Emirates the Road Ahead
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Emirates the Road Ahead
In light of recent events many are taking stock of what the future holds not for Emirates but for themselves.
I have little doubt the company will go from success to success. That has been amply demonstrated. Fleets, employees, load factors, revenues and profits have risen more than linearly.
Sadly that cannot be said for the employees. By every measure they have lost in this story of success. For the individuals more work has been demanded for the money paid and the money paid has decreased in real terms.
15 years ago (as of May ‘98) a first year FO earned 16040 AED per month.
Today an FO earns 25450 with and additional 3375 flying pay (assuming 900 hours in the year) making a total of AED 28825 per month.
Thus in 15 years first year FO salary has increased 80% numerically.
This increase is woefully inadequate for the increased costs of goods and services around the world, let alone Dubai where inflation is far more prevalent. Oil for instance cost around $20 dollars per barrel in ‘98. One only has to go to CNN Money online to see that today Oil is at $97 per barrel and Gold at sits at $ 1245. Gold was $ 325 in ‘98.
The same scale of increases can be found in almost any commodity or service we purchase. In rough figures it is easy to see that while comparable salaries in the time period have not quite doubled, everything else has risen by a factor of 4 or 5.
It is sad news to anyone who joined in the last year that they are earning less than half what a joining FO earned a decade and a half ago. And of course working considerably harder which is simply another form of pay reduction. If the same calculations were done on a Dollars-per-hour basis the picture would be even bleaker.
Last year pilots were awarded a 0.5% salary increase in order to cater for the rampant inflation from May 2013 to May 2014. That seems almost a cruel joke. Inflation had already far exceeded this in the previous year.
Even more cynical was the Presidents email: “Don’t be fazed by inflationary pressures and doomsday predictions. I firmly believe that everyone associated with Emirates, and foremost the airline’s 42,000-plus family, will be well looked after.”
What did that mean? I am fazed by inflationary pressures on a daily basis. After all I can hardly control them or pretend they don’t exist. I simply have to cut back on the lifestyle choices for my family. This is hardly a morale booster. And what does: “I firmly believe” mean? He doesn’t know? I thought this was within his control. I would prefer assurances. People who tell me they “firmly believe” something are almost always saying exactly the opposite IMHO.
All very well for Sir Clark, but on his salary and bonus I don’t suppose a cost of living increase of 10-15% really is something to be fazed about. So while rents escalate in the 10-30% region and basic living essentials climb another 10% I hope I can place some faith in these assurances. I look forward to this year’s salary review with an expectation of a least 10% and hopefully another 20% to advance us in some small measure towards where things once were. Then I probably could “kick-start the year with renewed energy and vigour.” Because frankly I’m exhausted, deflated, demoralized and like so many others here I am tidying up my affairs in the UAE and working on my exit strategy.
Do I expect a radical difference elsewhere? Not really but at least I can be on home turf, a first class citizen and not a highly paid foreign laborer. I might be appreciated and not constantly threatened. I will have rights and laws to protect me. I can escape the infernal summer heat and be statistically less likely to die in a motor accident.
The issue of workers’ wages declining while those of Executives’ continue to rise exponentially is of such concern that President Obama made it the theme of his State of the Union Speech. While I doubt he has the power against corporate America to do much about it, he fully appreciates the dangers. And so do the elite around him. They worry that the masses grow restless. The disparity can bring no good to the world and is essentially the stuff revolutions are made of. Many leading economists and libertarians express this more vocally every day. It has huge dangers for all.
While EK is a microcosm of this, that is no excuse to jump on the bandwagon. I urge our leaders extreme caution as this has the potential to do a good company untold damage in ways we can hardly consider.
Don’t make your profits and bonuses at our expense. We don’t ask for more - simply the same. We work loyally and diligently to keep people, property and the Company safe. We ask you recognize the work, reward accordingly and evenly, acknowledge honestly when we start work and when we stop. Don’t conspire to turn a profit from perks given in good faith. Use common sense and not manipulations of the law. Stop using selective statistics to prove an agenda. Look at all the statistics, even the less palatable. Truths cannot be denied however unpalatable they may be.
