easyjet pilots to strike??
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I think people need to be careful with the generalisations about total hours and by inference, suability for command. I know at least one airline in the UK where the time to command is around 14 years. Most of the F/O’s approaching command will have in excess of 9000hrs.
I know people who were F/O’s that were well down the seniority list, who then jumped ship to get a command with Easy. They have done well for themselves and are now training captains. (Usually be seen on TV) Bloody well done and good luck to them I say.
The boys and girls at Easy need to sort out their working lifestyle as we did. It’s not about money, but about not working an inefficient and unsafe roster. We all know that you can become fatigued working well within the rules if subjected to too many changes that don’t allow you to plan your rest and recover from the prior duty.
In the company I work for we had “the summer of discontent” that was 1998. I had 13 roster changes given to me prior to a duty, in one day!! The usual number of changes was around 6 or 7. I have never experienced anything like it before or since. I almost resigned. The workforce was not capable of sustaining that kind of pattern. We went to the edge during negotiations and we stuck together and stuck to our guns.
We now enjoy working practises that were largely devised by one BALPA man. We now enjoy roster stability that is almost unbelievably good and the company save money and we work more efficiently. It’s a win win situation. I say stay the course, stay together and in the end there will only be winners’…on both sides of the fence. Good luck.
PS If they do achieve a decent working life for themselves, Ezy will become a serious threat to MOL.
I know people who were F/O’s that were well down the seniority list, who then jumped ship to get a command with Easy. They have done well for themselves and are now training captains. (Usually be seen on TV) Bloody well done and good luck to them I say.
The boys and girls at Easy need to sort out their working lifestyle as we did. It’s not about money, but about not working an inefficient and unsafe roster. We all know that you can become fatigued working well within the rules if subjected to too many changes that don’t allow you to plan your rest and recover from the prior duty.
In the company I work for we had “the summer of discontent” that was 1998. I had 13 roster changes given to me prior to a duty, in one day!! The usual number of changes was around 6 or 7. I have never experienced anything like it before or since. I almost resigned. The workforce was not capable of sustaining that kind of pattern. We went to the edge during negotiations and we stuck together and stuck to our guns.
We now enjoy working practises that were largely devised by one BALPA man. We now enjoy roster stability that is almost unbelievably good and the company save money and we work more efficiently. It’s a win win situation. I say stay the course, stay together and in the end there will only be winners’…on both sides of the fence. Good luck.
PS If they do achieve a decent working life for themselves, Ezy will become a serious threat to MOL.
Last edited by max_cont; 23rd Jan 2003 at 16:35.
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max_cont, I perfectly agree with you. Stick to your demands, nothing less.
Apart from that, I still cannot understand how people can consider a 6 ON 3 OFF pace as normal...No family life, no personal life, just time to get your pack of shirts clean and jump back on the plane. Mind you, I don't live that life so I cannot complain. But I cannot believe this is considered acceptable at EZY...
By the way, for having stricken before, I can tell you the effect of a pilots' strike goes much beyond than 55% BALPA/20% flights leaving. First hours, it works, eventhough there's always a need for 5 people in aircraft (2 pilots, 3 stewards) which is never reachable in case of a general strike. Therefore, you're lucky if you get 20% of flights going.
Then, after a few hours, as people have to go back to rest, as the situation gets tenser with constraints increasing, it gets more and more difficult to get 2 pilots and 3 flight attendants on a plane at the same moment, not counting those thinking "after all, I'll go for it as well". Slowly, the amount of flights leaving decreases and you find yourself with zeroing activity with only 60%-70% striking.
Also, you don't have to be a BALPA member to strike, do you ?
Apart from that, I still cannot understand how people can consider a 6 ON 3 OFF pace as normal...No family life, no personal life, just time to get your pack of shirts clean and jump back on the plane. Mind you, I don't live that life so I cannot complain. But I cannot believe this is considered acceptable at EZY...
By the way, for having stricken before, I can tell you the effect of a pilots' strike goes much beyond than 55% BALPA/20% flights leaving. First hours, it works, eventhough there's always a need for 5 people in aircraft (2 pilots, 3 stewards) which is never reachable in case of a general strike. Therefore, you're lucky if you get 20% of flights going.
