BA pilots 30% pay rise??
 

Has anyone else heard these rumours? Apparantly BALPA are pushing for a 30% pay rise across the board for BA pilots because on average they are paid less than other airline pilots..

I have heard the rumour but have seen no proof, if they are behind the rest hate to think where everybody else is!!!

HaHAhahahahahahahah ahhahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahaha!! sorry.. couldn't help it!
In the unlikely event that this is true, good luck to them, would be great for all in the industry. In the even unlikelier event of them being successful, FANTASTIC!!

ONWARD AND UPWARDS!!!

[This message has been edited by PPRuNe Towers (edited 22 March 2001).]

Remember that a significant proportion of BA pilots joined post 96 on the B scale or are on cadet pay deals. Their pay is not that great, most joining from other airlines took a big pay cut to move to BA. Still...Bob Hope of that kind of increase.

I think the chances of BALPA showing the necessary muscle to get such a pay deal out of BA is slim - but I hope they do! I'm guessing the Flt ops payroll will decrease with the ongoing retirements, but I still can't see where they will find the cash to subsidise such a huge payrise. Maybe with the allday deli, the savings in cutlery washing-up costs on short-haul will help! Whatever happens, this might be good for all pilots.
Yay BALPA! I'm behind you all the way with this one! http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/tongue.gif :)

I would love a 30% rise - no while I'm at it how about 50% then at least as a senior BA Capt I would be on comparable terms with United and Delta. Er - Co-pilots that is!!

They will most certainly be looking at how the Vereinigung Cockpit (German ALPA) is doing these days vs. Lufthansa. They have been asking for a comparable and much discussed payrise this year.
I certainly hope that all tha major European ALPAs will join in this move to lessen the difference in pay that divides us from the Americans who did so well last year.

well if balpa's behind it you'll be lucky to get 3% !!!!!!!!. they're all talk very little action.

Well I hope the BA boys have more luck with their pay negotiations. Us woolly pullies have just been sold down the road by BALPA...

minge muncher award yourself a 1% pay rise for 2 years stop paying balpa!! until they come up with the goods.Incidently Aer Lingus are looking for a 70% pay rise to bring them up on par with B.A !!!

[This message has been edited by islandhopper (edited 22 March 2001).]

Does anyone think BALPA would even entertain this idea? Sorry to say i doubt it. Haven't heard of many happy campers where BALPA have been involved in pay negotiations.Mind you, they usually take the credit. As a subscribing member it would be nice to see something for my money, at the minute it is really for legal protection in case of a bad day at the office!!(touch wood)

>>I would love a 30% rise - no while I'm at it how about 50% then at least as a senior BA Capt I would be on comparable terms with United and Delta. Er - Co-pilots that is!!<<

Perhaps the discrepancy is explained by a cultural difference in attitude toward the profession.

As you know, the custom in the UK is to pride oneself on how difficult the ATPL exam is and how precise are British R/T procedures. Here in the U.S., the competition among pilots at the major airlines is more about how much we get paid. Delta pilots are willing to go for broke to beat last year's UAL contract and so on.

We don't know what colour the light is in the laser gyros and we can't verbalise flight levels below 180 properly if our lives depend on it (well, maybe they do <g> ). But, when it comes to pay, we let the results speak for themselves.

Hope BALPA gets BA that 30% pay raise but I agree that 3.0% is more in line with past results...

[This message has been edited by Airbubba (edited 23 March 2001).]

Islandhopper Don"t blame Balpa they only do what the respective PLC ask them to do. Generals can start a war but if the troops desert ie the pilot force does not support the cause then the battle is lost. Pilots generally do not have a good record of sticking together except in USA and perhaps Cathay and BA inthe past which is why the rest ofus moan in bars but do nothing else!! We are all to blame for our lot!!

Airbubba,

To an extent what you say about our cultural differences is true. To quite a number of people in our profession taking industrial action would be perceived as reducing our level to that of the ‘working classes’. In part snobbery still rules over here I’m afraid. Status over here is determined not so much by how much you are paid but by what you actually do to earn that pay. That attitude is changing, but slowly.

B.A. have also managed a remarkably effective policy of ‘divide and rule’ making unity within the workforce very difficult. I believe it is finally beginning to dawn on us all that firm and cohesive action will be only method to ensure a fair remuneration across the board. Nobody enjoys the prospect of strike action of course, but many of us have now realised that all the years of talk and no action have led us to the point that we find ourselves now.

We have seen years of mismanagement and general corporate waste in B.A., much of it funded by the pay packets of all groups of staff within the airline. Consequently we now have a workforce with very low moral. I hope our new leader, RE, recognizes the situation that he finds himself in and does not surround himself by sycophants (as the last fellow did) who only tell him what he wishes to hear.

I hope common sense will prevail very soon, if not then I can see a very bloody fight looming.

What you have achieved over in the U.S.A. by UNITY has provided a fine example of what can be achieved over here. Good on you all, and I hope you continue to enjoy your hard won prosperity.


Regards
Exeng

Airbubba,

Loved your post. One nail hit magnificently on the head.

Islandhopper,

Set your sights on 1% and that's precisely what you deserve.


When oh when will we learn??

You get US style money by adopting US style tactics. A big powerful well-funded union that can scare the bejaysus out of any airline.

Oh, and consistent support from the members. Nearly forgot that bit. Backed up by social ostracisation (or worse) of non-members, scabs, strikebreakers etc.

It works there, it'll work here.

Exeng, great post (as usual!)
Up in Arms - also!

The key thing is that we at BA have to ask for more than we expect to get.
My understanding is that the Virgin pilots have failed totally; by asking management for precisely what the pilots believed to be a fair increase.

The (predicatble) outcome was that they look likely to achieve anout half the requested deal.- sad.

[This message has been edited by FO Nigetrussoxide (edited 24 March 2001).]

Up in Arms

>> . Backed up by social ostracisation (or worse) of non-members, scabs, strikebreakers etc. <<

I would rather endure low pay than see a return to that particular form of union nazism. The unions will flourish if they are seen to be a strong and viable force in the industry. That is what will gain them support- not the sort of '50s union thuggery you are on about. Oh, and yes, I have been a union member for as long as I have been a professional pilot- I believe in unions.

Sadly, BALPA is a thousand miles behind comparable Euro pilot unions when it comes to looking out for our interests. This will hopefully change as the new legislation takes effect.

US-style unionism has a downside, you know... look at their FTL scheme for example. Also, think back to the Continental dispute...

Raw Data,

Unfortunately with your attitude you've got three hopes of getting something reasonable from BA....Bob Hope, Maurice Hope (remember him?) and No Hope!

You ARE NOT a Doctor, a Lawyer (thank heavens) or any other kind of proffessional in the eyes of BA management. You are HOURLY PAID labour! Just like McDonalds, London Underground etc.etc. You are a blue collar worker hoping to make white collar money (me too).

The sooner you folks wake up and smell the coffee (or tea) the better.

Many criticise the US pilots for this simple realisation. Come and join us. The water's nice and warm.

Cheers,dd

Just a thought! Where exactly is this payrise going to come from. I found a copy of the Economist on one of our aircraft. It is dated March 10-16th 2001 and has a rather large feature on AIR TRAVEL. One of the more disturbing details is the graph on page 12 which details the net profits of Delta, UAL, AA, and BA since 1990. The first three are heading for the stratosphere, with BA grounded, and with an unhealthy trend. The company needs to be profitable before it can award a payrise!

30% lads.....dream on. Is it really credible that BA, or for that matter any employer, to raise the salary of a single group by 30%. I can almost hear the ground engineers whinging from here!