View Poll Results: Should Chris Darke be re-elected as BALPA Gen Sec. (Straw poll)
Yes
59
12.14%
No
427
87.86%
Voters: 486. This poll is closed
Chris Darke to be re-elected!!! Vote
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,914
Likes: 0
From: UK
XFO- take a look at Doggy's reference above, and go to page 18. He delved deeper than I did. HAs he really been poncing about with Cow's milk while we have been batted out of existence by the Employers? Have you noticed that this is not mentioned on the web site he has created (I do hope THAT was not with our money!).
I'm afraid unless John wins the election and we end up with someone we can trust to work for us on our behalf and not tool around with Cows milk or whatever nice little earner the Quangos give him, then I will be out of BALPA quick as a flash!
I'm afraid unless John wins the election and we end up with someone we can trust to work for us on our behalf and not tool around with Cows milk or whatever nice little earner the Quangos give him, then I will be out of BALPA quick as a flash!
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: u.k.
BALPA???
When whoever takes office does - hopefully new blood, and not someone who seems to be as much interested in milk as pilots they will have my fullest support (and that of many others I suspect) if they can safeguard my job and better my career prospects. In the few years I have been in Balpa I have seen a continual erosion of our profession almost completely unopposed by our unoin, the biggest gripe being that of the employment of foreign pilots - just listen out and play 'spot the Brit' next flt. Under the present regime I have helped pay Mr Darke's very comfortable salary whilst staring at redundancy, mine not his!! Balpa being curiously quiet on the topic, we do not hear much of lobbying of MP's and ministers to prevent the events of the last few months. Again my own gripe if we the BRITISH part of Balpa were better represented then this continuing influx of foreign pilots was stopped, or cut down to a reasonable trickle to be employed only when the labour pool of pilots in the UK dried up then I am sure we would be more secure. I would like to add that I have no grudge against the overseas guys many of them are my friends but that wont help one iota when I have to go looking for a job. So based on that I along with many others will be seeking a change at the next election it cannot make my situation any worse.
Last edited by pipistrelle; 8th May 2002 at 10:29.
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: Jellystone Park
Yup. Bang on. Even President His Toniness doesn't try and get re-elected on the strength of his 'success' in sorting out problems in Sierra Leone, he has to show his constituents that he has actively helped their lives, or at least has some proposition for doing so.
Any politician displaying ten years of sliding living standards while enhancing the position of his own nose in the trough is usually ejected a lot more quickly than Mr. Darke. Mind you, even His Toniness wouldn't try and slip in a General Election un-noticed, accompanied by an election broadcast from John Prescott telling us all what good guys they are. Nor would he get away with using public funds for his own propaganda, or his legal fees.
I only hope and pray that the sentiment displayed here is, in fact a reflection of what our members think at large. I wholeheartedly agree with the case for BA being the UK benchmark. I can tell you first hand that their remuneration, or lack of, was used by our lot (BRAL) in the days before we were bought over as an excuse for our own paltry payrises. Now we are part of BA, what do we get? Again, comparisons with BA basic rates. Unless you are upwards of pay point 20, you would have to rely on allowances to boost your salary above ours (now BACE), and this too is commonly used by our management to keep us down.
John has my vote.
Any politician displaying ten years of sliding living standards while enhancing the position of his own nose in the trough is usually ejected a lot more quickly than Mr. Darke. Mind you, even His Toniness wouldn't try and slip in a General Election un-noticed, accompanied by an election broadcast from John Prescott telling us all what good guys they are. Nor would he get away with using public funds for his own propaganda, or his legal fees.
I only hope and pray that the sentiment displayed here is, in fact a reflection of what our members think at large. I wholeheartedly agree with the case for BA being the UK benchmark. I can tell you first hand that their remuneration, or lack of, was used by our lot (BRAL) in the days before we were bought over as an excuse for our own paltry payrises. Now we are part of BA, what do we get? Again, comparisons with BA basic rates. Unless you are upwards of pay point 20, you would have to rely on allowances to boost your salary above ours (now BACE), and this too is commonly used by our management to keep us down.