Maybe this is a model that all 21st centuries now employ but I hanker after a former company with an ethos of success for all, respect for all. I am weary of being a “resource” that is disposable, depreciable and exploitable.
Pixy
I have little doubt the company will go from success to success. That has been amply demonstrated. Fleets, employees, load factors, revenues and profits have risen more than linearly.
Sadly that cannot be said for the employees. By every measure they have lost in this story of success. For the individuals more work has been demanded for the money paid and the money paid has decreased in real terms.
15 years ago (as of May ‘98) a first year FO earned 16040 AED per month.
Today an FO earns 25450 with and additional 3375 flying pay (assuming 900 hours in the year) making a total of AED 28825 per month.
Thus in 15 years first year FO salary has increased 80% numerically.
This increase is woefully inadequate for the increased costs of goods and services around the world, let alone Dubai where inflation is far more prevalent. Oil for instance cost around $20 dollars per barrel in ‘98. One only has to go to CNN Money online to see that today Oil is at $97 per barrel and Gold at sits at $ 1245. Gold was $ 325 in ‘98.
The same scale of increases can be found in almost any commodity or service we purchase. In rough figures it is easy to see that while comparable salaries in the time period have not quite doubled, everything else has risen by a factor of 4 or 5.
It is sad news to anyone who joined in the last year that they are earning less than half what a joining FO earned a decade and a half ago. And of course working considerably harder which is simply another form of pay reduction. If the same calculations were done on a Dollars-per-hour basis the picture would be even bleaker.
Last year pilots were awarded a 0.5% salary increase in order to cater for the rampant inflation from May 2013 to May 2014. That seems almost a cruel joke. Inflation had already far exceeded this in the previous year.
Even more cynical was the Presidents email: “Don’t be fazed by inflationary pressures and doomsday predictions. I firmly believe that everyone associated with Emirates, and foremost the airline’s 42,000-plus family, will be well looked after.”
What did that mean? I am fazed by inflationary pressures on a daily basis. After all I can hardly control them or pretend they don’t exist. I simply have to cut back on the lifestyle choices for my family. This is hardly a morale booster. And what does: “I firmly believe” mean? He doesn’t know? I thought this was within his control. I would prefer assurances. People who tell me they “firmly believe” something are almost always saying exactly the opposite IMHO.
All very well for Sir Clark, but on his salary and bonus I don’t suppose a cost of living increase of 10-15% really is something to be fazed about. So while rents escalate in the 10-30% region and basic living essentials climb another 10% I hope I can place some faith in these assurances. I look forward to this year’s salary review with an expectation of a least 10% and hopefully another 20% to advance us in some small measure towards where things once were. Then I probably could “kick-start the year with renewed energy and vigour.” Because frankly I’m exhausted, deflated, demoralized and like so many others here I am tidying up my affairs in the UAE and working on my exit strategy.
Do I expect a radical difference elsewhere? Not really but at least I can be on home turf, a first class citizen and not a highly paid foreign laborer. I might be appreciated and not constantly threatened. I will have rights and laws to protect me. I can escape the infernal summer heat and be statistically less likely to die in a motor accident.
The issue of workers’ wages declining while those of Executives’ continue to rise exponentially is of such concern that President Obama made it the theme of his State of the Union Speech. While I doubt he has the power against corporate America to do much about it, he fully appreciates the dangers. And so do the elite around him. They worry that the masses grow restless. The disparity can bring no good to the world and is essentially the stuff revolutions are made of. Many leading economists and libertarians express this more vocally every day. It has huge dangers for all.
While EK is a microcosm of this, that is no excuse to jump on the bandwagon. I urge our leaders extreme caution as this has the potential to do a good company untold damage in ways we can hardly consider.
