Industrial Action at Flybe?
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The tube drivers bring or threaten to bring London to its knees several times every year. Whether it's over pay, conditions, redundancies, one of their members being caught playing squash on sick leave, the public hate them, and they don't give a frack. Managers give in to them every time, and that's with public money too. Their starting salary is more than our experienced FOs.
Not saying PR isn't a factor and I'm sure Balpa can play the game, but Flybe won't back just because Guardian readers think we're all living in the staff car park at once our night minicab shift has finished. They'll back down because industrial action will affect bookings and affect the bottom line. Nothing more nothing less.
Not saying PR isn't a factor and I'm sure Balpa can play the game, but Flybe won't back just because Guardian readers think we're all living in the staff car park at once our night minicab shift has finished. They'll back down because industrial action will affect bookings and affect the bottom line. Nothing more nothing less.
Look how many people went else where when BA cabin crew threaten to strike. As soon as they announced it, most people I know book with other carriers just on case they get caught up in it.
L'enfant Terrible
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I think Bullet's hit the nail on the head. We have the moral weight behind us, but effectively communicating our situation to the public can only help our cause. The company spin machine will do everything to paint us as a bunch of prima donnas and compliant journalists such as the moron in the link below will reinforce that.
Simon Calder: The Man Who Pays His Way - Travel, Extras - The Independent
Anyone got a number for Richard Littlejohn?
Simon Calder: The Man Who Pays His Way - Travel, Extras - The Independent
Anyone got a number for Richard Littlejohn?
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Come on. Look at the date, June 2007, and look at what's happened inbetween times. Colgan Cork and AF744 are some that spring to mind. Cowboys, corporate complacency and fatigue are all killers. Economic crashes as well have also made life difficult. Productivity drives have pushed T's and C's down in most companies in real terms.
The only thing that hasn't changed is the public perception that we're all over paid disloyal lazy idle prima donnas. Tha's what we have to change, and it won't be easy. Good luck to you.
The only thing that hasn't changed is the public perception that we're all over paid disloyal lazy idle prima donnas. Tha's what we have to change, and it won't be easy. Good luck to you.
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Six Sixty,
It's not about FlyBe backing down to public perception, it's about crews on strike not backing down.
Industrial action is our weapon against the company, PR is one of their weapons in return.
Acas are the middle man, if they are used what they decide must be accepted by both parties. If there decision is that our latest offer was too generous and they feel it should be reduced, we will have to accept their reduced offer !
Not going to Acas has the perception of us not wishing to pursue all avenues to resolve the problem.
Please don't take my word for all this...... talk to your CC.
It's not about FlyBe backing down to public perception, it's about crews on strike not backing down.
Industrial action is our weapon against the company, PR is one of their weapons in return.
Acas are the middle man, if they are used what they decide must be accepted by both parties. If there decision is that our latest offer was too generous and they feel it should be reduced, we will have to accept their reduced offer !
Not going to Acas has the perception of us not wishing to pursue all avenues to resolve the problem.
Please don't take my word for all this...... talk to your CC.
L'enfant Terrible
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Nubboy, my point exactly! That article is as reflective of the public's perception of airline pilots as it was 4 years ago.
I only have to speak to the people in my local, who naturally assume I'm on a porn star's wage, must drive a flash motor and envy the time I spend in exotic locations with glamourous cabin crew.
I only have to speak to the people in my local, who naturally assume I'm on a porn star's wage, must drive a flash motor and envy the time I spend in exotic locations with glamourous cabin crew.
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All this talk about public perception, comparisons with BA and 'PR battles' is a bit self indulgent. There is no similarity whatsoever.
BA going on strike affects a lot of people. It disrupts holidays, distant families and big business.
Flybe going on strike would push people to the competition, as it did for BA. But unlike BA there are a lot of routes where Flybe competitors offer a similar or better service. I very much doubt there will be any sort of public outcry. The routes with no competition may open up to competitiors, or people will just make alternative arrangements.
This may be a benefit to the strikers though as it will only hit the company where it hurts.
BA going on strike affects a lot of people. It disrupts holidays, distant families and big business.
Flybe going on strike would push people to the competition, as it did for BA. But unlike BA there are a lot of routes where Flybe competitors offer a similar or better service. I very much doubt there will be any sort of public outcry. The routes with no competition may open up to competitiors, or people will just make alternative arrangements.
This may be a benefit to the strikers though as it will only hit the company where it hurts.
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All this talk of going on strike just serves to show what little imagination people have. A united front on a substantive period of 'work to rule' will have just as much of an impact on the company finances (and hence shareholder pressure to act) as a couple of days of strike, and none of the PR disaster that a strike would be. I guarantee the public have no sympathy for us at all.
Work to rule is fairly straightforward;
Check in no earlier than required.
Conduct a full and comprehensive brief.
Insist the CC conduct their pre-flight security & turnaround checks in full accordance with their manuals & numerous NOTACs/notices (for their own protection from disciplinary sanctions, naturally).
Log every defect found in the tech log on each and every sector (with or without engineering support).
Use the APU for cabin conditioning.
Push back only once the CC are seated & fly at 210kts to mimimise the risk of injury to pax & crew from CAT.
