Scotia
Join Date: Jul 2001
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Mmm. We'll see. When I was there, too many people had serious spinal deficiencies. I suspect if strike action is voted for at the end of this month these will manifest themselves once more.
Join Date: Aug 2001
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I think that IF the vote goes for Strike action, it either won't get a chance to occur and the powers that be will step in just in the nick of time, or it will be VERY short lived.
But I'm behind you guys all the way. Fight for what you deserve!!
But I'm behind you guys all the way. Fight for what you deserve!!
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Thanks for your support Skidtoob, I hope you're right. If all goes well, I hope that the results of the action will be felt throughout the UK helicopter industry to the benefit of all.
Fair pay and a fair deal for helicopter pilots,
Chopperman.
Fair pay and a fair deal for helicopter pilots,
Chopperman.
Join Date: Jul 2001
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I wish I was as sanguine. If the vote goes for strike action, I hope that all Scotia pilots are prepared to go for the jugular - the oil companies will not back down....
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It's a common misconception amongst some people that Scotia pilots are in dispute with the oil companies. Nothing could be further from the truth. We have no contact with the likes of BP, Shell or any other oil giant. We are employed by CHC Scotia and as such our dispute is with them and no-one else.
Chopperman.
Chopperman.
Join Date: Sep 2001
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It seems to me the likes of Scotia and Bristow have to decide who's best interests they have in mind, their own staff or the oil companies.
I dare say if they truly cared about their own staff, Scotia pilots would not be looking at possible job action to make their point.
It's time certain operators started to appreciate the job their own people do for them instead of finding new and creative ways to stick the bat up their backsides.
All the best to the Scotia lads and ladys in the coming weeks.
I dare say if they truly cared about their own staff, Scotia pilots would not be looking at possible job action to make their point.
It's time certain operators started to appreciate the job their own people do for them instead of finding new and creative ways to stick the bat up their backsides.
All the best to the Scotia lads and ladys in the coming weeks.
Join Date: Mar 1999
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The pay aspirations of Scotia pilots are not excessive. In 1990 the Retail price Index was 125 the RPI now is 175 an increase of 40% or an average 4% per year. Their pay has gone up on average 3% per year. Therefore in real terms they have lost 10% of their pay (uncompounded). The oil companies will depress rates in the bad times but will need to be pushed to increase them in the good times. No fly no oil. 
Join Date: Aug 2001
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Any time Chopperman. I think that you guys deserve all that you are asking for!
I have another theory, and please correct me if I am wrong. Could it be that once strike action has been agreed the said Employer is going to go running to the oil companies with their hands in the air saying it's not us it's them, we need more money from you to pay them.
I hope that this isn't the case, as it could give you guys an uncalled for bad press.
Keep on fighting and fly safe!
I have another theory, and please correct me if I am wrong. Could it be that once strike action has been agreed the said Employer is going to go running to the oil companies with their hands in the air saying it's not us it's them, we need more money from you to pay them.
I hope that this isn't the case, as it could give you guys an uncalled for bad press.
Keep on fighting and fly safe!
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: the cold, wet, but now well remunerated North Sea!
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No they wont be sitting on their hands, they'll be using them to write out a big fat cheque to prevent the mutiny offshore when the bears realise their sojourn offshore might be a little longer than expected! 
Join Date: Oct 2001
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Well I am new to this game but my observations are as follows. Scotia pilots think they deserve more money do they?. I am a Scotia pilot and I am fed up listening to the hypocrisy being banded around in the crew room and posted on the Yahoo.com forum. It is nothing to do with "pilot retention". Every pilot is in the game for their own individual interests and the present commercial situation has given us the strongest opportunity to screw some more money out of our employers. Yes you can argue about employers vs oil companies but all the pilots want is to take advantage of the situation (even although Sept 11th has weekened it somewhat). It is no different to the helicopter companies who have taken advantage of the situation to push the rates up and the oil companies who have taken advantage of their circumstances in the past to screw their suppliers or customers when they can. It is called Capitalism. At the end of the day a judgement is made by all which will balance short termism with long termism and take a gamble on what can be achieved. Even although Scotia (CHC) is doomed in the long term due to their poor quality management, who can blame us for trying to get what we can out of this. At the end of the day it is dog eat dog. The only sad factor is that Scotia management has not got the skill to manage the situation properly and has allowed the situation to get out of hand. Lets face it, Scotia will make us redundant at the drop of a hat when they lose contracts. We might as well make hay while the sun shines before we are sacked and end up having to work for Bond when they take the work from scotia!
