I've heard it mentioned in a wash-up at some point in the past this: (From management)

Guys, I'm not going to lie to you… we're short of pilots... And the ONLY thing that will make things change here is when an airplane gets parked because there are not enough crew to man the flight.

So, as many others have said, if you take a flight to "help out", you're not doing yourself nor your colleagues any favors as nothing will change!!

Kap

Well done to all, do I detect a sign of unity ?
TOGA's first sentence SHALL be complied with.:D

TOGAS point
 

TOGA

Your suggestion is marvelous

Discussing this with everyone else and maintaining a (no thank you) stance is the only way thigs will change

But again the company has a history of becoming enraged when pushed by severe shortage .. When aircrafts are parked it may backfire initially (Me mentality ) they may resort to punishments etc until they realize how in vain their methods were

Only then will management changes take place and higher intervention witnessed

Gave them a polite but firm no and don't bother calling me again a couple of years back, never have had another call or txt since :ok:

Same with me Falcon. Three calls and three times NO and I've not been called since...

Don't work for EK but the following strategy worked really well at a previous employer. I'm sure you can adapt the basic strategy.

Don't immediately answer calls from crewing.

Judge the urgency by the number of times they call.

Wait a number of hours/start of another shift at crewing

Return their call.

By the time you return their call the problem will have been resolved. This covers you in case you are dealing with vindictive management - you returned the call and there's nothing they can use against you.

Or grow a pair, answer their call and tell them you're happy to work for AED10,000 - and you need it in writing (or better yet - in cash).

Eric. I found that answering the phone and saying no sends the right message. I've never heard of anyone getting problems for that here!

And the trouble with saying yes - for 10,000dhms - is that crew control can't make that decision... They'll just go to the next number on the list!

Answer the phone say "no" , crew control then can say how many said no as compared to how long it took them to contact someone. No one has heard a word from saying no.

A recent call to one of our colleagues (a330) became very heated after he said no, a member of upper management became involved and told him to go fly or else.
This happened a few weeks ago.

A few years ago a neighbor (777) had a similar conversation.
He has since left the company, his departure was not related to the call.

As for the suggestion that you name your price, don't go down that road......what you are saying is that Iam available but won't do it unless. That is grounds for being fired.

Bottom line, this company and all companies will not park airplanes just because people have a bbq planned for that evening. If you are the last person on the list then the conversation will become heated quickly.

I find Desdihold's story a bit hard to swallow.

Upper management? Who is that?

If it was the FDM, the guy was on reserve and made a song and dance about a change, then bad luck! Go fly or go sick.

If it was fleet (doubt it) calling and told him to work day off, hang up. There will be no issue as it wouldn't happen.

But both of these are not "upper management".

halas

"Gosh, I would be more than willing to help you out, except I just had a beer for breakfast/lunch/dinner/nightcap. So very sorry I can't help you".

Halas,

I believe that Desdi is quite right. The FO on that flight is a friend of mine and it is what he told me.

Upper management : initials JA

Believe it, it happened.

Wake up to the world of EK...these guys will not park airplanes until they have tried everything they can.

All companies have the right to call you on a day off but you are not obligated to pick up the phone. Know the extent of your rights and your obligations.


It amazes how naive many of our colleagues still are.

If every time they call you have 'just had a bear' I expect you would find yourself at the clinic being tested for alcoholism quite quickly. Why are people so terrified of saying, politely, "No, I'm not going to do that." You don't have to make up excuses.

Hi guys. Reading all your posts about being called on your days off and saying no I think will also help guys like me getting into EK. If they are short of crew we might get interviews quicker. So say NO when they call. In a nice way though. lol

Big Geordie,
Now thats gotta be grounds to say "No" i can't fly!!! :eek:

Have to love predictive text. But that does sound like a better excuse I must admit.

Predictive text:

The dollar's too strong, the rubel's too weak, the customer's too cheap, the employee's too expensive, therefore only the owner will get to share the profit.

That'll be middle management then Desdi... Upper management live on the 9th floor!

And no. You do NOT HAVE to fly on a rostered day off!