Go Back  PPRuNe Forums > Flight Deck Forums > Terms and Endearment
Reload this Page >

The new easyjet rosters

Wikiposts
Search
Terms and Endearment The forum the bean counters hoped would never happen. Your news on pay, rostering, allowances, extras and negotiations where you work - scheduled, charter or contract.

The new easyjet rosters

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 20th May 2005, 16:38
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 1999
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The new easyjet rosters

Just a few thoughts on the new easyjet roster for anyone interested.

5 on 4 off 5 on 2 off .

We now have less protection than offered under CAP371 so this roster pattern will not alleviate fatigue. What I find fatiguing is starting early and doing a long 4 sector day. Yes I know this is all part of low cost flying but doing this for 3 days on the trot is quite enough - but now thanks to BALPA we do this for 5 days on the trot. The main problem is that this sort of flying is knackering enough on day 1 never mind day 3 or 4.

A recent BALPA newsletter said " Approximately two years ago we were told by you, the members, that the current work practice of six days on and three days off with flexi-days was unacceptable." Well if the CC had bothered to listen, many members were saying that 6 and 3 would be fatiguing, before this was even implemented.

So this new system is much better than previous, and I know that many like the new roster but there is still a long way to go before we have a roster which delivers true lifestyle improvements.
Dr Faustus is offline  
Old 20th May 2005, 16:49
  #2 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Boldly going where no split infinitive has gone before..
Posts: 4,786
Received 44 Likes on 20 Posts
doing this for 3 days on the trot is quite enough
Personaly, I always find the first early the hardest, then become at least partially acclimatised. Under the previous system you'd do your 3 earlies, then 3 lates, three off, then start all over again, so you'd do a "First early" every nine days.

Now, after that dreaded alarm on the first day, you don't do a "first early" for another 17 days.

Personaly I am finding the new system less fatiguing, and am enjoying having regual four day breaks.
Wizofoz is offline  
Old 20th May 2005, 17:17
  #3 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: last time I looked I was still here.
Posts: 4,507
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Still c#@p when other shift workers in the industry do 4 On 4 Off. With that pattern you could still do 900 hours pa, no problem. It's an attitude problem, not a logistical one. Just think; 2 earlies, a full nights sleep, 2 lates, 4 days off. The first of the 4 days could be infringed by a late arrival, but not effect the legality of 2 days off in 7. The first of the earlies could be a 'before 0600' report, and this too would not breach the legality of 2 days off in 7. Even if the last 'late' over ran 2400, you would still have 3 local nights in the 4 rostered days off, guaranteed, even if the first early was before 0600. There would be a full nights sleep in the middle of the roster block. No fatigue, a family or other social life, high morale, no-one leaving etc etc. It would be the best roster in the short-haul world AND you could still do 900 hours.

To quell the doubters, look at the math.

365 days pa - 35 days holidays = 330

roster 4/4/4 = 8 day roster periods = 41 pa.

Sims & refreshers etc take up 8 days = 2 roster periods.

39 x 4 days for flying duties & SBY's. = 156 days.

Average flying day 6.45 = 133 days = 900 hours.

23 days or 2 per month SBY.

WINS:
No fatigue, life style acceptable, flexibility for the company on the last & first day of a block, no-one quits, good career, training costs reduced, no shortage of pilots (& cabin staff) wanting to join, improved morale, overall company saves money hand over fist.

LOSSES:
None I can think of.

It just needs the will to succeed and an efficient roster scheme. I do not accept that crews should have an anti-social life style just because someone can not be bothered to create a decent efficient roster pattern. That is a complete joke and unacceptable in 21st century, especially in EU. The comparison of flight crews working patterns to other professions, even within the same airline, is now a cause for real serious concern; AND IT IS ALL SO UNNECESSARY!

Sadly this topic has been thrashed to death on Prune for 2 years. It is sad that a supposed 'bench mark company' is still living in the dark ages. I do wish they would do what they advertise in their philosophy.
RAT 5 is offline  
Old 20th May 2005, 18:50
  #4 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Thailand
Posts: 942
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Exactly! It's been thrashed to death for two years here and at BALPA and indeed within easyjet so why are we going over it all again? You can never please all the people all of the time but if most of the people are pleased most of the time, then enough said, I say.
rubik101 is offline  
Old 20th May 2005, 20:09
  #5 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: peoples republic of EU
Posts: 160
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yeah, better complaining to the CAA. Then maybe a year down the line, they'll threaten to withdraw the FTL variation unless Rostering wise up (oops, dreamin again due to multiple early hyper fatigue). Funny how most of the 2 sector early lines disappeared with the advent of this farce.
orangetree is offline  
Old 20th May 2005, 21:35
  #6 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Peoples Republic of EU
Posts: 436
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Gee, I'm no orange apologist but I think 5/2/5/4 is great.

