOA ( B scale dominated) committee calls for industrial action in the future I and my A scale mates will stand with them BUT I must admit alot of us are getting very tired of the A scale bashing.

Now run along and shave your chest before you go to the gym (instead of meeting for a beer in the pub) and whilst you download the latest phone ring to your mobile how about downloading some balls to your underpants.

OK, I'll bite
I've heard this "pay being dragged up by the A scale" argument before and it's utter nonsense.
You won't find me A scale bashing here - we'd all like a bit of it - but please no more broccoli!

the only reason B scale get pay raises is because of the A scale disparity

If you believe this , you have been smoking something mate...next you are going to tell me that Santa and the tooth fairy really do exist.:eek:

Guys

No one is going to get F@#k All. Have a look At this thread "Final Interviews Canceled for July" in the Wannabes forum.

Sorry to burst your bubble but the opportunity for improvement in COS is gone.

It was 6 months ago!

Fx

I have just written out a full page reply to Feathers which the computer has "eaten," so her is an abbreviated version:

Feathers,

I disagree with you. The company has a long history of streching/delaying paytalks out long enough so that they eventually co-incide with some form of crisis. This industry of ours historically has a crisis every few years and CX always takes full advantage of this.

The payrise that we have earned is long overdue and should come from the record results of the previous few years. It shouldn't be thrown out on the possibility of a period of harder times. Business is still extremely healthy. This will most likely continue for a long while yet as people still have to travel. I think the last weekly update had us about 10% ahead of budget.

Don't belive too much of the "Fuel crisis" propoganda that you are going to read about. Sure the price of fuel is very high but CX will come out of this much better placed than they would have been if there was no fuel crisis. Our opposition will/have suffer(ed) ultimately leaving CX with a larger market share and in the Oasis case, a partial soultion to the crewing problems.

Despite what the company say a fairly healthy chunk of the increased costs is eaten up by the passenger surchgarge along with the fuel hedging. How does this industry get away with this fuel surcharge?
It costs me 50% more to fill my cars gas tank today than it did a year ago but I have to pay for that. No fuel surcharges to help and no payrise either.

Every time we read that "currencies have worked in our favour" in the weekly news, what it really means is that the crew (HKG) have just gone even further backwards.

At the very least we need to have an agreement whereby we receive a minimum payrise of the inflation % each year. At least that way we are not going backwards as rapidly as we are now.

Wow, talk about a disgruntled group....You think you really have it that bad? Maybe, but I know and talked to some of your pilots and they seemed pretty happy to work there still. They talk about how quickly they'll get command and all the "benefits" you guys get. :confused: Maybe they were still new and drank too much cool-aid. But in the end, you guys are so fragmented over there that nothing will ever get done - because you're pilots. Pilots bark loud in bars, forums, amongst themselves, but rarely if ever, actually bite.

Look slightly over to KAL and Asiana. They're hiring DECs and DEFOs also - at a higher payscale than the locals. If you guys really want the DECs and DEFOs off the property, tell some of your check pilot mates to just "fail" the new blokes. It's a dirty tactic, but seems to actually have an effect compared to the spineless, worthless unions they have over there like yours.

And by the way, wake up and smell the coffee guys. You'll never beat the management. Just look at the success rate of pilots vs. managment over the years. (ie Ansett, Eastern, and Continental to name a few)

Sad reply...sad person?