John has my vote.
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
XFO1-11
Thanks for posting MRs comments - looks like my source was not fully in the picture. With respect to MRs last para starting <<Really - in which case one assumes you must be a rep>> - never make asumptions; I am advised that one of your own team - a 777 rep - was the original source .
Thanks for posting MRs comments - looks like my source was not fully in the picture. With respect to MRs last para starting <<Really - in which case one assumes you must be a rep>> - never make asumptions; I am advised that one of your own team - a 777 rep - was the original source .
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,777
Likes: 9
From: Blighty
I was once told that when BALPA was originally formed, all they wanted for their members was:
1. The pay the public thought they got.
2. The time off their neighbours thought they got.
3. The sex down route their wives thought they got.
I propose to stand for election with this manifesto!
Vote for me!
1. The pay the public thought they got.
2. The time off their neighbours thought they got.
3. The sex down route their wives thought they got.
I propose to stand for election with this manifesto!
Vote for me!
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,914
Likes: 0
From: UK
Does anybody have any leads to CD's SODs (Significant Other Demands)? I understand that he is not at the BALPA offices for a significant amount of time. We have unearthed his SOI's (Significant Other Interests) in relation to the Competition Commission, which, funnily enough do NOT get a mention in his manifesto www.chrisdarke.com, strange that- I mean if we want to learn about THE MAN and who he is, surely these sort of extraneous activities and skills should have been at least hinted at?. As a BALPA member, I would like to know the extent of my General Secretary's other duties for other organisations whilst he is allegedly pulling in a full time income from our subscriptions and supposedly pulling as hard as he can for our interests. My vote went to John Frohnsdorff. Knowing the man and his record, I know he is someone we can trust. It is the only way we will achieve anything- it's not hard to notice we have gotten nowhere in the last 10 years (funnily enough- the same time that CD has held the reins)!
Last edited by Notso Fantastic; 9th May 2002 at 12:41.
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: UK
I must admit that although I have been well informed about the G.S. election taking place, I had no clue as to the politics going on behind it. In our company we have been very fortunate and have faired better than most in the wake of Sept 11th. However this amounts to capitulation in comparison the pay and conditions achieved by the unions in the US for their members. I do advocate a happy medium, not to kill the goose that layed the golden egg ect, but it is time that we had somebody to make managements sit up and take notice not sit back and laugh.
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 731
Likes: 0
From: Strood, Kent
Well said buttonmonkey,
A voice of reason, and you've hit the nail smack on the head.
A recent consultation with a private Consultant Doctor was billed to me at £120.00 for about 30 minutes of his time. This was not overtime, just his regular fee.
Before all you wannabees out there start flaming me, I realise that I'm very lucky to be able to sell a whole day off to my company for about £430.00 as a Multi Jet Captain (not that I ever want to), but it pales into insignificance when compared to the £240.00 per hour quoted above. I offer this as an example of just how far our profession is lagging behind others of comparable responsibility.
I too don't wish to see my Company struggling but neither do I want to see managers and shareholders profiting at the continued expense of our profession's Ts & Cs. Without doubt the last 10 years have been the worst for pilots' Ts & Cs in history and it's time to stop the rot. "Partnership Approaches" only work when both sides are prepared to be flexible and reasonable. There is a time when you just have to say "enough is enough".
Bring on the new.
A voice of reason, and you've hit the nail smack on the head.
A recent consultation with a private Consultant Doctor was billed to me at £120.00 for about 30 minutes of his time. This was not overtime, just his regular fee.
Before all you wannabees out there start flaming me, I realise that I'm very lucky to be able to sell a whole day off to my company for about £430.00 as a Multi Jet Captain (not that I ever want to), but it pales into insignificance when compared to the £240.00 per hour quoted above. I offer this as an example of just how far our profession is lagging behind others of comparable responsibility.
I too don't wish to see my Company struggling but neither do I want to see managers and shareholders profiting at the continued expense of our profession's Ts & Cs. Without doubt the last 10 years have been the worst for pilots' Ts & Cs in history and it's time to stop the rot. "Partnership Approaches" only work when both sides are prepared to be flexible and reasonable. There is a time when you just have to say "enough is enough".
