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Old 1st Feb 2007, 06:41
  #301 (permalink)  
 
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How About A Sick Note Campaign?

They Think We Come From Far And Wide We Cannot Muster A Group Together As One Unit.

When A Son Of A Sia-cargo Pilot Was Injured Everybody Contributed In A Small But,a Great Gesture As Comrades.

These Rats Show They Can Do Miracles But They Lack A Human Face. I Bet You All If We All Go Sick They Will Read Us Loud And Clear.

I Bet You A Mainline Rat Is Sure To Raise His Brow At This.

They Are As Vulnerable As Any Other Organisation.
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Old 1st Feb 2007, 08:12
  #302 (permalink)  
 
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B2 said it well enough in replying to your illogical thinking, tau, as much as he quite rightly stood aside from my ad hominem response.

I apologise for calling you a peasant, B744local. It was unnecessary I suppose, and inflammatory, much like your comment really.

Nothing further to say, other than a clarification: I abhor civil disobedience as much as the ignorance displayed earlier.

Sorry about that, CJ, but you're on your own old boy. You must have balls of steel.

Last edited by 4PW's; 1st Feb 2007 at 11:30.
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Old 1st Feb 2007, 11:49
  #303 (permalink)  
 
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4PWs and BB

could you please point out the flaw in my comment or argument that underlies 'illogical thinking'? seems fairly straight forward to me unless you were guaranteed 7K in PPA by SIAC in your contracts. at the end of the day what was implied/forecast etc. has very little meaning to it-regrettably you should have known better.

fly safe
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Old 1st Feb 2007, 12:12
  #304 (permalink)  
 
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When one interviews for a fly by night carrier one could legitimately be accused of naiviety if one took everything at face value. But when one interviews for the National Carrier of Singapore one is entitled to expect a little more honesty.....isn't one?

Your assertion that we should have known better isn't really the issue here is it? In fact, it indicates that we share the same opinion - just that you realised in time and still signed on the dotted line!

The fact of the matter is that SIA Cargo told some porkies in their advertisement and guys signed contracts on the strength of that misleading information

I do hope that things can be turned around and I am happy to support those who are in the vanguard of such efforts. However, I think the room for any manoeuvre will be seriously restricted until we rid ourselves of all links with mainline. And thats not going to happen anytime soon.

Last edited by BANANASBANANAS; 1st Feb 2007 at 12:51.
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Old 2nd Feb 2007, 00:23
  #305 (permalink)  
 
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Logic and contemporary rhetoric

further if you planned you life based on a PPA of 7K a month and now only see 3K, whoose fault is it? SIAC for saying you might get 7K or yours for assuming you 'll get 7K.? interestingly-when you invest in a property or the stock market-do you assume that prices will always just go up without the chance of dropping? i think the same principle applies here.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Let's begin by deconstructing the paragraph above:

SIAC did not say we "might get 7K", sic. Their advertisement does not use the word 'might', so your argument begins with a false premise. What follows a false premise is senseless, or, illogical.

The advertisement uses, for I have it now, the word 'approximately'.

'Might get' infers a degree of uncertainty, as in 'it might rain'.

'Approximately' infers that something is nearly exact but not perfectly accurate or correct, as in 'the approximate time was 10 o'clock'.

Approximately $7000 per month, then, infers that you will earn nearly but not perfectly $7000 per month.

Nowhere does the statement 'it is approximately 10 o'clock' suggest the time is 8 minutes past 6 o'clock, which is to 10 o'clock what $4303 is to $7000.

To suggest otherwise is illogical.

Any further action or conclusion a reader takes in absorbing your post 'lacks orderly continuity', which is why I said your post is illogical.

Now that we've covered the issue of logic, let me move to 'contemporary rhetoric', because it is quite important.

I would like to say I have no time for this sort of nonsense, but in this case, money is involved; my money, and perhaps yours.

So please see this as an attempt to not just help myself, as God intended, but to help my neighbour, you, and even, perhaps, B744local.

Contemporary refers to that which is modern, as in 'contemporary trends in fashion or design'.

Rhetoric refers to speech.

Contemporary rhetoric, then, refers to the language used in the current or modern time so as to influence the thought and conduct of an audience.

The contemporary rhetoric of the internet is mostly illogical.

It does not follow that contemporary rhetoric used in advertisements can be equally illogical.

If anyone should attempt to marry the internet's slippery usage of contemporary rhetoric to that of a professional organization such as Singapore International Airlines, good luck.

But the minute you attempt to enforce such loose, illogical interpretations in the real world, where real lawyers interpret and elevate English to something approaching an artform in the context and usage of contemporary rhetoric, you will be left wanting.

Hope that helps.........
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Old 2nd Feb 2007, 00:32
  #306 (permalink)  
 
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As an aside, I calculated that if I were to earn approximately $7000 per month in PPAs, then based on the perfectly accurate figures of $55 per flying hour, up to a certain number of hours, and the perfectly accurate figure of $8 per hour whilst on duty, I would be away for roughly, but not exactly, 18 days per calendar month doing roughly but not exactly 70 hours of flying.