Refuse any duty/extension which can be refused.
Call in sick on every occassion you feel ill or tired to ensure flight safety.
Refuse to eat unsatisfactory crew food and purchase a suitable replacement with the company credit card.
Insist on proper meal breaks for the crew.
Exercise commander's discretion to increase minima.
Offload every passenger who infringes the Flybe code of conduct.
Log a formal notice of complaint with the management over each and every unresolved issue encountered during the working day and every lack of response to journey log comments.
You will only be doing what the company has demanded of you as a professional aviator, and all that has changed is you have withdrawn your right to exercise discretion in weighing up the commercial considerations versus safety.
We can do this for as long as it takes, unlike a strike, and there is little opportunity for the company to criticise as we are only doing our job to the highest standard. No real PR opportunity for them, and plenty of scope for us to play the safety card. It will play havoc with the schedule, brass off our passengers very quickly, cost money and put real pressure on the decision makers.
Time for hard ball gentlemen.
Work to rule is fairly straightforward;
Check in no earlier than required.
Conduct a full and comprehensive brief.
Insist the CC conduct their pre-flight security & turnaround checks in full accordance with their manuals & numerous NOTACs/notices (for their own protection from disciplinary sanctions, naturally).
Log every defect found in the tech log on each and every sector (with or without engineering support).
Use the APU for cabin conditioning.
Push back only once the CC are seated & fly at 210kts to mimimise the risk of injury to pax & crew from CAT.
Refuse any duty/extension which can be refused.
Call in sick on every occassion you feel ill or tired to ensure flight safety.
Refuse to eat unsatisfactory crew food and purchase a suitable replacement with the company credit card.
Insist on proper meal breaks for the crew.
Exercise commander's discretion to increase minima.
Offload every passenger who infringes the Flybe code of conduct.
Log a formal notice of complaint with the management over each and every unresolved issue encountered during the working day and every lack of response to journey log comments.
You will only be doing what the company has demanded of you as a professional aviator, and all that has changed is you have withdrawn your right to exercise discretion in weighing up the commercial considerations versus safety.
We can do this for as long as it takes, unlike a strike, and there is little opportunity for the company to criticise as we are only doing our job to the highest standard. No real PR opportunity for them, and plenty of scope for us to play the safety card. It will play havoc with the schedule, brass off our passengers very quickly, cost money and put real pressure on the decision makers.
Time for hard ball gentlemen.
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Work to rule sounds great, the amount of times a minor defect isn't entered into the tech log until the end of the day, and with another return from airborne due to smoke yesterday the reliability of the q4 is awful. Let's write up every defect as soon as we find it!!!
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Someone I spoke to was told by the one of the Balpa cc that they wouldn't countenance a w.t.r as it would potentially unfair to the rest of the crew e.g. non unionised flight deck or the cabin crew if you put something tech down route and have to nightstop, made everyone late, etc etc.
It would seem it's straight to ACAS, or fix bayonets... assuming it's a "no", which is FAR from a foregone conclusion
It would seem it's straight to ACAS, or fix bayonets... assuming it's a "no", which is FAR from a foregone conclusion
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Snags in the Tech Log
I'm not sure how any rep can say they wouldn't countenance a work to rule. Last time I checked EU Ops and EASA Part 145 you have to raise a tech log entry for an unserviceability. It is EU law.
There has been more than 1 accident in the past based on the glorious phrase "it'll do a trip". I know that snags are carried through until the end of the day but technically it is illegal. I'd like to see your rep get that phrase past the CAA.
There has been more than 1 accident in the past based on the glorious phrase "it'll do a trip". I know that snags are carried through until the end of the day but technically it is illegal. I'd like to see your rep get that phrase past the CAA.
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if you put something tech down route and have to nightstop, made everyone late, etc etc
I'm no longer a member of Balpa but what's to stop me doing my job and working to rule anyway?
Is Balpa seriously suggesting that I don't tech something if it needs it!?
Should I carrying defects as a captain to stop inconveniencing the crew?
Balpa need a serious talking to by you lot.
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Carry a defect for the day so you don't disrupt the operation, get caught on a ramp check by the CAA or SOFA if overseas, and see how far the company will back you
We had a guy snag the windscreen wipers at CDG ages ago after the company pulled the engineering cover. Put the aircraft AOG, still you can't bee too careful on a fine summers day. You could lose that solid wall to wall CAVOK at any time
We had a guy snag the windscreen wipers at CDG ages ago after the company pulled the engineering cover. Put the aircraft AOG, still you can't bee too careful on a fine summers day. You could lose that solid wall to wall CAVOK at any time
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Always check your "standby attitude indicator". Mechanical ones usually wear out within 1500 hrs. and there usually is a MEL relief like "day VMC only" or similar. Especially check after long turns, reducing speed in level flight after high speed descent, etc. Good luck!
L'enfant Terrible
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We must be working for different companies Burpbot. I constantly see crews going above and beyond the call to keep things going.
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Problem with work to rule is, we do anyway! The company wouldnt even notice!
Of course there is the odd obsequious yes man here and there.
Burpbot, remove head from bottom, look around a bit.