Industrial action!
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Do you have any idea how tough it is in the 'real' world at the moment?
If you are stupid enough to strike in the current climate, you deserve whatever you get !
The only positive thing is that there would be more market share for the rest of us
If you are stupid enough to strike in the current climate, you deserve whatever you get !
The only positive thing is that there would be more market share for the rest of us
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Strike or Dispute
Airbubba You can split hairs if you like, the pilots withheld their services, albeit restricting them to normal office hours. Many of your countrymen were quick enough to jump into their seats.
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Some of us have already taken significant pay cuts to keep our companies afloat.............so if any of you are so stupid and delusional as to think Industrial action is a good idea then you will surely reap what you sow in short measure. You are lucky to have a job in the present climate.
Yes we should be so lucky shouldn't we and we should doff our caps to The Big Boss Who Knows Best and because there is a financial crises not of our causing we should allow ourselves to be rogered anyway they want to do us. For that is progress?
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You might have all the genuine reasons to strike based upon what you are seeing, please change the glasses with what you see, and endavour to observe things from a higher prospective, what I meant look at the bigger picture. Employees are the dinamo of any company, the true asset, you ought to be looking for solutions to help your company overcome the present difficulty rather than augumenting the problem going on strike.
Then in few months when the company does not survive because first and foremost it was you who mis-handled the opportunity, don't be sitting around dreaming of how it used to be.
Remember when you point a finger at others, you have three fingers pointed at you.
Wise up you people, and make decisions pro-life that your company might overcome this present challenge and encourage each other that you may see better days to come.
Long D
Then in few months when the company does not survive because first and foremost it was you who mis-handled the opportunity, don't be sitting around dreaming of how it used to be.
Remember when you point a finger at others, you have three fingers pointed at you.
Wise up you people, and make decisions pro-life that your company might overcome this present challenge and encourage each other that you may see better days to come.
Long D
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
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Well I would like to think that the Management at Easy had sufficient sense to realise that if the workers at the coalface are being asked/told of reduced terms and conditions then they would naturally forgo any bonus.
I've never been a supporter of strikes in our profession but if that is what it takes to bring a somewhat blind management, (that is so young it only knows commercial success), to it's senses then, so be it.
I've never been a supporter of strikes in our profession but if that is what it takes to bring a somewhat blind management, (that is so young it only knows commercial success), to it's senses then, so be it.
For those that still haven't cottoned on to what this is about, I will state again this is NOT about trying to get a payrise.
This is about continual attacks on our terms and conditions, as well as potential Health and Safety issues.
For the longhaul operators among us, imagine doing a 10 hour duty to JFK, Miami, Chicago, etc and being issued with only two 500ml bottles of crew water and a couple of sandwiches... with the company stating their intention is to get rid of it entirely. Of course you can't just pull over mid-flight to pick up some refreshments, just like we don't have time to nip into the terminal on a 25 minute turnaround.
The pilots accepted new part-time contracts for new captains to help the company's seasonality issues. This was done through negotation with the company. Of course some crew were not willing to accept this as they felt it would be the start of the atack on our T+Cs. We voted and as a majority it was accepted so as to avoid the use of contract captains over the peak summer months. This would at the very least offer some career progression to our hard-working and very able SFOs who are sitting patiently in the command holdpool. Now the company have basically said 'Stuff you! We'll take in contract captains anyway.'
As usual, it is the workforce who bear the brunt of some ridiculous managerial decisions. They state that by removing crew tea and coffee (which is already paid for from our own salary.. therefore they have no right to take it away) they will achieve an annual saving of £400,000. At the same time, they award themselves pay increases amounting to double that figure!
Last year they sent out an email highlighting that the market looked tough for the following year and that they were voluntarily having a management pay freeze. It was soon discovered that they had awarded themselves massive share bonuses of several hundred thousand pounds only a couple of weeks earlier.
No-one has yet accepted responsibility for the recent decision to hedge fuel at $1204 per tonne, when the current market cost is about one third of that price.
As a pilot workforce, we are a generally easy and realistic bunch of people. We gladly will share the pain in tough times, but as you can see, the only sharing here is among the crew, while the AMB are filling their pockets at our expense.
A first step work to rule is not too far away.
This is about continual attacks on our terms and conditions, as well as potential Health and Safety issues.
For the longhaul operators among us, imagine doing a 10 hour duty to JFK, Miami, Chicago, etc and being issued with only two 500ml bottles of crew water and a couple of sandwiches... with the company stating their intention is to get rid of it entirely. Of course you can't just pull over mid-flight to pick up some refreshments, just like we don't have time to nip into the terminal on a 25 minute turnaround.