This would earn me roughly but not exactly $7300 per month in PPAs, which is approximately $7000 per month as advertised.

As an aviator of some experience and tenure in the job, I knew this to be roughly but not exactly what many airline pilots encounter on a month to month basis, including but not limited to those at BA, CX, QF and indeed, SQ.

It is on this that my statement of discontent rests.

I am not a beggar, as B744local so disparagingly put it.
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Old 2nd Feb 2007, 01:13
  #307 (permalink)  
 
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"What 4PW's said!"

Over to you tau.
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Old 3rd Feb 2007, 18:59
  #308 (permalink)  
 
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CARGOJOCK

Why should pilots stop complaining? Everyone has a different point at which he raises the bull**** flag. Your's is higher than others. Happy for you. As far as I gather, the complaint is primarily the same. SIAC misrepresented by a huge margin what compensation we would receive. Do you disagree with that assertion? Were you told at the interview that you could expect approximately $7000 PPA but some months it might be 2-3000 less? I was not told that when I pointedly asked the question what my compensation would be. Did you even ask what you could expect to earn? Are you achieving $7000 +/- 10% in the months you don't have training or leave? I think that's a reasonable degree of variation. I think SIAC expects me to show up for at least 90% of my trips. Regards your suggestion about a group sickout. Not a good idea. Remember the American Airlines pilots that organized a grassroots sickout campaign? They were skewered by the courts. Would not go over well here.

TAUFANGANAS

Please explain to me and other readers why we should have known better? Sounds like you were privy to this inside knowledge and were quite ok with it before joining; that is if you are in fact working for SIAC.

B744LOCAL

I assume you are a captain. Care to share with the forum as a point of reference "approximately" what your monthly total compensation is in non training/leave months? Would you care to share with us how many hours you flew last year? Have you/would you try to cherry pick a COP that has already been put on a cargo pilot's roster? An ungrateful beggar would like to know.

Thank you
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Old 6th Feb 2007, 10:45
  #309 (permalink)  
 
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Devil

The rosters to end of Mar were published today. On the face of it mine is ok - not great but ok. In the last 3 months I have averaged just over 40 hours flying and 30 hours positioning and had 10 days enforced leave out of my miserly annual entitlement of 32 so that mainline guys can continue to earn top dollar by flying Cargo COPs. That stinks!

We have been promised great things wrt rostering from April so lets wait and see. In the meantime, I wonder how long it will be before I lose my 12 day, 6 operating sectors, 48 hours stick time COP at the end of Mar?:
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Old 6th Feb 2007, 13:30
  #310 (permalink)  
 
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Hello Bananasbananas

i wish you would read thru this thread about your previous postings and how wonderful your experience wit SQ Cargo was turning out to be.

now i guess you know the real picture all that paxing whilst the main line rats earn at our expense/forced leave/low flying etc etc.

you gave many a wrong impression and contradicted my replies.

now eat your heart out!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Old 6th Feb 2007, 14:24
  #311 (permalink)  
 
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Not Really CJ

Its called having a balanced outlook on life and speaking the truth as you find it - as opposed to maybe having tunnel vision, bad attitude and an agenda.

Yes, my last 3 months rosters have been awful and DCP's have been made aware of my thoughts in words of one syllable. But the previous 9 or 10 rosters were ok. I like to think I can give credit where it's due and criticise also where it's due.

Will things improve in SIA Cargo? I don't honestly know. But some decent, well intentioned people are doing their level best to improve matters. If they fail we shall leave. If they succeed we shall stay. If my COP at the end of March is an indication of the way ahead then progress already appears to have been made.

What we will definitely not do is complain non stop for a year whilst remaining within the company. Any impression I may have previously created was borne of an honest appraisal of the situation at the time. My recent posts are no different.

"Eat my heart out?" - No, I don't think so. Criticise? Yes, Make Suggestions? Yes. Give time to assess the new COP's at work? Yes. Hopefully I will be able to state in a future post how happy we are with the new COP's. If not then we will wish the company well and bid them a civilised goodbye.

That there are things wrong with SIA Cargo at the moment is undeniable, but whilst there are genuine efforts being made to address failings I think we will give the company a chance while continuing to make them acutely aware of our grievances.

A mass sick note campaign which you advocated in an earlier post would have bad consequences for all, would fail in its purpose and alienate the very people that are at this moment trying to help our situation.

As 4PW's quite rightly said. You are on your own with your titanium whatnots if you choose that course of action.

If things improve, they will improve for all - even you. Why not give the company a chance whilst continuing to register your unhappiness but in a manner that the company might listen to constructively?
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Old 6th Feb 2007, 14:37
  #312 (permalink)  
 
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Bananasx2
I have now taken you off my list of unofficial " recruiting sergeants" for SQ Cargo along with Phil. That leaves my list empty! Any suggestions as to who can take your places? Certainly not Cargojock who has been shouting loud and clear and I note that you are now endorsing his message about hours flown and positioning if not his presentation style.
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Old 6th Feb 2007, 15:16
  #313 (permalink)  
 
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Funny You should say that!