Well done to BALPA
Scottie is offline  
Old 21st May 2005, 05:00
  #7 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: last time I looked I was still here.
Posts: 4,507
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
At this time when the Working Time Directive is in the news, le'ts reflect on something.
Over 12 years ago, when this process started, public transport was given a FEW years to construct a plan to comply with the EU commission's directive. In the meantime companies were supposed to introduce a compensation plan for the employees until more lasting measures could be introduced.
Nothing has ever been done. The CAA's of Europe keep their eyes stubbornly shut; the MP's who have been alerted turn a blind eye; the commision who made the declaration have done nothjing to ensure its implementation, therebye identifying themselves as very weak and able to be ignored, and finally the unioins have done diddly squat.
Talking to the CAA's, as Orangetree suggests, has produced zero over the past 25 years. What about a mass resignation from the unions in each country. I guarantee that will wake up some highly relevant people and it will surely hit the newspapers without damaging any airline's balance sheet. Thus a public debate would be initiated.
I find it bizzare that ground based shift workers within the industry can do their 4 x 12 hour shifts over 8 days to average a 42 hour week, with what are reasonably stable sleep patterns and with rest periods avalaible during their shifts; yet those of us at the sharp end of safety & efficiency & can work upto 55 hours per week, and regularly do, with mostly unstable sleep patterns. There are not many jobs whereby you work for 12 hours continuous without a rest away from your work station. And yet it is recognised that we are a major contributer to incidents/accidents.
Even with the 5/4/5/2 system quoted, if the average working day is 10 hours, then over 16 days the average week is 44 hours.

The use of CAP 371 limits was always intended to keep the show on the road due to unforseen problems. It was never intended that crews should work, regularly, 13 hour days & 50 hour weeks. Yet for years this has been the norm with no opposition from anyone including the very unions to whom many pay substantial subs. Complaints to CAA's have fallen on deaf ears. They have allowed, knowingly, their rules & guidelines to be abused. The EU commmision has allowed its directives to be ignored. Incredible.

So why not a mass resignation from the very unions who have let down the industry? Like I said, it will certainly stir up a hornets' nest without damaging the industry or individual airlines.

Most airline CEO's live in a time capsule locked into the middle ages. They operate like feudal barons, each one applying for the job of Mayor of Tollpuddle.
RAT 5 is offline  
Old 21st May 2005, 07:14
  #8 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Leeds
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
To me that roster is one of the worst in the industry. Take a look at the average shift worker in the UK. 4 on 4 off it is as simple as that. First week of earlies and second week of lates followed by lates again, then earlies and so on.

I have been on that shift for the past 5 years and it works. Funny that isn't it? It sounds to me you need to change your CC.

If you couple that shift with an optional time and a half payment for working a day off everybody wins. You guys must be like the walking dead and besides that you have to question yourself if you really want a life stye that easy are dishing out. I for one would protest with my feet. Good luck anyway.
Flying Fiona is offline  
Old 21st May 2005, 07:32
  #9 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: North of London
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Flying Fiona and others,

One of the biggest wins was the huge reduction in duty hours, now down to 1880 and significantly better than the previous under Cap 371.
Obviously, if 4 on 4 off was available we would have got it, because we certainly tried to get it. We believe, that it will become available in time but easyJet currently have a minimum days off policy to cover rostering and crewing stuff ups and they need to have as many available days as possible.
Most pilots I talk to, believe the 5/2/5/4 is less fatiguing, as it should be bearing in mind it had to be modelled with scientific evidence in order for the CAA to agree the alleviation in the first place.
Life at easyJet will always be fatiguing as the days are long and they try to squeeze as much out of the pilots as possible but this system does produce more days off and the 6/3 was unworkable even in the short term. Needless to say, easyJet management had to be dragged to the table kicking and screaming, but now have disciovered they can save money as well with less crew, so are smiling again...............!!!!
Colonel Klink is offline  
Old 21st May 2005, 11:45
  #10 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 849
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I don't know what shift workers in ground handling or other industries you dreamers are talking about, but after 12 years in various industries doing shift work I've rarely come across anyone doing nice little 4 on 4 off patterns. In my previous employment, I worked 6 on 1 off, and each one a 12 hour shift. Currently I work for a UK ground handler, with a pattern of 5 out of 7 worked. No guarantee of successive days off, or any maximum number of days worked between days off, nor any maximum working day. Shift patterns have no pattern - a night shift can be followed by a 1500 start the very same day after finishing at 0700, and earlies (0500) routinely follow lates (2330).