[ 20 October 2001: Message edited by: coalface ]
[ 20 October 2001: Message edited by: coalface ]
Join Date: May 2001
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Well Everyone, I hope you do get all that you want. I worked in the offshore heli industry for some time and I can empathise with your situation.
What I would say is that 2 months ago, many fixed wing operators were keen to retain and recruit as many pilots as they could. The knock on effect was large pay demands by the workforce. Sit back and look at things now..................
The fixed wing employment market has now dried up overnight, and you may soon be flying with some old collegues!
Strike (no pun intended) while the iron is hot, and all the best!
Cheers
Erik
What I would say is that 2 months ago, many fixed wing operators were keen to retain and recruit as many pilots as they could. The knock on effect was large pay demands by the workforce. Sit back and look at things now..................
The fixed wing employment market has now dried up overnight, and you may soon be flying with some old collegues!
Strike (no pun intended) while the iron is hot, and all the best!
Cheers
Erik
Join Date: Sep 2001
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Coalface,
Well said. I've worked for quite a few operators and never yet found one with decent management. In most cases you could see how the management got where they were and, therefore, why they behaved as they did. Back in the old days (the grumpy old ****** reminisced) there was no real management as such and our leaders were benevolent despots, but at least, even if you didn't like them, you could respect them. Now, with beancounters ruling the world, only the weak and sycophantic, or the truly nasty get to the top. The result speaks for itself - I'm still looking for a posting on these forums where any pilot, engineer or ATCO talks of how happy he is with his lot or what a great employer he works for.
EFIS is great in the tropics eh? Flying in a rubber bag is great too. In Victorian times little children crawled around in the coal mines dragging around baskets of coal behind them, then something called progress came along and changed all that. Mind you, there are no coal mines in UK now. Ah well that's progress for you. The helicopter industry still employs children to drag around the baskets. But then I guess I'm just an old cynic.
Well said. I've worked for quite a few operators and never yet found one with decent management. In most cases you could see how the management got where they were and, therefore, why they behaved as they did. Back in the old days (the grumpy old ****** reminisced) there was no real management as such and our leaders were benevolent despots, but at least, even if you didn't like them, you could respect them. Now, with beancounters ruling the world, only the weak and sycophantic, or the truly nasty get to the top. The result speaks for itself - I'm still looking for a posting on these forums where any pilot, engineer or ATCO talks of how happy he is with his lot or what a great employer he works for.
EFIS is great in the tropics eh? Flying in a rubber bag is great too. In Victorian times little children crawled around in the coal mines dragging around baskets of coal behind them, then something called progress came along and changed all that. Mind you, there are no coal mines in UK now. Ah well that's progress for you. The helicopter industry still employs children to drag around the baskets. But then I guess I'm just an old cynic.
Join Date: Jun 2001
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Interesting thread, but remember, our colleagues that departed to the fixed wing world and are now trying to return, will be off like a shot when it starts recruiting again (probably not as long as everyone thinks).
Having spent that much money, time and effort converting, who would stay in this dwindling industry, especially having experienced the comfort factor of the modern aircraft cockpits?
Having spent that much money, time and effort converting, who would stay in this dwindling industry, especially having experienced the comfort factor of the modern aircraft cockpits?
Join Date: Jul 2001
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Scotia ballot: 80% for strike action
Just on the local six o'clock news: 80% of those who returned ballots voted for strike action.
Not bad, but anyone know what proportion of the _total_ workforce this is?
Not bad, but anyone know what proportion of the _total_ workforce this is?