Inflation Inflation! EK what to expect of the pay review?
 

UAE inflation will accelerate to 10.1% this year before easing to 8.9% in 2008, the poll showed. Prices rose 9.3% in 2006, the fastest pace in 19 years.

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/50640...in-2008-?ln=en

2006 = 9.3%
2007 = 10.1%
2008 = 8.9%
Total = 27.3%
So Basically 19.4% in the last 2 years. How much pay raise did we get? About 10% a year? (Can't count the 3% since it is not a pay raise but a salary increment) Just enough to keep up with inflation. What if we consider exchange rate? And what if we consider the cost neutral changes to the credits. You end up working more for your money.
So finally it comes to light that we end up making less today than 2 years ago. What's in store for 2008? My guess 10% + 3%
So really, are we making more money then 2 years ago?
What do you think?

I agree with you all the way, but do you think that TC and AAR really care as long as they see bums on pilots seats.

They don't care where their from or the quality of pilot, just numbers. Look at how the training's been brought down to the absolute minimum. :=

It's been that way for years so don't expect it to change anytime soon. :ugh:

Inflation?
 

And how high is the inflation rate in your home country?
Don't just focus on the UAE, where the cost of day-to-day living is still relatively low as compared to Europe, Canada or the USA!
Don't forget that the cost of petrol and insurance for your car is much lower than at home - for one thing......could mention many more.
Pilots all over the world (and not only pilots!) are being hit by inflation, increase in taxation and decrease in salary and working conditions!

With all respect, but what I saw in the UAE recently, you guys in the Gulf region are not too badly off. Of course, there is always something better somewhere else...but not for many!

Do some research and you will find that others are also facing some - sometimes even big - problems.

And looking forward.....in another three years or so, things might really get hard for many!

Cheers,

JI

So Puff,
Your post would infer that you then are a quality pilot. Such arrogance is usually an indicator of the opposite. Does that mean that the earlier the selection the higher quality the pilot.

That would make you of lesser quality than all the guys that joined before you. EK has always needed more pilots so using your logic you are of a quality of your selection year. The best at the start and the worse at the end. So you see its all relative. Bit like a wine vintage for w@nkers.

Interesting that people slag off the selection much like A levels are easier each year, and yet one of the first arguments used vis a vis ek detractors is a slagging based on the assumption that they failed selection and so are bitter.

What a crock of sh1t. I know some quality people that have joined EK on both seats in the last year. and some utter t0ssers as long ago as 2000.
You do the math.:ok:

So funny
 

I don't post much here for the exact reason of these two examples. Is it so hard to stay with the subject of the thread. I'm asking you what do you thing EK will do in 2008. Not what is the inflation in Europe, Canada, USA, Or about your perception of someone posting a reply. At least Puff brought a point related to the question. Talk about the subject. If you have emotional relief to be exercised, please do it on a proper thread.
And the question was...
What do you think EK will do in 2008 to counter the record inflation in the UAE?
Pretty simple?

My guess:
Not more and not less than during the earlier years. If the gvt says their very true and unbiased inflation is 9,3%, we'll get a 9% rise. If the big cheats say we barely made the profit target and fuel is sooo expensive, then we'll get 51/2 weeks profit share. If you behaved well, did all the pelesys sh*t dilligently, you'll get 3% carreer rise. The housing is only a problem for EK, the ones who are out of compacc are left alone, the'll get maybe 5% more and end up paying 20% more out of their pocket. Schooling increases will be none of EK's business so parents will have to brunt the 20% more. Below the line end of the month we'll all have about 8% less, the difference to the effective inflation.
And still pilots continue to come as Del Amitri sing: "Nothing ever happens, nothing happens at all, the needle returns to the start of the song and we all sing along as before, and we'll all be lonely tonight and lonely tomorrow".
Before 2005 we were able to save a little, today we are just covering our costs. Tomorrow we'll have to pay to stay, meaning a negative balance. That's when the big bunch is going to leave. Mainly Europeans, Kiwis and Australians.
Before some heavy metal is grounded for lack of crew, the glorious emperors AAM, TC, MF and AAR will continue to parade naked and everybody continues to tell them how neatly they are dressed. Behind their backs we all despise them today already. And it shows on the motivation, some crews lately weren't too far off BA or DL ambiente....

My X-mas wish this year is that some top body or top shot tells them they look awfull, all naked, and not some smoking hole.
Now let's replay Del Amitri

Marry Christmas
GMDS

another day another price increase.
 

situation is great, everything cost more.

todays price hike item is bottled gas will now be 96 AED for the medium bottle while in September 2006 when I showed up it was 64AED.

calculate how you like, in the 16 months its 50% increase in that item alone,

Oh and we get knock on effects when you eat out because it cost them more to cook.

Im shocked over the price of bottled gas , but if you are with EK you dont pay.

euro zone inflation is ca. 2.4 %.... no comparison..mate.

I was talking today with a long-term Dubai resident who isn't in Aviation, but to listen to him, you'd think he was, for his complaints - (complaints that he says are shared by most of the people he deals with in Dubai) - were almost exactly what you see here from the EP Pilots' Moan Club (of which I believe I am a charter member). He even mentioned one friend who is planning to up sticks and move his business to Bahrain - same problems, but a cheaper cost of living and, most importantly, the ability to enjoy a lifestyle that Dubai's gigantic building site/perpetual traffic jam simply won't allow any more.