Personally, I cannot wait to start with my first airline position in a couple of months. At least from then on I get paid a reasonable wage in relation to what I am used to, I get a month's notice of my rosters, and blocks of time off, with a maximum number of days on shift in between. Absolute bliss.

I appreciate things ought to be better, but some of you clearly haven't had a hard paper round in life.
Maude Charlee is offline  
Old 21st May 2005, 17:27
  #11 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 1,642
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Rat 5
You still keep getting it wrong over shift workers rosters. Its 5 on 3 off. Thats normally 0700-1900 for 2 days then 1900-0700 for 2 days, with the final shift ending at 0700 on day 5 - thats not a day off in my view.
On the other hand those that do 8 hr shifts do six on 2 off or similar.
I dont disagree your 4 on 4 off is a great idea but i also counter that you get paid a lot of dosh and would any airline manager get a nice 4 on 4 off roster?


Mr Angry from Purley is offline  
Old 21st May 2005, 19:34
  #12 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: UK
Posts: 603
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I worked 4 on 4 off shift work and that was 12 hour shifts nights and days. I hated it.

What we have to remember is quite a few of our days are not 12 hours long and our work is far more variable than 4 on 4 off shift work which is a steady stream of work, when the whistle goes you can go a la Fred Flintsone!

Whilst I can see its benefits for us, I just cant se ehow it would work. There needs to be a compromise and this is what I feel 5/2/5/4 is and I must say for me it is working.

I know the leave issue is far from ideal but we are not what one could call a 'mature' airline and I know it is an area that needs addressing as it is a subject very close to many of our hearts.

The way I see it I finish most of the time on a 2 sector at the end of my 5 earlies. That means I can go out that night and for the next 2 nights if I choose as I start on a 'late' on the next 5. Then I get 4 days off as opposed to three on the previous roster. All in all in each block of 5 I can go out for 3 days if I choose. I find it far more social and most of the captains I fly with are saying they are seeing their children a lot more..I am seeing a lot more of the golf course!!

I dont think any companies rosters are perfect, this is far from it, but I feel that it is a great compromise which is what life is all about and I am less tired than I was. I would not want random rostering for sure...and lets not forget it beats clock watching in an office with grey skies all day eh?
TRon is offline  
Old 21st May 2005, 19:48
  #13 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: home
Posts: 1,567
Received 2 Likes on 1 Post
Flying Fiona,
<<To me that roster is one of the worst in the industry>>
Believe me there is much worse out there.
Right Way Up is offline  
Old 22nd May 2005, 08:12
  #14 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: England
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
5/2/5/4

Oddly, and I seriously dislike earlies, I have found the pattern most tiring during lates. 5 earlies tend to be shorter days. But 5 11-hour lates (min rest, 100 hour months) can cause me to get that blurred, jaded, don't care feeling on my fourth or fifth late.

Still prefer it to 6/3 though, and I don't mind losing one block of leave and having it spread around the year. We still do the same amount of work (900 hours) whatever pattern and 5254 does stop shift change mid-week.

I would just like someone, somewhere to say "thanks" sometime, especially after a 2.5 hours into discretion, or a ridiculous (but just legal) roster change. Would make all the difference.
Stu Bigzorst is offline  
Old 22nd May 2005, 12:12
  #15 (permalink)  
JT8
 
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: UK
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I find it far more social and most of the captains I fly with are saying they are seeing their children a lot more
Most Captains I fly with say the opposite.

Certain bases seem to be better set up for the new rosters in terms of their routes. I'm finding I have no life until the 4 day break
JT8 is offline  
Old 22nd May 2005, 13:17
  #16 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 907
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
For those which are disagreeable with the 5/2/5/4 roster pattern, I believe the option remains to have a random roster.
10002level is offline  
Old 22nd May 2005, 21:37
  #17 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: last time I looked I was still here.
Posts: 4,507
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Mr A from P,

What a pleasure to hear from you again after such a long while; I really do not want to get bogged down in this debate again, after so many years. I'm on the outside now but have always wished to imput some experience into this ongoing debate. Sad that it has been dribbling on for so many years with apparent lack of progress.