The pilots accepted new part-time contracts for new captains to help the company's seasonality issues. This was done through negotation with the company. Of course some crew were not willing to accept this as they felt it would be the start of the atack on our T+Cs. We voted and as a majority it was accepted so as to avoid the use of contract captains over the peak summer months. This would at the very least offer some career progression to our hard-working and very able SFOs who are sitting patiently in the command holdpool. Now the company have basically said 'Stuff you! We'll take in contract captains anyway.'
As usual, it is the workforce who bear the brunt of some ridiculous managerial decisions. They state that by removing crew tea and coffee (which is already paid for from our own salary.. therefore they have no right to take it away) they will achieve an annual saving of £400,000. At the same time, they award themselves pay increases amounting to double that figure!
Last year they sent out an email highlighting that the market looked tough for the following year and that they were voluntarily having a management pay freeze. It was soon discovered that they had awarded themselves massive share bonuses of several hundred thousand pounds only a couple of weeks earlier.
No-one has yet accepted responsibility for the recent decision to hedge fuel at $1204 per tonne, when the current market cost is about one third of that price.
As a pilot workforce, we are a generally easy and realistic bunch of people. We gladly will share the pain in tough times, but as you can see, the only sharing here is among the crew, while the AMB are filling their pockets at our expense.
A first step work to rule is not too far away.
Rhythm Method
A very good post but I think it goes futher.
I have never seen so much money wasted.
AH was questioned recently why a TFS was cancelled instead of paying 1 c\c member overtime .He didnot seem to understand that paying £75 instead of hotels for nearly 400 people not to mention the compensation would be cheaper. The flt was the outbound so return also cancelled.
estimated cost £70000 not to mention pax goodwill.
I could go on and on but I will retire before typing it all.
This unrest is not all about terms and conditions but protecting the companys long term future.
AH is in dispute with Stelios for a good reason.
Stelios wants longterm success for the company as his reputation is at stake while AH wants short term profit to fill his pockets.
ITS THE BANKERS ALL OVER AGAIN.
A very good post but I think it goes futher.
I have never seen so much money wasted.
AH was questioned recently why a TFS was cancelled instead of paying 1 c\c member overtime .He didnot seem to understand that paying £75 instead of hotels for nearly 400 people not to mention the compensation would be cheaper. The flt was the outbound so return also cancelled.
estimated cost £70000 not to mention pax goodwill.
I could go on and on but I will retire before typing it all.
This unrest is not all about terms and conditions but protecting the companys long term future.
AH is in dispute with Stelios for a good reason.
Stelios wants longterm success for the company as his reputation is at stake while AH wants short term profit to fill his pockets.
ITS THE BANKERS ALL OVER AGAIN.
To AH and rest of easyjet management grow up. By awarding bonus shares and perks etc, expecting the workers to pay for it. You are putting the long term future of the company in doubt. More to the point you are also putting your future in the company at risk. The days of greedy managers are well and truly over. Be fair or the shareholders will kick you out.
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In the present economic climate, worse T+Cs are the way of the world. Don't think you're irreplacable.
If there are unemployed guys out there who would take your position on the new terms, you don't have a leg to stand on.
Remember Ronald Reagan and the controllers. They thought they were safe but got fired and replaced by the military.
If there are unemployed guys out there who would take your position on the new terms, you don't have a leg to stand on.
Remember Ronald Reagan and the controllers. They thought they were safe but got fired and replaced by the military.
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For those of you holier than thou individuals who are already wishing our demise for being greedy in these lean times - you have no idea what you are talking about.
Nobody takes the issue of industrial action lightly but this is not really about any individual issue, but more about insiduous developments.
Management have failed to communicate with our elected representatives for the past month. They have then declared both a reduction in terms and conditions and the intention to bring in contract captains.
It is the fact that they have shown no respect to their arrangment with BALPA and that they are unilaterally imposing changes to our contracts that is the essence to this unrest.
If it meant giving up terms and conditions in a negotiated settlement to keep things going, then so be it, however I will not let the company railroad changes to our T's and C's without discussion.
But as some believe, we should be grateful for a job during this race to the bottom of our profession.
Nobody takes the issue of industrial action lightly but this is not really about any individual issue, but more about insiduous developments.
Management have failed to communicate with our elected representatives for the past month. They have then declared both a reduction in terms and conditions and the intention to bring in contract captains.
It is the fact that they have shown no respect to their arrangment with BALPA and that they are unilaterally imposing changes to our contracts that is the essence to this unrest.