Then, after a few hours, as people have to go back to rest, as the situation gets tenser with constraints increasing, it gets more and more difficult to get 2 pilots and 3 flight attendants on a plane at the same moment, not counting those thinking "after all, I'll go for it as well". Slowly, the amount of flights leaving decreases and you find yourself with zeroing activity with only 60%-70% striking.
Also, you don't have to be a BALPA member to strike, do you ?
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If it comes to strike action, and Lord knows we don't WANT it to, the non-Balpa folk would be well advised to carry on if possible. They have to protect themselves and striking alone without Union backup is not a good plan. I would not try to stop any crewmember going to work.
Better still they could pick up the phone and join Balpa very quickly.
Another very important fact is that any strike action, even a few hours, should be notified WELL in advance and very publicly. We don't want to upset the pax, so give them enough notice to either re-book their flights with another carrier or not book at all in the first place.
This would have the ideal effect of not leaving them 'high and dry' at short notice and 'hitting' (horrible phrase that!) the advance bookings.
The customers are our future and we have no argument with them but the management need to know the score.
Better still they could pick up the phone and join Balpa very quickly.
Another very important fact is that any strike action, even a few hours, should be notified WELL in advance and very publicly. We don't want to upset the pax, so give them enough notice to either re-book their flights with another carrier or not book at all in the first place.
This would have the ideal effect of not leaving them 'high and dry' at short notice and 'hitting' (horrible phrase that!) the advance bookings.
The customers are our future and we have no argument with them but the management need to know the score.
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Problem is with notifying in advance of a strike, the company can make a plan to counter it, I heard a RUMOUR that RW has been talking to various airlines about the possibility of wet-leasing some A/C's in the event of a strike...
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bijave – post of 23 Jan
As you’ve been involved in a strike before, I’d guess you will agree that it’s a thing to avoid if at all possible.
Perhaps, paradoxically, the best preventative action may be for all non-members to join BALPA post haste, even at this late hour, and support the strike ballot which I believe will shortly be called.
This will both protect the pilots concerned plus send an exceptionally powerful message to their CEO and, given that they are dealing with a sane management group, will concentrate minds wonderfully, thus probably avoiding the need to strike.
If pilots do not band together in this manner, then the “suits” will inevitably interpret this as a spilt, will not take them seriously and dismiss the whole thing to the press as the pathetic whinings of a weak and cossetted bunch of prima-donna pilots.
Pilots will then have to strike, to crystallize the issue and the messy situation you so accurately describe will come about – not good for anyone!
As you’ve been involved in a strike before, I’d guess you will agree that it’s a thing to avoid if at all possible.
Perhaps, paradoxically, the best preventative action may be for all non-members to join BALPA post haste, even at this late hour, and support the strike ballot which I believe will shortly be called.
This will both protect the pilots concerned plus send an exceptionally powerful message to their CEO and, given that they are dealing with a sane management group, will concentrate minds wonderfully, thus probably avoiding the need to strike.
If pilots do not band together in this manner, then the “suits” will inevitably interpret this as a spilt, will not take them seriously and dismiss the whole thing to the press as the pathetic whinings of a weak and cossetted bunch of prima-donna pilots.
Pilots will then have to strike, to crystallize the issue and the messy situation you so accurately describe will come about – not good for anyone!
Last edited by highcirrus; 24th Jan 2003 at 04:23.
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Just been reminded that I am a shareholder - with the arrival of the invitation to the AGM and Director's report.
The CE has, amongst otherthings written, "Although easyJet suffered some bad press during the year when a new rostering system was introduced, punctuality is now fully restored and the rostering regime is stable". He also has some very nice things to say about the 3,100 people who work at easyJet and thanks them. Unusual for RW to be seen as a "people" person.
In fairness, this was written in November but it shows either a disconnect between management and what is going on at the front - or a disregard. I can't believe that if RW were really informed, he would let this matter drag. There are some first class suggestions which, if acted upon would aid both the crews and the company. To me it seems that the dialogue isn't happening. Letting off steam on this forum is one thing. Getting the message across is another. With or without BALPA, this man has to be informed.
