Bristow North Sea
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BRISTOW LAYOFFS
I have heard that on the 1st August Bristows will inform people that there services are no longer required,30 Captains are supposed to be the targets which to me will not work unless they plan to up grade co-pilots to commanders as they are cheaper.Rumour has it that they will be asked back on a contract basis as the parent company OLOG'S policy is hire and fire attitude as the contracts require pilots no contracts get rid of pilots.They plan to dismiss the pilots on the day with 3 months salary in advance untill futher payment is sorted out.
Has anyone heard anything else
Has anyone heard anything else
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Max
You may be right. Bristow have just lost BP Amoco on the Southern North Sea which accounted for at least 2 S76A+s. Combined with their recent Aberdeen losses, they must have a big surplus of pilots and engineers. It is a shame for the guys and girls involved as the Amoco contract has been theirs for 34 years and they have done a good job of looking after them.
The problem is that now Bristow is half owned by OLOG, there has been a lack of attention to customer needs and too much concentration on the mighty dollar. Whilst the dollars count, you have to have management who are committed to the customer and give them what they want. When you have held a contract for so long, there is an enormous temptation to change for changes sake and it is only by continued innovation and attention to detail that you can hope to win the tender again. Seems Bristow were competitive when it came to Shell last year but have since lost the plot. Unfortunately, they have lost some experienced commercial managers recently. The sad part is that some of those guys were right on the button with what needed to be done but the management in Head Office chose to ignore them. Opinions are not welcomed unless they concur with those of senior management who would appear to have lost touch with their customers. It is sad to see a once great company slowly falling apart and I just hope that the good guys get employment with Bond/BIH who have won the contract.
You may be right. Bristow have just lost BP Amoco on the Southern North Sea which accounted for at least 2 S76A+s. Combined with their recent Aberdeen losses, they must have a big surplus of pilots and engineers. It is a shame for the guys and girls involved as the Amoco contract has been theirs for 34 years and they have done a good job of looking after them.
The problem is that now Bristow is half owned by OLOG, there has been a lack of attention to customer needs and too much concentration on the mighty dollar. Whilst the dollars count, you have to have management who are committed to the customer and give them what they want. When you have held a contract for so long, there is an enormous temptation to change for changes sake and it is only by continued innovation and attention to detail that you can hope to win the tender again. Seems Bristow were competitive when it came to Shell last year but have since lost the plot. Unfortunately, they have lost some experienced commercial managers recently. The sad part is that some of those guys were right on the button with what needed to be done but the management in Head Office chose to ignore them. Opinions are not welcomed unless they concur with those of senior management who would appear to have lost touch with their customers. It is sad to see a once great company slowly falling apart and I just hope that the good guys get employment with Bond/BIH who have won the contract.
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Bristow redundancies
Hey, this has been on the go for a few days now; and no response!
We hear that there are 32 captains and about the same number of licensed engineers to go from Scottish bases. I hear that no co-pilots os senior first officers are affected.
Is it also true that management have told Bristow personnel that there is no need to cover contingencies like ad-hoc flights, as they are not guaranteed. Well, if I knew ad-hocs were guaranteed I would have bought a helicopter years ago and now be living the life of Riley on my profits.
I think Brintel have shown that ad-hoc works, so come on Bristow get a bit of helicopter know how again and attack the market. Some people who have worked at the sharp end would maybe be a bit of fresh air to the suits in Redhill (wherever that is).
We hear that there are 32 captains and about the same number of licensed engineers to go from Scottish bases. I hear that no co-pilots os senior first officers are affected.
Is it also true that management have told Bristow personnel that there is no need to cover contingencies like ad-hoc flights, as they are not guaranteed. Well, if I knew ad-hocs were guaranteed I would have bought a helicopter years ago and now be living the life of Riley on my profits.
I think Brintel have shown that ad-hoc works, so come on Bristow get a bit of helicopter know how again and attack the market. Some people who have worked at the sharp end would maybe be a bit of fresh air to the suits in Redhill (wherever that is).
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Yes, guys, it is true.
Voluntary redundancy has been offered, with an enhanced(?) package being offered to those who signed up before midnight Friday 6th. Now that that list is closed, they will either accept volunteers on a reduced package, or make compulsory reundancies at the end of the current week. The package revolves around statutory minima - suprise suprise!
The voluntary side has been badly handled (another suprise!) with little information being available to the staff (eg pension info), and contrary to the standard "There will be no special deals" cry, wheeling and dealing has been going on fast and furiously, and it would appear that there have been plenty of special deals struck. These will all come out of the wash within the next 7 days as those who have not negotiated their own special deal leave the fold on Friday 13th (appropriate date!).
Communication between the management and the Employees Representative Committee (which was only set up because legislation required it!) has been difficult, with certaim management memebers being unavailable to answer queries, as the bewitching hour on Friday was approaching. Intransigence on the part of management seems to have been their method of negotiation. The American influence?