Hi MC,

In all honesty I have just advised some colleagues from my previous airline to hold off with their applications until the new COPs have been seen in action. So I guess your current assessment of my Recruiting Sergeant status is fair.

That said, my COP which starts towards the end of March can't be nicked by mainline as (I think) it infringes their collective agreement whilst obviously being legal from the AOCR standpoint.

It would also be fair to say that Bananas spat his dummy at the Fleet Office recently because of the COP issue. But credit where its due. They listened and acted and my new roster is ok. Consequently, the 2 guys in the office have my respect and support but can still expect to hear from me if progress stalls.

I guess you could say that the jury is out!

Last edited by BANANASBANANAS; 6th Feb 2007 at 15:32.
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Old 6th Feb 2007, 22:02
  #314 (permalink)  
 
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BananasBananas, I guess I have given up the optomism that you seem to have. Certainly things will change at SQC, but not for the better. Perhaps in the long run, but not in my contract. In fact, the company is having 0 success in renewing contracts. There are several guys that have informed the company they will not be re-newing the contracts and not to bother trying pursuade them.

Ran into a mainline friend of mine the other day. He is 58+ and his contract is coming up for re-newal. His option, contract till he's 60 at Cargo and then see what the company does about the age 60 issue. He's told them to bugger off!!!

I think the company is going to be quite surprised to see what a good job they've done managing the surplus of pilots and when the 380 training starts up, just how short they'll be.

OH, this says nothing about the FOs who are leaving both Cargo and Mainline.
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Old 7th Feb 2007, 04:30
  #315 (permalink)  
 
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We are in different situations Phil. I would like SIA Cargo to work out for all sorts of non flying reasons and am therefore perhaps inclined to hang on a little longer than most to give it a chance - whilst still having other options just in case.

I have yet to see a detailed breakdown of the new COPs but I am hoping they have been constructed in a manner that means mainline can't bid for them due CA infringements.

If that is the case then the days of a mainline 744 capt doing 68 hours Cargo flying and no Mainline flying in one month should be over. If not, then he can have my flying as well!
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Old 7th Feb 2007, 09:53
  #316 (permalink)  
 
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I don't know if we're in all that different of a situation.

I have made my mind up to leave and I'm off to browner pastures. However, it was a difficult choice to to leave Singapore, but a very easy one to leave SQC.

I guess I'm a little confused by your comments on the new COPs. SIAC was never planned to be staffed at 100% by cargo pilots in the near term. Yes, as the 744 draws down, the actual plan would have been to second cargo pilots to mainline

The other thing is any COP that is "cargo only" can be split up so a mainline pilot can fly it. That's not going to stop what's going on.

Interesting thing is I received a call from one of the CGO management pilots after I advised them I would not renew my contract. I was asked if there was anyway I would reconsider my decision. My response was where I was going even our housekeeper had staff travel!!!! There is no way SQC/SQ/MI would ever think of doing something like that.

At the end of the day, for me, it's not the money but the lifestyle I'm interested in.
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Old 7th Feb 2007, 10:09
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Yes, Any COP can be split, I agree. The question is, will it happen? I hope not but we shall see.

Staff travel is essential for most expats and the deal at SIA is awful, but we knew that when we joined and can live with it - though we would obviously prefer not to have to.

Its not the money as such for us either, its more a matter of trust and honesty as well as lifestyle. $7k pcm ppa was advertised and it leaves a bad taste not to be getting it and makes you wonder what else might have been misrepresented.

Regarding 100% Cargo operation, yes I take your point but its a question of who gets their snout in the trough first and I think it wrong that mainline can bid for Cargo flights, then Cargo guys get whats left. I understand that the new COP's go a long way to addressing that particular form of abuse.
We shall see how it all shakes down, then act.

BTW, did anyone else hear the lovely rumour that to commemorate the SIA 60th anniversary we are all going to get 60 days basic salary as a bonus in addition to the profit share?

Last edited by BANANASBANANAS; 7th Feb 2007 at 15:03.
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Old 8th Feb 2007, 09:06
  #318 (permalink)  
 
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What staff travel?
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Old 8th Feb 2007, 09:45
  #319 (permalink)  
 
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I couldn't find the "tongue in cheek" emoticon!
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Old 8th Feb 2007, 12:09
  #320 (permalink)  
 
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Red face SIAGO

Bananasbanana,

You sound like a very logical and experienced guy. I like your thoughts .
Yes, SQcargo has amemded most of their cops to AOC limits which Mainline crew
are not able to operate. We mainline crew average 45 Hours per month for the last 3 months and we are not upset at all.... because We have more time for our families and personal hobbies. Sad to hear , a few of you guys are not very happy with the Co. Honestly, I have heard many complaints from the ranks but end of the day they are still hanging around...very sad ....no where to go...or not good enough to join other BETTER Airline.... Very..very sad...
God save you guys
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