The CE has, amongst otherthings written, "Although easyJet suffered some bad press during the year when a new rostering system was introduced, punctuality is now fully restored and the rostering regime is stable". He also has some very nice things to say about the 3,100 people who work at easyJet and thanks them. Unusual for RW to be seen as a "people" person.
In fairness, this was written in November but it shows either a disconnect between management and what is going on at the front - or a disregard. I can't believe that if RW were really informed, he would let this matter drag. There are some first class suggestions which, if acted upon would aid both the crews and the company. To me it seems that the dialogue isn't happening. Letting off steam on this forum is one thing. Getting the message across is another. With or without BALPA, this man has to be informed.
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Flanker, Good - that is the response - disregard and not disconnect.
So what has he got against installing a system which will benefit everybody? Is it just a matter of pride that he can't accept ideas from outside? What has he got to lose? What can he hope to win?
So what has he got against installing a system which will benefit everybody? Is it just a matter of pride that he can't accept ideas from outside? What has he got to lose? What can he hope to win?
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Few Cloudy
Why not send RW an email - Ray Webster - this is not BS address
If your a shareholder he should be duty bound to send a reply.
To the rest of the guys
If 700 pilots each sent him an email he might get the message. Perhaps quoting
easyJet key values they wrote it so they should stand by it.
Why not send RW an email - Ray Webster - this is not BS address
If your a shareholder he should be duty bound to send a reply.
To the rest of the guys
If 700 pilots each sent him an email he might get the message. Perhaps quoting
easyJet key values they wrote it so they should stand by it.
Last edited by TheDream; 24th Jan 2003 at 17:19.
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Good News!!!!
Here's most of the propaganda that was mailed earlier!
Quote:-
Today our Chief Executive, Ray Webster announced an important change to how easyJet is run. We now have a Chief Operating Officer (COO). Ed Winter, who was our Director of Transformation, will take on his new role from Monday.
Appointment of a COO is a natural step in easyJet’s evolution. Most other airlines of similar and bigger size have one including SouthWest. Basically the COO takes on a lot of the duties and responsibilities that were once the domain of the Chief Executive or CEO!
This move stands to benefit everyone in easyJet in a number of ways. Ray will have more time to concentrate on innovation, which is what keeps us fresh and different and ensures we won’t mutate into a traditional airline. He will also have a lot more time to spend with people. He will concentrate on the overall company strategy and strategic issues such as the competitive environment and shape of the network. He will also have more time available for corporate communications, which is vital to keep our external stakeholders and shareholders happy, including the City and PLC Board.
While Ray and the PLC Board will sign off the company business plan, Ed will be responsible for delivering it. Ed will lead and support our directors in ensuring we hit all our targets. All the directors retain their current roles and responsibilities. They will report to Ed on a day-to-day basis on matters relating to the delivery of the business plan, while reporting to Ray for all other matters. This position means Ed will continue to oversee the Transformation into New easyJet as well as taking responsibility for the daily running of Europe’s No.1 low cost airline. In keeping with the company principle of achieving results through people and teams he will work closely with all the top teams. He said; “ My focus is on achieving results through motivated people.”
Commenting on the appointment Ray said:
“This addresses an obvious pressure point in the company management team. With the additional support Ed will provide to the top team, progress toward achieving total integration and restoring the vibrancy and fun that I think has dissipated recently, will accelerate!”
Here's most of the propaganda that was mailed earlier!
Quote:-
Today our Chief Executive, Ray Webster announced an important change to how easyJet is run. We now have a Chief Operating Officer (COO). Ed Winter, who was our Director of Transformation, will take on his new role from Monday.
Appointment of a COO is a natural step in easyJet’s evolution. Most other airlines of similar and bigger size have one including SouthWest. Basically the COO takes on a lot of the duties and responsibilities that were once the domain of the Chief Executive or CEO!
This move stands to benefit everyone in easyJet in a number of ways. Ray will have more time to concentrate on innovation, which is what keeps us fresh and different and ensures we won’t mutate into a traditional airline. He will also have a lot more time to spend with people. He will concentrate on the overall company strategy and strategic issues such as the competitive environment and shape of the network. He will also have more time available for corporate communications, which is vital to keep our external stakeholders and shareholders happy, including the City and PLC Board.