The people targeted have been the most expensive employees, ie the long servers with the experience and seniority, which clearly demonstrates that there is no longer any form of career available to helo jocks in the UK (probably the world now), all the work available will be contract based, and guys will have to make their own provision for pensions, etc., etc..
This message should have got home to the younger guys (and gals) in the industry, but if it has not, the message which you need to get into your head now, loud and clear, is that the future is bleak! If you have an alternative, exercise it sooner rather than later (before you have kids, etc.), or if you do not have an alternative yet, start working at one, TODAY!
Voluntary redundancy has been offered, with an enhanced(?) package being offered to those who signed up before midnight Friday 6th. Now that that list is closed, they will either accept volunteers on a reduced package, or make compulsory reundancies at the end of the current week. The package revolves around statutory minima - suprise suprise!
The voluntary side has been badly handled (another suprise!) with little information being available to the staff (eg pension info), and contrary to the standard "There will be no special deals" cry, wheeling and dealing has been going on fast and furiously, and it would appear that there have been plenty of special deals struck. These will all come out of the wash within the next 7 days as those who have not negotiated their own special deal leave the fold on Friday 13th (appropriate date!).
Communication between the management and the Employees Representative Committee (which was only set up because legislation required it!) has been difficult, with certaim management memebers being unavailable to answer queries, as the bewitching hour on Friday was approaching. Intransigence on the part of management seems to have been their method of negotiation. The American influence?
The people targeted have been the most expensive employees, ie the long servers with the experience and seniority, which clearly demonstrates that there is no longer any form of career available to helo jocks in the UK (probably the world now), all the work available will be contract based, and guys will have to make their own provision for pensions, etc., etc..
This message should have got home to the younger guys (and gals) in the industry, but if it has not, the message which you need to get into your head now, loud and clear, is that the future is bleak! If you have an alternative, exercise it sooner rather than later (before you have kids, etc.), or if you do not have an alternative yet, start working at one, TODAY!
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None of this will come as a great surprise to anyone who has been in the industry for any length of time. If anything things are getting worse and I agree with the correspondent who suggested bailing out while you can. there are just a few of points I want to make namely:
1 If the rumours are true then most of the top end of BHL will go taking a huge tranche of experience with them which - though it will provide promotion for the next generation - is disaster for any company and is contrary to what most of the oil companies believe (?) they are paying for.
2 Those who may benefit from this should remember that they wil be the next most expensive sector of the company to be 'hit'
3 Those pilots made redundant will probably find themselves contracting for one or other of the companies in Aberdeen - is this the end game of the employers - remember the industry is largely controlled by North American based interests who are by and large contractor based
4 Ours is the only industry in which a move to another company means a demotion rather than improving one's prospects. Whilst this has been agreed in the past to protect employees in a company, perhaps it is time that the unions and employees had a rethink as it may well be a way to improve our lot in the long term
1 If the rumours are true then most of the top end of BHL will go taking a huge tranche of experience with them which - though it will provide promotion for the next generation - is disaster for any company and is contrary to what most of the oil companies believe (?) they are paying for.
2 Those who may benefit from this should remember that they wil be the next most expensive sector of the company to be 'hit'
3 Those pilots made redundant will probably find themselves contracting for one or other of the companies in Aberdeen - is this the end game of the employers - remember the industry is largely controlled by North American based interests who are by and large contractor based
4 Ours is the only industry in which a move to another company means a demotion rather than improving one's prospects. Whilst this has been agreed in the past to protect employees in a company, perhaps it is time that the unions and employees had a rethink as it may well be a way to improve our lot in the long term
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As usual, its the guys and gals doing the job at the pointy end who suffer the blunt end of the baseball bat. I hope things work out for you guys. It is a shame that there are not some compulsory redundancies among BHLs fat cat and inept management who, through their lack of listening to the customer's wants have caused this problem in the first place. It won't worry them though, there will still be a new Jaguar for them in the car park when the fuss has died down.
There was once a time when BHL didn't hire and fire people but concentrated on getting new business to soak up any surplus crews, but that was also in the days when they were British and not owned by the .... outfit who control the purse strings today.
You see, Bristow Management, its not just numbers you're playing with, its real people with real families who need to earn a real living. Maybe you shpuld think about that as you step into the new Jag which you'll get for cuttng costs and doing what Olog say.
There was once a time when BHL didn't hire and fire people but concentrated on getting new business to soak up any surplus crews, but that was also in the days when they were British and not owned by the .... outfit who control the purse strings today.
You see, Bristow Management, its not just numbers you're playing with, its real people with real families who need to earn a real living. Maybe you shpuld think about that as you step into the new Jag which you'll get for cuttng costs and doing what Olog say.
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Well said Leading Edge! My wife says that you are being a bit harsh, but I think that you have hit the nail right on the head.
Pity that somebody does not hit some of them on the head, too!