However, to the point: lots of dosh has absolutely b#@g@r all to do with anything. The rate of pay is for the skill required. If I flew an a/c for a private 9-5 Mon -Fri operator I would expect the same salary for the job. It is an argument going back to B'Cal, when the CEO was asked what % extra he paid crews for anti-social overtime working. He had no idea because it was not in the calculations. That is true for every airline, but not for Ford.

If you calculate the hours a flight crew operates outside those 'social hours', and then calculate the overtime % and from that calculate the basic pay, everyone would be horriffied and all crews would resign tomorrow.

Perhaps they would all become plumbers or electricians. Then the anti-social hours would be truely rewarded. However, I do realise that using this calculation, starting from what would be a healthy basic salary, would be unaffordalble for most airlines. That is why the compensation for the anti-social working hours and conditions should be paid in time not money. To give crews only the legal minimum time off is pathetic, purile and unnecessary. Extra time off would not reduce prodcutivity, so where's the beaf? As said many time a full 900 hours + adequate SBY's could & should be achieved in 180-190 days pa. Why then do airlines squeeze 230 duty days out of crews? Totally inefficient & counter productive. The idea that for ej to have their new roster pattern they need to forgo a weeks leave. What a joke, & a true indication of the mental state of the management. Childish jealousy.

The whole rostering issue is created because CAA's guidelines & philosophies are not followed nor policed, and that 99% of airline CEO's, plus some rosterers, hate pilots. Unions nor pilots have not caused the demise of any airline. It is the greed and incompetance of management; time & time again. The major casulaties are the enthusiastic employess of all departments who wish a career in the industry; the same goes for ops staff & engineers as flight crew.

But please, I do not want to reopen the threads that ran & ran for most of 2004. Those people who want to spend their energies posting here, will be beter advised to direct their efforts to the heart of the problem in their own back yard, which includes their relevant CAA.

Last edited by RAT 5; 23rd May 2005 at 22:25.
RAT 5 is offline  
Old 22nd May 2005, 23:57
  #18 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: 'An Airfield Somewhere in England'
Posts: 1,094
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Nothing is perfect but I personally like the new system. You cannot please all the people but it is an improvement on the previous 6-3 system. My own experience is that the 5 earlies are pretty hard going and I have to go to bed for a couple of afternoons during them but maybe that is just me!
Norman Stanley Fletcher is offline  
Old 23rd May 2005, 00:15
  #19 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: UK
Posts: 603
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It seems to suit more than it annoys from my limited viewpoint. I feel the trick to the 5 earlies is to be ruthless about going to bed early, I mean before 10, and then I am OK. Any later than that and I feel awful and have to sleep in the afternoon which I personally hate...

However, I flew with a guy today who had opted out. I for one, do not care about my days off in december for example, and I get some random rostering anyway 3 weeks worth in the reserve period. His point was that he lets ops know when he wants a particular day off, say for his sons graduation, and if enough notice is given they can roster around him. Under the fixed system, if you have used your GDO's 'tough titty mate' is the usual response which is really very imposing on peoples lives, and why I should imagine, shock horror to the easJet management, sickness is going up and less people are asking for a day off or do a deal.

What I think is the bitter taste in most peoples mouths is the fact we simply cannot bargain with OPS. I go 2 hours into discretion, or do a duty I dont have to, thanks are given at the time (or often not!) but they are unable and un-empowered it seems to give you anything in return, such as days off or trade a contactable you have for a day you want off..My only reason for doing it is in the hope one day my helpfullness will be remembered when I really need it and to be fair to them there are a few in crewing that will actually help if they can and there is not a French ATC strike on at the time!!

There seems to be no one person accountable for some of the horrific crewing cockups we see quite often at easy, but then I doubt it is any different in any airline due to the nature of the beast but the fact that there seems to be no log kept of the help you have given the company over the years says volumes for an airline that is supposed to value it's staff so highly a la the Southwest model and the 'orange' culture. They expect us to be so flexible yet the same is not reciprocated when it comes to our lives...sometimes the job becomes our lives and that really isn't what life is about.
TRon is offline  
Old 23rd May 2005, 12:33
  #20 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: uk
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I personally am absolutely knackered! Did my off pattern reserve period got worked to death. Just completed 5 earlies and I am a zombie on my first day off.

I see less of my family than I did before, I havent got a weekend off for a month. Great roster!!!

I must admit that I think I am worn out thanks to my reserve period and I am interested to see how I feel in a month when I have really experienced 5/2/5/4...but I know that in a feww months time I have got that dreaded period again.

I also got none of the leave I requested and none of the GDO's I requested. They say the leave problems will be sorted by next year, I really hope they do or there will an orange mutiny me thinks!
jetjockey737 is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.