While Ray and the PLC Board will sign off the company business plan, Ed will be responsible for delivering it. Ed will lead and support our directors in ensuring we hit all our targets. All the directors retain their current roles and responsibilities. They will report to Ed on a day-to-day basis on matters relating to the delivery of the business plan, while reporting to Ray for all other matters. This position means Ed will continue to oversee the Transformation into New easyJet as well as taking responsibility for the daily running of Europe’s No.1 low cost airline. In keeping with the company principle of achieving results through people and teams he will work closely with all the top teams. He said; “ My focus is on achieving results through motivated people.”
Commenting on the appointment Ray said:
“This addresses an obvious pressure point in the company management team. With the additional support Ed will provide to the top team, progress toward achieving total integration and restoring the vibrancy and fun that I think has dissipated recently, will accelerate!”
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Dear Ed,
It appears the 'buck' has been ceremoniously passed.
Something about 'Lions' Den' or 'Cauldron' springs to mind.
Dear RW,
Please pick up your White Feather as you leave the office!
It appears the 'buck' has been ceremoniously passed.
Something about 'Lions' Den' or 'Cauldron' springs to mind.
Dear RW,
Please pick up your White Feather as you leave the office!
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Scapegoat alert!!
Dear Ed,
We wish you well in your new appointment - now sort this mess out and make EJ the top company we all want it to be. Your pilots will give you 110% effort if they are treated fairly and feel that they can trust you (unlike the current players). The ball is in your court (and you have precious little time to show your true worth).
Good Luck - you will need it - in spades!
Dear Ed,
We wish you well in your new appointment - now sort this mess out and make EJ the top company we all want it to be. Your pilots will give you 110% effort if they are treated fairly and feel that they can trust you (unlike the current players). The ball is in your court (and you have precious little time to show your true worth).
Good Luck - you will need it - in spades!
Last edited by kevlar; 24th Jan 2003 at 20:57.
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Pilots of Easy
Smart move by your CEO in passing the poison chalice of roster management to a newly designated COO – and I like the timing as well – just ahead of a ballot for strike action on 31 Jan. Neat that he now also has plenty of time to schmooze the city suits and convince them that he is St Ray and that any charges of mismanagement arising from strike action and plummeting share price will not stick on a re-invented Teflon CEO.
More thoughtful members of the Easy pilot force will no doubt realize that Teflon Ray has been monitoring the growing discontent over rostering and the foot-dragging pace of the pay negotiation, if not on an hourly basis, then certainly on a daily one. Members will also realize that in the event of a strike, the Plc Board will ensure that he is extremely poorly placed to pay himself and gang, the ₤10 M integration bonus, of which, naturally, he will be the chief recipient. The possibility that ₤X M will slip through his fingers at the behest of a bunch of pilots must give him constant sleepless nights.
Further thought will perhaps lead to the conclusion that you, the pilot body, has just exercised considerable power over your “management”, who will, remain in no doubt, continue to monitor both the increasingly discordant atmosphere within the airline and the strident postings of this forum. You have forced a change – which may or may not work out – through merely the suggestion of collective will. Imagine what the formal manifestation of this collective will could do!
Admittedly as an onlooker but also as an ardent supporter of the legitimate aspirations, collective welfare and reclaimed standing of ourselves, the worldwide professional pilot body, I ask the Easy pilots, on behalf of all of us, to consider:
1. Please continue this exercise of power by keeping up the pressure, through the medium of BALPA, for substantive and time scale constrained negotiations with the new COO, which will lead to formalized and permanent improvements in your terms of service and quality of life. Remember, your “management” has not suddenly become a band of Mr Nice Guys. When you force them to see reason, this will be of enormous assistance in the reclamation of what used to be the proud profession of airline pilot.
2. All non-BALPA members of Easy, please, please join at this late hour and become part of a juggernaut that cannot but help win proper treatment from those who now view you all with utter contempt – look at what has just transpired as a result of their fear of even the suggestion of you all coming together!