Don’t make your profits and bonuses at our expense. We don’t ask for more - simply the same. We work loyally and diligently to keep people, property and the Company safe. We ask you recognize the work, reward accordingly and evenly, acknowledge honestly when we start work and when we stop. Don’t conspire to turn a profit from perks given in good faith. Use common sense and not manipulations of the law. Stop using selective statistics to prove an agenda. Look at all the statistics, even the less palatable. Truths cannot be denied however unpalatable they may be.
Maybe this is a model that all 21st centuries now employ but I hanker after a former company with an ethos of success for all, respect for all. I am weary of being a “resource” that is disposable, depreciable and exploitable.
Pixy
Join Date: Nov 2011
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Hi Pixy,
That's part of how they make all the money, ipso facto it'll never change.
Don't let it get to you, drink beer instead. Now back to the grind....
Sadly that cannot be said for the employees.
By every measure they have lost in this story of success.
For the individuals more work has been demanded for the money paid and the money paid has decreased in real terms.
By every measure they have lost in this story of success.
For the individuals more work has been demanded for the money paid and the money paid has decreased in real terms.
That's part of how they make all the money, ipso facto it'll never change.
Don't let it get to you, drink beer instead. Now back to the grind....
To make you feel better Pixy, the rest of the company received a 3.5% pay rise last year. It would seem that our increment is counted as a rise these days. Too bad when your on the top scale.
The Don
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Maybe the pilot force should “honor” the mentioned past and layout the common future during the impending runway closure at Dubai. Their cooperation will be very much expected, rightfully so, but their going the extra mile and streching limits is flatly planned in.
Now might come the time to remember that others remembered inflation only when adjusting staff fares, but not employees salaries, the time to remember that any swap is rejected if it implies only 10 minutes overtime, but 10+ minutes unpaid discretion is expected.
Flexibility shold not be a one-way street. It will be the time to discover how much memory and cojones the flying workforce have or how much soap they are ready to continue to pick-up, because during the next couple of months some need their jockeys goodwill a little bit more than usual, a tad more than they like to I guess …
Now might come the time to remember that others remembered inflation only when adjusting staff fares, but not employees salaries, the time to remember that any swap is rejected if it implies only 10 minutes overtime, but 10+ minutes unpaid discretion is expected.
Flexibility shold not be a one-way street. It will be the time to discover how much memory and cojones the flying workforce have or how much soap they are ready to continue to pick-up, because during the next couple of months some need their jockeys goodwill a little bit more than usual, a tad more than they like to I guess …
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Last year the pay review announcement was made on May 15th. If it happens the same time this year it will be about 2 weeks after the runway closure begins. It will be interesting to see the reaction this year when they decide to screw us again.
J
J
Last edited by JAYTO; 4th Feb 2014 at 11:52.
Sorry Jet II if I got that wrong. But the folks I know in EGIT, Commercial, HR, Airport services and Cabin crew trainers all got 3.5%. Seemed a bit more than a coincidence to me.
the Don
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Hope this link works, it is from a News program in the US, the Pilot shortage is beginning to hit.
Apparently it is sooner and worse than anticipated.
So those in the seats of power please take note supply is slowing
down.
Video - U.S. Pilot Shortfall Hits Earlier, Worse Than Expected - WSJ.com
Apparently it is sooner and worse than anticipated.
So those in the seats of power please take note supply is slowing
down.
Video - U.S. Pilot Shortfall Hits Earlier, Worse Than Expected - WSJ.com
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EK has not relied on US pilot supply for some time and when they did it was only for a short time ( just look at the seniority list) . If the demand is so high I'm guessing all the current US pilots at EK will be leaving. Do you think they will all leave in the same month ? No . Do you think EK cares if all US pilots leave ? No. Those that leave should do so for their own personal reason and not to " show" EK. Also with all this talk of all the hiring and how great it's going to be with the US carriers , what does that say about those that stay at EK? Go quietly if that's possible.