The conversation led me to saying that someone at the top in Dubai seems to have fallen into the trap of believing their own propaganda. Why did Western expats come to the Sandpit back in the 70's and earlier, to live in what were in many ways pretty difficult conditions? The answer is - the money. People were willing to put up with a lot of discomfort because they were able to put enough away to make the pain worthwhile, and leave them with enough money saved to enjoy a comfortable life post-Sandpit.

That equation has been lost for 99% of Dubai residents over the last few years, from Pakistaini labourers to middle level Western managers (which most of us would probably feel we equate to). Simply put, for almost everyone, the cash flow dribbling into the bucket on the right shoulder is no longer balancing the **** pouring at a far faster rate into the bucket on the left shoulder.

And unless someone towards the top recognises this fact really soon, enough (including this little black duck) are going to cry "enough" and give the Sandpit away.

Apologies to all for this reply but it needs saying;

Peterowensfanclub

Before you launch another written tirade against a fellow ppruner, perhaps you should have all your facts available first. If you have been in EK for at least the last 4 years or so, you'll realise that 'puff m'call' was merely stating facts. Training has been brought down to a minimum.

Initial CRM used to be a 3 day event off at some hotel. It's now a 2 day in the classroom. The 3 yearly all day Pilot dedicated CRM recurrent has now been replaced with a 2 hour SEP slanging match with the Cabin Crew. No wonder this years 'useful' topic is stress management. Our 4 day recurrent PPC was reduced to 3 days 2 years ago and is now a 2 day affair. Everything is now becoming a tick in the box exercise on our home computers through pelesys. Even a 30 minute course on how to become better leaders. Yeah right, that'll work. They want the end product but they don't want to pay for it. And that's what's happening to some extent with recruitment as well.
The standards are still within the required level but they're most definately not as high as several years ago. The levels of performance and experience of new Pilots has dropped within this band and is now reaching the lower part of which we can drop no further. Unless of course entry requirements are lowered. I have yet to meet any trainer who would say otherwise. Of course there are some very capable guys but it's the average standard that's declined, especially pertaining to communication.

I'll be happy to discuss further on another forum or PM me but don't ever come on here as a 'professional' and slag someone off when all you're proving is your ignorance.

Harry

Now, back to the thread.......................

Tx for sticking to the post. Inflation it is.
 

By the way! Here is an update!
UAE consumers will be hit hard, with inflation likely to rise to 12%, the chairman of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry told Emirates Business 24/7. Ahmed Mohammed Al Midfa said “With many families in the UAE depending on salaries, high inflation will affect the purchasing power of the residents.
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/50659...ue-to-escalate
Remember the tendency of agencies to be very conservative when they publish negative forecasts around here. Bring some more examples and post them here when you find some. We need to really know... Don't we?
What is EK going to do about it? Tell me Tell me?

Gas cylinder price spike
 

The cost of gas cylinders in Dubai has jumped by more than 20%, with Emirates Gas and Emarat announcing hikes yesterday, Sunday, reported Gulf News. The cost of an 11 kilogramme (kg) cylinder has gone up from Dhs43 to Dhs53, while a 22 kg canister has risen from Dhs76 to Dhs92 and a 44 kg container from Dhs143 to Dhs187.
http://www.ameinfo.com/142106.html

Surely the only way to solve all our moans and groans is an obvious pay rise. But hey how many ppl thinks we are getting it please raise your hands. Hmmm that is none is see.

From a non pilot perspective
 

Our department want to make the default basic salary pay rise 0%, i.e. not have any cost of living raise (excluding allowance raises). The merit pot allocation would then be used to give greater increases to higher performers .. sound theory so far ... but with the rampant inflation I think there is a risk that people will just leave quicker as they would sink more quickly than they are now. We would then struggle to replace the ones we wanted to as our packages are not that attractive. 'Spose it's one way of flushing out the poor performers!!

...the silver tint in the dark cloud...you can get the Chinese girl now for 300 UAD,which is a nice 40% deflation.Of course,don't tell them to come back for the eggs:}:E

Harry,

Touched a nerve, I apologise. It was not a tirade and I shall post my opinion as I see fit, but thanks for the advice anyway.:ok:

Muttley - you were lucky.

I had to provide two photos and a copy of my visa :}

There is one constant in EK:

The Goods and Services you can purchase for each hour of work put in for EK has got less each year for the past decade.

This sums up EK's productivity policies, inflation, dirham decline and all the rest.

Never forget there are hundreds in EK's admin dedicated to this very task. Some are also extremely competant in this area. Its not likely to change any time soon. So stop wishing for some miracle.

We can mash out the numbers and statistics anyway we want but the constant remains the same

My villa is now going to 250,000 AED annually. That is a lot of money and for that money if I was in London or NY I would be living large. But in Dubai I have only 3 bedrooms and less space I had back home. Also I am lucky to have a 5X5 patch of grass and a tiny little space for an outdoor table which I can use 4-5 months of the year. Such a baragin!
Many ex-pats have already called it quits and many more to come because it just is not worth it anymore. The inflation is worse than the falling dollar but both bad. I have the the distinct feeling that it is nothing more than greed because even the products from dollar pegged countries have more than doubled. Why? There is no currency fluctuations there, why do they have to raise so much?
250,000 for a villa, just a crime and we accept it!