Smart move by your CEO in passing the poison chalice of roster management to a newly designated COO – and I like the timing as well – just ahead of a ballot for strike action on 31 Jan. Neat that he now also has plenty of time to schmooze the city suits and convince them that he is St Ray and that any charges of mismanagement arising from strike action and plummeting share price will not stick on a re-invented Teflon CEO.
More thoughtful members of the Easy pilot force will no doubt realize that Teflon Ray has been monitoring the growing discontent over rostering and the foot-dragging pace of the pay negotiation, if not on an hourly basis, then certainly on a daily one. Members will also realize that in the event of a strike, the Plc Board will ensure that he is extremely poorly placed to pay himself and gang, the ₤10 M integration bonus, of which, naturally, he will be the chief recipient. The possibility that ₤X M will slip through his fingers at the behest of a bunch of pilots must give him constant sleepless nights.
Further thought will perhaps lead to the conclusion that you, the pilot body, has just exercised considerable power over your “management”, who will, remain in no doubt, continue to monitor both the increasingly discordant atmosphere within the airline and the strident postings of this forum. You have forced a change – which may or may not work out – through merely the suggestion of collective will. Imagine what the formal manifestation of this collective will could do!
Admittedly as an onlooker but also as an ardent supporter of the legitimate aspirations, collective welfare and reclaimed standing of ourselves, the worldwide professional pilot body, I ask the Easy pilots, on behalf of all of us, to consider:
1. Please continue this exercise of power by keeping up the pressure, through the medium of BALPA, for substantive and time scale constrained negotiations with the new COO, which will lead to formalized and permanent improvements in your terms of service and quality of life. Remember, your “management” has not suddenly become a band of Mr Nice Guys. When you force them to see reason, this will be of enormous assistance in the reclamation of what used to be the proud profession of airline pilot.
2. All non-BALPA members of Easy, please, please join at this late hour and become part of a juggernaut that cannot but help win proper treatment from those who now view you all with utter contempt – look at what has just transpired as a result of their fear of even the suggestion of you all coming together!
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easyJet Chief Executive's pay
EASYJET chief executive Ray Webster's pay has soared above that of British Airways counterpart Rod Eddington. Webster picked up £435,000 in pay, bonuses and pension money last year, according to the budget airline's latest report and accounts.
He was also awarded new, immediately exercisable share options worth £500,000 and another bonus in shares for the £265,000 acquisition of Go. Further bonuses worth £ 530,000 relating to the integration of Go are due to be paid within months.
Eddington picked up £504,000 and no bonus last year as BA struggled in the past two years.
Non-executive director Amir Eilon, a corporate financier and long-time associate and adviser to easyJet's founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou, was paid £250,000 for brokering the Go deal and working on the option the no-frills carrier has to acquire BA's German operation.
Eilon, a colourful City figure who made a mint out of the electricity industry privatisation while at BZW, was fined in 1999 by regulators for rule breaches on the flotation of Pace.
He was also awarded new, immediately exercisable share options worth £500,000 and another bonus in shares for the £265,000 acquisition of Go. Further bonuses worth £ 530,000 relating to the integration of Go are due to be paid within months.
Eddington picked up £504,000 and no bonus last year as BA struggled in the past two years.
Non-executive director Amir Eilon, a corporate financier and long-time associate and adviser to easyJet's founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou, was paid £250,000 for brokering the Go deal and working on the option the no-frills carrier has to acquire BA's German operation.
Eilon, a colourful City figure who made a mint out of the electricity industry privatisation while at BZW, was fined in 1999 by regulators for rule breaches on the flotation of Pace.
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Buster,
Thanks for that!
Looks like DOUBLE STANDARDS rule in the orange shed once again{surprise surprise}.
Even city boys will not tolerate too much of this Gold top cream removal.{its so obvious }.
Remember dear old uncle Ayling !
He got nearly 2 million pay off because he was making such a complete hash of it.
Sound familiar!
But we must save costs !
Ok then start at the top.
Thanks for that!
Looks like DOUBLE STANDARDS rule in the orange shed once again{surprise surprise}.
Even city boys will not tolerate too much of this Gold top cream removal.{its so obvious }.
Remember dear old uncle Ayling !
He got nearly 2 million pay off because he was making such a complete hash of it.
Sound familiar!
But we must save costs !
Ok then start at the top.