Oh, to have a Jaguar parked downstairs, and a few million in share options!
Pity that somebody does not hit some of them on the head, too!
Oh, to have a Jaguar parked downstairs, and a few million in share options!
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its us, the pilots that don't get our act together. as long as everybody thinks of his own budget, and pensioners are taking jobs to enhance their (3rd divorce) screwed-up life things will not change. helicopter salaries will never be airline level and who denies that should go plank.
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Things are certainly looking bleak. With the imminent list of people to be made redundant by BHL, including a very high proportion of captains, times are going to be hard for some.
Surely we don't want to dig the hole any deeper by accepting contract work from a competing company. Rumour has it that around half a dozen pilots are already working part-time over the North Sea. Contract (freelance) pilots only take away a full time position from themselves or another pilot.
Pilots who are laid off must get together as a group or go through someone like BALPA for advice. Please don't make contracting an acceptable way of life for pilots working in the North Sea.
Surely we don't want to dig the hole any deeper by accepting contract work from a competing company. Rumour has it that around half a dozen pilots are already working part-time over the North Sea. Contract (freelance) pilots only take away a full time position from themselves or another pilot.
Pilots who are laid off must get together as a group or go through someone like BALPA for advice. Please don't make contracting an acceptable way of life for pilots working in the North Sea.
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People
Contracting will become a way of life on the North Sea if nothing else is done soon, because everybody has to eat.
The key is for you guys to act with BALPA and to sort this pay and conditions thing out once and for all.
Barsandstars, you have the right aproach but you need ACTION from your fellow colleagues otherwise, the whole North Sea Pilot thing will go contract within 2 years and you will all be submitting competitive tenders for what used to be your own jobs. Pensions will be something that is discussed in the cockpit..."Do you remember the old days when we used to be on staff and have a pension plan..."
Get together and ACT guys, it may be your last chance to save your jobs...
Once all the redundancies have gone through, your hand will be weakened because there will be almost enough contractors to keep the whole thing going making any industrial action futile.
Contracting will become a way of life on the North Sea if nothing else is done soon, because everybody has to eat.
The key is for you guys to act with BALPA and to sort this pay and conditions thing out once and for all.
Barsandstars, you have the right aproach but you need ACTION from your fellow colleagues otherwise, the whole North Sea Pilot thing will go contract within 2 years and you will all be submitting competitive tenders for what used to be your own jobs. Pensions will be something that is discussed in the cockpit..."Do you remember the old days when we used to be on staff and have a pension plan..."
Get together and ACT guys, it may be your last chance to save your jobs...
Once all the redundancies have gone through, your hand will be weakened because there will be almost enough contractors to keep the whole thing going making any industrial action futile.
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Seems if you're a Captain and over 53 then you are in the firing line. BHL's BALPA rep must fall into that category. Elect a younger rep immediately and make big plans!!
Here in Oz, you can't make people redundant because of their age, the Unions normall see that it's last in first out although there are some exceptions.
The North Sea should have been stronger in terms of Unions 10 years ago, BALPA should heve forced the recognition issue harder. It may have averted some of the obvious age discrimination being seen in Bristow today.
How Bristow can go from being the best to the worst in a few short years should be a business study unit at University! It has been a spectacular fall from the No 1 position and can be blamed squarely on the recent management.
Here in Oz, you can't make people redundant because of their age, the Unions normall see that it's last in first out although there are some exceptions.
The North Sea should have been stronger in terms of Unions 10 years ago, BALPA should heve forced the recognition issue harder. It may have averted some of the obvious age discrimination being seen in Bristow today.
How Bristow can go from being the best to the worst in a few short years should be a business study unit at University! It has been a spectacular fall from the No 1 position and can be blamed squarely on the recent management.
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It has now all happened, but very few have actually had their final P45, etc., as there were plenty of special deals being done.
Special deals in BHL, I hear you ask? Oh no, the management would say, not unless you arganise it yourself!
A conservative estimate re the pilot loss is that with the 20% odd loss of N. Sea pilots, the loss of experience is probably in the order of double that. Quite scary, and the oil companies have apparently not said a dickie bird.
I strongly believe that there are bigger forces at work here!
I'm glad that I am out, and will have to change my monicker to extigerpilot.
Good luck to all who are left. You are now in the firing line! Especially if you are over 50, or are a senior captain (watch that disappear very soon!).
Special deals in BHL, I hear you ask? Oh no, the management would say, not unless you arganise it yourself!
A conservative estimate re the pilot loss is that with the 20% odd loss of N. Sea pilots, the loss of experience is probably in the order of double that. Quite scary, and the oil companies have apparently not said a dickie bird.
I strongly believe that there are bigger forces at work here!
I'm glad that I am out, and will have to change my monicker to extigerpilot.
Good luck to all who are left. You are now in the firing line! Especially if you are over 50, or are a senior captain (watch that disappear very soon!).