Virgin Atlantic Pilot Strike Ballot
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Joined: Feb 2009
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From: london
Virgin Atlantic Pilot Strike Ballot
Now this has been all over the news but I rarly seen any information or comment on PPrune.
Does PPrune have a private agenda?
Virgin pilots 'to vote for strike' | Business | guardian.co.uk
Virgin Atlantic faces prospect of its first ever strike just as it celebrates landmark anniversary | Mail Online
Does PPrune have a private agenda?
Virgin pilots 'to vote for strike' | Business | guardian.co.uk
Virgin Atlantic faces prospect of its first ever strike just as it celebrates landmark anniversary | Mail Online
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: South of Watford
No hidden agenda just a bunch of professionals doing their best to avert a period of chaos to holiday makers over the summer. However, the vote just released is 97% in favour of industrial action. The last chance for an incompetent and arrogant management team to offer a fair deal. I suspect Mr Branson will have to get involved to reach a compromise. In any case a very solid and unequivocal result from the pilots.
Good luck to the flight crew.
Good luck to the flight crew.
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Glasgow
I Have Control
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 51
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From: North-West England
Media lies
The crass UK media get it wrong again, deliberately. Virgin do not focus on holidaymakers, and the strike timing is therefore unrelated to the cheap holidays of the great British unwashed to Disneyland, etc. Any old lies to flog newspapers and gain attention.
And good luck to you Virgin pilots. You've got more balls than your lily-livered colleagues at TUI, Thomas Cook and Monarch.
And good luck to you Virgin pilots. You've got more balls than your lily-livered colleagues at TUI, Thomas Cook and Monarch.
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 741
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From: LHR
The crass UK media get it wrong again, deliberately. Virgin do not focus on holidaymakers, and the strike timing is therefore unrelated to the cheap holidays of the great British unwashed to Disneyland, etc. Any old lies to flog newspapers and gain attention.
Also, the press will always report (and sensationalise) stories like this through the impact on their own readers. That's their job. The impact on the business traveller flying at someone else's expense is of no concern to the press.
Not seeking to take any sides; just trying to explain.
I note from the FAQ on the Virgin website that they claim they will wet lease aircraft in the event of a strike. Where will they get these from?
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Transparency is todays watchword. Everyone wants to see everything laid out in front of them.
In the case of the VS pilot workforce turning down 4% this year and 3% over the next 2 years, the missing bit is 4% of what?
I know it's a harsh world outside my fur lined rut so I swallow the bitter pill each year and accept sub RPI/CPI increments. Didn't BA pilots similarly swallow a couple of years back, hacking off BASSA at the same time?
Two questions, if answered honestly, will bring clarity to this discussion and as a consequence support from some and anti sentiments from others.
So, what is the spread of earnings p.a. for top of the scale down to entry level? And how many duty hours a year are worked on average to attain that income?
I feel support for their position if the ballot for industrial action is turned into a reality may be hard to come by outside of the industry. Nevertheless, the sight of the Bearded One stuttering over a TV interview could be worth it.
Sir George Cayley
In the case of the VS pilot workforce turning down 4% this year and 3% over the next 2 years, the missing bit is 4% of what?
I know it's a harsh world outside my fur lined rut so I swallow the bitter pill each year and accept sub RPI/CPI increments. Didn't BA pilots similarly swallow a couple of years back, hacking off BASSA at the same time?
Two questions, if answered honestly, will bring clarity to this discussion and as a consequence support from some and anti sentiments from others.
So, what is the spread of earnings p.a. for top of the scale down to entry level? And how many duty hours a year are worked on average to attain that income?
I feel support for their position if the ballot for industrial action is turned into a reality may be hard to come by outside of the industry. Nevertheless, the sight of the Bearded One stuttering over a TV interview could be worth it.
Sir George Cayley
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 86
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From: UK
As is usual in all the crass reporting, a lot of facts are missed out. The dispute is not only about pay rises (or lack off) it is also about the incompetent managers and broken agrements....always more to a story....
Joined: Jan 1997
Posts: 7,736
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From: UK
All the salient issues have been discussed before on the site and long before the vote. The search engine will lead the way.
The VS pilots have done this before a good few years ago and have a very effective and pragmatic view of whether informing outsiders is a primary goal or not at any given time.
The VS pilots have done this before a good few years ago and have a very effective and pragmatic view of whether informing outsiders is a primary goal or not at any given time.
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 133
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From: cheshire
There are fundamental changes in the way we are used to seeing our remuneration rise in line with inflation or in the case here remaining static in turbulent times. The Public sector are coming to terms with changes in their penson schemes for example and taking action they believe is necessary.
The World is changing and for many the the way things used to be will forever change. An employer must make themselves attractive to retain the staff they require by matching market conditions. Similarly if the market rate is down then be prepared for tough times....
Not taking sides here just pointing out that there will be changes for many employees in the coming years and sadly I fear not for the better...
The World is changing and for many the the way things used to be will forever change. An employer must make themselves attractive to retain the staff they require by matching market conditions. Similarly if the market rate is down then be prepared for tough times....
Not taking sides here just pointing out that there will be changes for many employees in the coming years and sadly I fear not for the better...
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 281
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From: Glasgow
What the,
But if new start up airline "ABC airways" comes along paying its pilots 10% less than the current average and then your airline tries to negotiate a 4% uplift what are you told? "Nope, can't be done if we are to remain competitive".
The same could be said one year later by the pilots of "ABC airways". They could want the 10% to bring them up to the average plus the 4% the others are asking for.... They only get what they're given at the end of the day.
So although I partly agree with you what you say I believe isn't strictly true.
But if new start up airline "ABC airways" comes along paying its pilots 10% less than the current average and then your airline tries to negotiate a 4% uplift what are you told? "Nope, can't be done if we are to remain competitive".
The same could be said one year later by the pilots of "ABC airways". They could want the 10% to bring them up to the average plus the 4% the others are asking for.... They only get what they're given at the end of the day.
So although I partly agree with you what you say I believe isn't strictly true.