Pilot Bonding Contracts - help please

[RJ100]

In our company we were disposing of our old fleet and getting all new aircraft. We were forced to sign a 2 year bond for a forced move! How enforceable will this bond be.
Many people failed to sign it, one has now submitted his resignation. The company have started sending threatening letters out to those who have yet to sign (Training complete).
BALPA have been useless!! They recommend we sign it! They hardly defended our position. BAPLA are only as good as your CC in our case all talk and spineless. This they have proved over several poor recommendations over the past few years!

RJ.

[parabellum]

RJ100 I'm surprised your company didn't make signing the bond a condition of starting the type conversion.

A company I once worked for allowed us to complete ground school and simulator but we had to sign our new contracts before they let us do the aircraft bit which we needed for licence endoresement!

KK - you should see a lawyer who specialises in contracts.

[DrJones]

RJ - What would have been the outcome if none of you guys signed the bond - surley they cant sack you (unfair dismissal etc) and if they did who would fly their planes ?

I think in some ways some of the Company's are worried when the upturn happens they are going to loose most of their work force - I think this bond their trying to enforce is one way to prevent this from happening!

[any name will do]

To add to the discussion on Bonds and to get off BALPA bashing. I currently work for a european airline. I was out of work for 5 months although still current on type. I joined this company as It was that or stay unemployed. The salary is way below market rates. The company insisted on signing a 5 year bond for approximately £12000 none reducing. As i said I was already type rated with experience. I had a standard sim check OPC/LPC and two weeks of ground school (standard DGoods, emerg etc etc) then standard line training on revenue flights (are there any other). I have worked for this company for nine months now and am considering a move to another company for a better salary. I know the company would try to enforce this bond. My feelings are the company is trying to take advantage of the weak position pilots where in last year (some still are) to employ guys on low salarys and try to keep them on these salarys when the market improves. What does everyone else think?

[Abbey Road]

any name will do,

If they take legal action against you, you are stuffed - you accepted the deal on that basis. You do not have a leg to stand on. The courts are all about the letter of the law, they are not about justice or fairness. Sorry, but bad luck.

[boredcounter]

Any name

Sorry to sound harsh if I do, I do not mean to.

You chose to join a company after 5 months as a 'type current' Pilot. If you left it one more month, would you still be 'current'?

You signed a 60 month, non reducing financial agreement, to cover the employers training costs, and I presume, remained 'Type Rated' as a result.

What is the comparison between unemployment and the salary you have drawn for 9 months?

I think, as a groundie here, you may have played a card to keep current, now you want to leave, it is all unfair?

Had you lost your rating, how much would it cost you to get it back?

[Bealzebub]

The company insisted on signing a 5 year bond for approximately £12000 none reducing.

Good for them, but it only became a contract when you added your signature, thereby agreeing to the terms contained within.

I have worked for this company for nine months now and am considering a move to another company for a better salary.

That happens, and sounds quite reasonable and understandable.

I know the company would try to enforce this bond.

Not if you pay them what you contractually agreed to. There would be nothing to enforce. They or you might grumble, but since you fulfilled the terms of the contract, that would be the end of it.

What does everyone else think?

Like them or loathe them, you knew the terms you were entering into when you signed up. If the terms were bad, then you will presumably learn from the experience.

If it were me I would work out how long it will take me to write off the contract break sum based on my new improved salary and move on. Aviation is a small world, and reputations are important. They can worry about theirs, but I want a good reference. I want to avoid the stress, cost and uncertainty of protracted legal wrangles. I want to look forward to an improvement in my life.

That is what I would do, but I can't tell other people what they should do.