Bring on the new.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 358
Likes: 0
From: uk
Beaver eager,
Fair point about the quack, but remember that he has to run his business out of that £240/hour- premises, nurses, equipment, council taxes, insurance etc. That is his gross revenue figure, not his net. I'm sure that the net is pretty handsome, but it's certainly not £240 x number of hours worked.
Fair point about the quack, but remember that he has to run his business out of that £240/hour- premises, nurses, equipment, council taxes, insurance etc. That is his gross revenue figure, not his net. I'm sure that the net is pretty handsome, but it's certainly not £240 x number of hours worked.
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 731
Likes: 0
From: Strood, Kent
I agree entirely that the net will not be £240 x number of hours worked but I'm not entirely sure that he will pay for everything out of that. Maybe he rents the space from the hospitals concerned, but in the world of private medicine the patient (or his/her insurer) in invoiced for everything else like nursing, accomodation, drugs etc.
And anyway... Doesn't everyone pay council tax and insurance (aren't BALPA subs partly insurance?)?
But let's not debate the wrong issue here, we are agreed that even netted down, he's on a good screw. If half of that is lost in business operating costs, that leaves £4200 before income tax per week for a 35 hour week. My gross basic was £4400 before income tax last month plus about £300 in tax free allowances.
Just over a quarter of his estimated net wage for what I consider a comparable level of responsibility. Not to mention the time away from home and the anti-social hours. We are definitely lagging behind.
Edited to ask how much bank chairmen get?
And anyway... Doesn't everyone pay council tax and insurance (aren't BALPA subs partly insurance?)?
But let's not debate the wrong issue here, we are agreed that even netted down, he's on a good screw. If half of that is lost in business operating costs, that leaves £4200 before income tax per week for a 35 hour week. My gross basic was £4400 before income tax last month plus about £300 in tax free allowances.
Just over a quarter of his estimated net wage for what I consider a comparable level of responsibility. Not to mention the time away from home and the anti-social hours. We are definitely lagging behind.
Edited to ask how much bank chairmen get?
Alba Gu Brath
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 745
Likes: 3
From: Merseyside
Bank Chairman
Saw a report on Beeb (so must be true) that the two big bosses at HBOS stand to pick up 7million pounds each over three years. As an aside, my solicitor has just done some work for me at 160 quid per hour. Six and a half grand a week! Nice work if you can get it. Now, is Flying Lawyer a pilot who likes law work or a lawyer who likes flying??????
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
From: dallas,tx,usa
Minor point I realise but CD's website lists BALPA as the second biggest pilot union in the World.
This may come as some surprise to the 13,600 pilots of American Airlines, who are represented by the Allied Pilots Association.
ALPA, the world's largest represents some 64,000 pilots.
APA only represents AA so maybe CD meant to say "The world's second largest non independant pilot union"?
It's all in the details.
Cheers,
This may come as some surprise to the 13,600 pilots of American Airlines, who are represented by the Allied Pilots Association.
ALPA, the world's largest represents some 64,000 pilots.
APA only represents AA so maybe CD meant to say "The world's second largest non independant pilot union"?
It's all in the details.
Cheers,
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 358
Likes: 0
From: uk
Beaver eager,
Noted your comments, and yes, the quack is by no means on the breadline; I was just pointing out that his revenue line is not his net earnings.
As for your question on bankers' pay, we are humble folk, toiling day and night in often straitened circumstances, to bring financial rectitude to developing countries which yearn for it. I am sure that a true gent, such as your goodself, would not begrudge me my modest crust.
Best regards
Noted your comments, and yes, the quack is by no means on the breadline; I was just pointing out that his revenue line is not his net earnings.
As for your question on bankers' pay, we are humble folk, toiling day and night in often straitened circumstances, to bring financial rectitude to developing countries which yearn for it. I am sure that a true gent, such as your goodself, would not begrudge me my modest crust.
Best regards