If it meant giving up terms and conditions in a negotiated settlement to keep things going, then so be it, however I will not let the company railroad changes to our T's and C's without discussion.
But as some believe, we should be grateful for a job during this race to the bottom of our profession.
Dysag: you've got no idea so please don't judge until you fully understand what's going at EJ at present.
Broken contractual obligations as well as health & safety issues are the order of the day at present. Additionally, like it or not the company have a duty of care towards employees particularly in the unique challenges of our profession. Don't forget; we can't even take a bottle of water through security!!
And just to correct you: the shareholders are ultimately in charge and not the 'bosses'. These shareholders also includes a vast majority of employees.
Broken contractual obligations as well as health & safety issues are the order of the day at present. Additionally, like it or not the company have a duty of care towards employees particularly in the unique challenges of our profession. Don't forget; we can't even take a bottle of water through security!!
And just to correct you: the shareholders are ultimately in charge and not the 'bosses'. These shareholders also includes a vast majority of employees.
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conditions
I have read this post with tongue in cheek but need to add my 2 cents. I am unemployed at the moment and continue to see and speak with people who have had their T&C s diminished and or removed while at the top end things seem to be better with bonus's and what not. The whole idea of being unionized is so that employees can speak with one voice and communicate with management. It was said earlier that your management is imposing these new ideas without a discussion thereby ignoring communication. What would it take to bring them back to the table and communicate before strike action ? The work to rule idea sounds good.
To those of you opposed to organized labour I suggest you take a look at the conditions in a place like the UAE where employees have absolutely no rights. You should be glad that your constitution allows for such means and not excercising your rights means that you will end up losing them by default. I am not condoning a strike nor dissuading public action...If saving 400,000 £ is going to make or break the company then they have bigger underlying issues that need to be looked at.
Good Luck Easy Pilots ..may the force be with you.
To those of you opposed to organized labour I suggest you take a look at the conditions in a place like the UAE where employees have absolutely no rights. You should be glad that your constitution allows for such means and not excercising your rights means that you will end up losing them by default. I am not condoning a strike nor dissuading public action...If saving 400,000 £ is going to make or break the company then they have bigger underlying issues that need to be looked at.
Good Luck Easy Pilots ..may the force be with you.
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Broken contractual obligations as well as health & safety issues are the order of the day at present. Additionally, like it or not the company have a duty of care towards employees particularly in the unique challenges of our profession. Don't forget; we can't even take a bottle of water through security!!
See HSE Frequently Asked Questions - Does my employer have to pr...
If EJ is indeed restricting the supply of free potable water, then someone with a direct interest should speak to their local HSE.
Until something happens on that front, is there any reason, apart from the time involved, to stop anyone wanting a litre of water airside making ten trips through security with 100ml each time? Ridicule can be the most effective way of fighting tyranny!
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To start with the beginning of the tread. Just do a little research and you will find companies like SAS, Iberia and Air France all have been on strike in recent years. Remember also that Al Italia pilots had the guts to stand their ground in the airline darkest hour.
It appears the relatively new orange management has decided to go down the Ryanair route. For our profession sake I believe the easy pilots will draw a line now.
It appears the relatively new orange management has decided to go down the Ryanair route. For our profession sake I believe the easy pilots will draw a line now.
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Isn't it funny how expecting your employer to respect a previously negotiated contract is seen as taking the pi$$ but awarding (or manipulating the rules to manage to award yourself ) a bonus is seen as your just reward for mismanaging the company into the mess it is in.
As usual, one rule for "them" and quite another indeed for "us".
As usual, one rule for "them" and quite another indeed for "us".
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Do you have an idea of what would be the terrible consequences of a strike at easyjet during this economic climate?
Can you compare very big and old companies like Air France, Lufthansa, British Airways, Fedex with very strong financial structure opposed to low cost airlines like easyjet and ryanair which are already starting to struggle?
Can you compare very big and old companies like Air France, Lufthansa, British Airways, Fedex with very strong financial structure opposed to low cost airlines like easyjet and ryanair which are already starting to struggle?
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Wind Check,
I don't believe either easy or RYR are starting to struggle. Both companies have loads of money in the bank and from what I hear easy is performing better than expected. Easy have given some Managers a pay rise and appears to pay bonuses this year as well. That can hardly be a company in severe trouble.
I don't believe either easy or RYR are starting to struggle. Both companies have loads of money in the bank and from what I hear easy is performing better than expected. Easy have given some Managers a pay rise and appears to pay bonuses this year as well. That can hardly be a company in severe trouble.
