You can find the following in ALPAS.org homepage. Be your own judge of what's the situation. Personally, I think it's a well written piece.

For those of you who may think the local pilots are too hostile towards expats, think again. No other country's labour laws will EVER allow any local to be retrenched before an expat. And in thise case, for those who do pay attention to the whole economic downturn in Singapore, you will know that the common folks are generally getting really nationalistic or pist off as during the last SARS episode, some locals actually lost jobs instead of expats. This does result in SQ HR's decision to take the cautious move in not renewing ALL expats' contracts this year, not even the Expat that had proposed and assisted in saving >1million bucks of fuel savings with his route short cut idea on the A340-500.

In all, I do totally agree that it's absolutely absurd that heads have to roll with <1Billion POST TAX profit forecast for coming year(not this year, but 2009-10), nothing is stopping us from NOT rejoining after things start to pick up. But my guess is, they won't have any problem getting their numbers when the time comes. That's SIA, too many waiting in line. Please don't bother telling me otherwise.
As for me, my choice of workplace is always in Asia. Now that my service is no longer required. I'm heading North for better luck. And all the best to the rest in their own pursue.




LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
News Release
Apr-7-2009, 13:02

I think that is a very well written letter by Captain P. James. I did ten years on an expat contract with SIA and was never in any doubt where the axe would fall, if necessary. Sometimes SIA shoot themselves in their own foot with their PR and Stephen Foreshaw is surely following in that tradition.

Isn't this the PR guy who resigned and went over to Microsoft ? Of course he will have said that, cos he's an expat himself.:p SQ is going down a sad path that most companies are already following. Shareholders over staff. In a bid to show glowing financial results to its shareholders, its started to neglect the ppl who truly make the airline fly. I'm referring to everyone in the airline business. Only in SQ can staff cut happen even as the airline is making money. SQ's management's definition of loss seems to be: A drop in PROFIT compared to the previous Q.

You haven't been around long in the airline business, have you, leewan?:rolleyes:

Spot on, 411A. Guess will take a few more years before the ruthlessness and immorality in the airline business seeps into my veins. Till then, I dun see how u can justify pulling away ppl's bread & butter while u r still making money to the tunes of a Billion.:mad:

Finally No Pay Leave Wef 1 May 2009
 

Well The Company Got Their Way.

We Pilots Gave Them One Day No Pay Leave. If Not They Would Have Terminated The Alps Ex Co Or Hasseled Them In Day To Day Life.

I Pity James...........

'twas always thus and always will be, simple arithmetic ( whatever the calibre of the training setup ) 'course, allowing female Singaporean pilots would alter things !!! ( do they, yet ? )

Light at the end of the tunnel. . .
 

SIA has informed it will start renewing contracts for expat pilots.

Hope that really happens ... !
:confused: :ok: :confused:

Not very good news for QR!

Contract renewal is confirmed. Personal mate of mine just got his best news of the year..

So is it both groups? Cargo and Mainline? Thanks...

QR is not screening new DEC's until sometime next year.

How long are terms of the contract renewals? Expat, or local terms?

So far, my only confirmed source, is on mainline only. Didn't ask him how many years, but would presume the standard 3 years. He's just too jubilant to talk about anything else.

Too bad some of us missed it by a tad, real pity..

777.Any chance you folks may get called back ?

It's both Mainline and Cargo. Have friends on both sides who got the standard 3 year renewal. :ok:

Filejw
So far, no news on my part, and I don't think I'm gonna go through the whole hassles of doing so. Not sure about the rest, would highly doubt so.

cpt777
 

hey cpt777, this will be a great job at your end if you could find out from the fleet management about the prospects for the expat pilots who lost their jobs in last one year because of non renewal of contracts by SIA.

Many of us are sitting unemployed with CAAS licence current. Does SIA has any plan to take back few of us who are still intrested in joining back as fresh recruitment.

Thanks buddy, I am on ground for few months......... sad scene.

787rider,
It is indeed unfortunate for us. I'm less pressed to go back since the move was made. Anyway, if you do wanna know, from what I was told by some of my closer local mates, SIA wont be hiring new expats as they intend to keep the paycut (1.65days) in effect for as long as they can foresee. And as you can see whichever fleet that I was from, I would dread write to its fleet management knowing the standard reply that you can expect from them.
All the best mate.

cpt777
 

Thanks Buddy for the quick response, much apprciated:ok:

Any news on Contract Renewal ? :confused: