@u0062

Okay there Francis,lighten up!!

@ Bluepilot

I do try to stay informed. Just the other day I had a lenghty conversation with one of our shorter, slightly fullfigured and always redfaced college from the upper part of the island.
He gave me a lot of details the UK pilots face in to their negotiations.

1. bottom of the list with keeping position and salary until over taken by KLM salary. Bottom of the list with position frozen is no problem. However, I did not realise that salary frozen would actually mean a decrease in salary since you wouldn't get nomal yearly raises. That's why I said in an earlier post: salary frozen with the exception of normal UK raises until overtaken by KLM salary this is in my opinion not an unreasonable request. I can not imagine VNV having a problem with that because it would not hurt KLM pilots as long as KLM pilots get pass over pay

2.Pension, Pfff,that's a tough one. You now enjoy a end salary scheme, while all the other pilots have a mid wage scheme. However this should be negotiable.You may not know but, Transavia pilots had until their last CLA negotiations an end wage scheme. However, as this is according to new dutch law almost not feasable anymore, they were able to negotiate a deal where they went to a average wage pension deal in such a way that (granted) almost nobody was of worse.
As it is impossible to just change to the KLM pension ( really this is not possible as every pilot saves individually for his pension, albeit in a collective fund) BALPA should take a hard look at how KLM dealt with the transavia pilots and try to get a similar setup.

3. Basing. That, I'm sorry. that's a bullet you'll have to bite. This is the airline industry, things change.

Anyways, I'm gonna leave the discussion now. When I first posted I wanted to express a genuine hope that you guys would get a fair deal, but I also wanted to voice my displeasure at the constant bashing of the VNV=KLM pilots. It's mainly between KLM and BALPA. When VNV get's involved it's because they are doing what they are paid to do.

Good luck

greetings

Flyburg, You in my view correctly support your union. People like Klink should be left in no doubt that walking across a picket line is NOT acceptable.
Thats the point i am making. We were all desperate at one stage in our career to get that special job.I dont feel the VNV would be very impressed

thanks for the informed reply flyburg.

On the pension issue its not the structure of the pension thats the issue, its the fact that the company has stated that the basic KLM bottom of seniority pay would be pensionable, but the "top up pay" to bring us back to our UK salary pay would not. In some cases that would mean that less than half their salary would be pensionable :rolleyes:

Lets not forget that this is not a dispute about joining mainline its a dispute that stems from discrimination. Some people are not in a position to accept a mainline contract (those over 56 for example) and they must be protected too in any agreement made for the future.

Si nous allons faire ceci dans la langue de notre employeur peut-être devrions-nous la faire en français ?

{My little bit of sarcasm}:uhoh:

Hi Flyburg

Thanks for making the post and translation of the VNV statement, I am pleased to note that it is indeed a very good translation – I could not have done nearly half as well myself.:)

I’m afraid my reply is going to disappoint you though.

Indeed the statement backs up what almost everyone here has been saying, this is a fight for the KLCuk pilots terms and conditions and it is therefore between KLCuk pilots (Balpa) and KLCuk/KLC and KLM. It is not a fight between Balpa and the VNV and I am pleased that both the VNV and Balpa can see eye to eye on this issue and indeed that the VNV seem to be publicly supporting the case of Balpa.

Compensation to members - This is the part that worries me,, whilst I respect the VNV's position, if the compensation for their members is set too high there will be no deal.
If this is the case then smiling Assasin comes to mind,
I hope I am wrong but my fears are that the VNV dont really want us in and as long as they publically give the impression of being friendly everyone will blame KLM.
Time will tell.
.

Although I as a collaegue in another airline will support industrial action of other unions requesting assistance via Ifalpa or ECA, I think to expect a recruitment ban to be successful as highly unlikely.
Simple fact is that majority of new-hirees are Dutch ab-initio boys and girls from NLS and KLS with 0 hours having a €150000 loan on their back, mostly guaranteed by their parents.
How can you axpect someone like this to honour a ban like this?
I know if I would be one of those, my dad would put a foot up my ass if I would be a student like this and refusing a job with my national airline..
Just be real.

Klink, There are many people looking for work with hefty loans associated with there flying training. However what you are proposing is to break an official picket line. As part of IALPA the VNV would be obliged to support the Balpa strike action in what ever form this may take. I can not imagine that the VNV would condone anyone who wished to further there careers at the expence of fellow pilots who are fighting for there rights.
Should a precident be set by Dutch (out of work pilots taking advantage of this situation) this would involve the VNV breaking ranks with IALPA. This would thus also put the VNV in conflict with the Airfrance. I would suggest that thiswould probaly not be beneficial to KLM pilots. Therefore If anyone was suicidal enough to try and take advantage of the above there career would be finished before it had started. I for one would never fly with a scab.
It would be interesting to find out who would.
I would suggest that the guys and girls who are looking for work keep trying,but be professional. Rise above the comment made by Klink

..Then let IFALPA/VNV put up a warning for the 2 schools being the preferred suppliers of the KLM; of one school students also went to BA, so these you can intimidate.

Don't put a situation like this on the shoulders of a 22 year old for who getting a job nowadays is a small miracle.

True. But any "reasonable" compensation demand from the VNV must surely be economically more palatable for KLM than the real and hidden costs of a series of strikes, the cost (in pax numbers and yields etc) of all the negative publicity, and the cost of losing a "discrimination" lawsuit in the European court.
So, dont make excuses upfront for KLM. It undermines what BALPA is trying to acheive and is starting to point to the VNV again as the obstruction. If KLM have no option than to negotiate with the VNV, (because of a rightfully machette wielding BALPA :D ), then leave that fight to KLM and VNV.

The time has now come for me to stand with my colleagues and say that I have had enough of the rough end of this particular pineapple. The company have not properly considered us and we are living in a sort of "limbo land". Personally, I don't think that the company want to get rid of us, just yet. However, one little hiccup, one little bit of "rationalisation", one little bit of "down-sizing" and we are the first to go which means that my wife and kids and those of my colleagues are the one's who suffer. The fortunes of companies change over time and there are times when they have to grow a little smaller. But I don't see why I should be one of the first out of the door. I have invested just short of ten years in KLM (via AirUk, KLM uk, KLM Cityhopper uk) and they have received the benefit of my work. I see no reason why that when the axe falls, I falls it falls fairly, valuing the time that each person has spent working for good of the organisation.

I have no fight with any of my KLM Mainline contract colleagues. I have no intention of taking any of their ICA (or 737) jobs. My personal career horizon is a F70/100 Command and maybe a training position as well. I'd just like to be able to get to my horizon - just like the rest of my colleagues - in both the UK and NL divisions.

Klink You seem to be missing the point. You originaly post suggested that there would be many of your Dutch colleagues who would be willing to cross a picket line. The purpose of my reply is to ensure that the understand the implications of doing so. With encouragement of course they will, however if they understand the impact of there actions maybe they may think twice before ruining there career. You stated that you would not personally not cross a official picket line, maybe you can explain why for the benefit of your Dutch colleagu:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: es.
PS Look forward to working with you one day my friend

I'm not working in the Netherlands; I'm outside of the KLM group.
With colleagues, I meant professional colleagues, not company colleagues.

I would not cross the picket line, since I have my own career, and joining KLM would not be a necessity. So I have a choice. Then I choose to support industrial action.

On the other hand, someone with no hours who anyway needs 2 months of training to have any impact on the operation, will not make the differrence on the cause. And to refuse a KLM job when you have 0 hours needs both balls and deep pockets, since the chances you'll find a comparable job are nil.

So take it out on the pilots joining from other companies or even the schools providing the pilots, but not on the zero hour ab-initio individually.

Read my previous post it covers indetail all what you have just said.The bottom line is whatever your situation personally, financially,YOU DO NOT CROSS A OFFICIAL PICKET LINE period:=

Anyway, we are a bit ahead of the facts here; so it's perhaps better to avoid creating different camps.
It'll work out anyway without drastic measures, I hope.

KlinK

I hope it works out too,We must remember the battle is with the management not between ourselves. Thanks for an interesting debate my friend. Safe flying

likewise :ok:

Ballot papers arrived yesterday :-) mine is back in the post already. Talking to guys in the crew centre sounds like this is going to be a very well supported action.

To all Pprune reading KLMuk contract pilots,

I'm a colleage of you flying on a KLM contract (not KLMuk) for cityhopper.

Just would like to ask you why you did not bother to inform us (dutch side pilots) of your problems apart from the rumours we hear and broken info we get of the CA's /IFS's we both fly with. Surely I can guess what might be the problem and yes, I do read the forum but does everybody? Why have you chosen not to inform KLM contract pilots?

Being the minority group (KLMuk contracts) you would probably create more sympathy among fellow KLM pilots by sharing info.

All we hear is rumours and we see no facts. I think that this doesn't work in your (KLMuk pilots) advantage. If you don't tell us whats going on people might get nervous and I think I know how KLM contacters will react when a seniority discussion will start.

Don't forget that a lot of us have seen, have been feeling and still feel (seniority wise) the integration with KLC and KLM back in '96.

Just consider.

Happy flying.

Gearpins Stowed,

I think that most of us have communicated to our collegues on the KLM contract as much as we can, but unfortunatly we are not yet allowed to be VNV members so cannot post on your forum there, we are not allowed access to myklm.com (another discrimination point) so we cannot communicate there, the BALPA forums are closed to non members, we do not have your individual addresses so we cannot write to you.

So apart from public forums and word of mouth when we work together what do you suggest????

All the BALPA members were sent out flyers this week it reads :

Former Air UK pilots (now employed by KLM Cityhopper uk) are in dispute with
the Company having been discriminated against by at least the following means:

pay rates, pension arrangements, base closures, block on recruitment, restriction on Command upgrades and access to management posts, lack of recognition of past service in the KLM Group.

Without recruitment into KLCuk, our Company will not exist for our youngest pilot to achieve retirement age.

As we now fly with KLM colleagues we see our only means of continuing our careers is with KLM contracts awarded on fair and reasonable terms.

same cockpit = same contract

To KLM Staff: - We have enjoyed working with you indirectly for many years and look forward to more years as closer colleagues. We thank you for your support.

To KLC UK Pilots: vote YES to
END DISCRIMINATION
SECURE YOUR CAREER
SECURE YOUR FUTURE

Blue pilot,

Tnx for your reply.

Quote: “So apart from public forums and word of mouth when we work together what do you suggest????”

Suggestion: Just write your facts on a paper, copy it 2200 times and hand it out to every to pilot you bump into at the crew centre, the crew bus or on board when changing crews at the outstations. (I’m sure someone must have thought of that but for some reason has decided not to do this.)

Balpa writes about pay rates, pension arrangements, base closures, restriction on Command upgrades and access to management posts;

What and compared to who is something wrong with your pay rate?
What is wrong with your pension?
What are the facts of the base closures?
Is there a restriction on command upgrades?
Management pilot restrictions?

No facts in the Balpa letter. For me, not factual familiar with the KLMuk problems, I can only interpret these statements as unfounded and not verifieable conclusions.

I intentionally put this as straight as I can since I really have little clues of what’s going on.
The BALPA letter does clear just a bit but to tell the truth, it rises more questions than it gives answers.

Happy flying.

Gear pins stowed.

You must live a sheltered life. This discrimination has been going on for over 3 years now.It has been a regular topic of conversation with a lot of our Dutch colleagues. You query the statement made by Balpa, I suggest if you would like to bring your self up to speed that you contact your VNV representitive they have as much knowlegde as anyone,primarily because they have been the ones causing most of the issues.Job protection etc etc etc. If you have read the statements already made i will not need to tell you that we do not want to strike.However due to the company and the VNV we are left with no option. If we do not contest the issues it will be the end of the UK division possible within 1 or 2 years. We are fighting for our jobs,our future and security. The ballot papers have gone out consenus is that they will have 100% return in favour of industrial action. Lets hope the company and the VNV will finally offer us a future.
Thanks for your suggestions

U0062,

To me, your reply is written in a quite offending way. But I realise that it must be an emotional period for you all.

A couple of reactions:

In you're opinion I have to be the one that should gather information related to an issue which is brought up by you (KLMuk group). To my opinion this is the wrong way around.
I’ve been asking around amoung dutch colleages but nobody was able to tell me more than “the want a better deal”, “they want seniority” etc. etc. (more sheltered life people….).
Besides, I’ve been in the crew centre 5 out of 7 days and not a single person has approached me nor the colleage I was flying with (Yes, I do shower every day so that can’t be it). Moreover, hadn’t I posted, I wouldn’t have known the contents of the Balpa letter. The average long haul pilot shows up at the crew centre 2 to 3 times a month and is probably more worried of getting his golfclubs on board than talking to colleages regarding this issue.

Quote: “You query the statement made by Balpa”

I did not say that the statement is right or wrong. The Balpa letter gives no explanation / examples of the drastic statements made in that letter. So please tell me, how can I judge for myself i.o.w. why shouldn’t I query? Are you afraid of people querying the statements? Is there something to hide? Have there been letters before this one?

Bear in mind that you (KLMuk) are all very well informed and living the news at first hand. For me, the sheltered one, this news is only reaching me in broken and emotional bits and pieces. A strike will be the first factual news that has reached me from the uk group.

Quote: “We are fighting for our jobs,our future and security”.

I fully understand, no offence, by writing my postings I’m trying to help you, don’t you see that?

Anyways, you’ve probably lost me again by now.

From my shelter (with internet acces ;-) ) I still wish you all the best.

I think "Gearpins" makes a valid point regarding the dissemination of information:

Maybe an info sheet setting out the main grounds of the greivance, placed in each postvak in the crew centre, would raise the collective awareness of the entire pilot workforce, and encourage more support.

At the moment there is a lot of hearsay, invariably distorted as the chain gets longer, and some management propoganda.

You're not missing out on anything :} . You cannot post messages or bulletins on there.

Hope it all works out well for all concerned..........

gearpins stowed.

My reply to you was not meant to be offensive Just a little bit of British homour( culture difference i guess, before you ask yes the course is planned )
Regarding information, One of the reasons the prune link was set up was to provide information to people like yourself so they could make they own conclusions and suggestions before we have to make that awful decision about industrial action.
There are two gossip forums running at the moment maybeworth reading these first,should you have any queries please raise them and i will try and answere as best i can.
The reason i suggested speaking to the VNV is that they have been negociating since the beginning,or should i say not as they have been one of our main problems. However it will give another side to these issues,Therefore a more balanced view(hopefuly)
Regarding Balpa They are controlled by strict rules and guidelines therefor they can only report to there members,like the VNV i guess. However we have asked for a general information sheet to be published which will available for all to read in the crew center.
finally i woulkd like to thankyou for your support

safe flying my friend

Captphil
 

:) Hi everyone

Remember me? I used to work for the KLMuk pilot people.

I resigned 2.5 years ago, to join a stable smaller airline with much more respect for it's employees.

Since this move i have grown to appreciate again the professionalism of certain airlines with the capacity to train, and test well, and to grow in a very competitive environment.

Remember me well

Capt Phil:) :D

The fact sheet is being written as we speak, expect it in coffee corner next week

Nice timing on the fact sheet. apparantly management have started there diry tricks campaign. Always a good sign,means they are are worried about our case being justfied.

The fact sheet has been published this morning.

It can also be downloaded http://www.klmukpilot.co.uk/files/why_are_klc_pilots_balloting_070606.pdf

You probably can't Ray, but you CAN at least change your Cockpit Briefing password. This has to be changed about every six weeks to something totally different to the last one, no consecutive letters etc. I had to change mine the other day to something obscure, with the hope of changing it to something more memorable. Alas, the only way to do this is in myklm.com as you rightly say, we have no access. Apartheid!

So I am stuck with a crap password for the next six weeks!

Simple just keep forgetting your crap password each time, you then have to make the call to get it reset, thus the flight gets delayed because you cant get into the system and maybe they will get the message?

For changing password, you can simply walk (10 meters?) to cockpit flight support and they will help you. Ofcourse there are other ways to change password without myklm but they are even more difficult. If you're unable to locate cockpit flight support, please consult any other pilot in the building.

Lluke, this is what we want resolved. Why should we have to bother people just to do our job? As helpful as our colleagues with Mainline contracts are, it shouldn't fall upon them to make up for the deficiencies in our status. Being equal means equal access to the systems in the building as well as terms and conditions. Even trivial little things like ordering a replacement uniform shirt via the Uniform Dept. is impossible "as you don't work for KLM!" It also doesn't take a genius to guess who is first out of the door when the aviation industry catches a cold (or just a bad cough) and KLM has to "downsize" as they say in management speak.

But genuinely, thank you for your advice and I'd like to think that we can count on your support in our pursuit of equality.

PM.

As a mainline pilot I would like to give the UK-guys my support in their struggle for a fair deal!

Fokkerking, I personally and i am sure i can speak for all my UK colleges,Would like to thankyou for your support. This as i am sure you can imagine is a very difficult time for all concerned.Having comments like you made above give us strength in our hour of need. Thanks again

From BALPA :-)

Dear Collegues,

BALPA has produced a document to inform you of why your KLCuk collegues are balloting for industrial action against discrimination, we have now had this document translated into Dutch for your convenience in the hope that it will give you an better understanding of our concerns.

On behalf of your KLCuk collegues i thank you in advance for your support, please do talk to any of your KLCuk collegues in the crew centre who will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Together we can make a secure future for all.




Geachte Collega’s

Het huidige KLCuk is ontstaan uit het voormalige AIRuk; deze maatschappij is op haar beurt weer ontstaan door een fusie van verschillende kleine luchtvaartmaatschappijen. Op het hoogtepunt van haar bestaan was AIRuk een zeer winstgevende luchtvaartmaatschappij, die werk bood aan bijna 500 vliegers, die vlogen 49 vliegtuigen, langs een zeer uitgebreid europees, nationaal, feeder en charter netwerk. Het was de op drie na grootste maatschappij in de UK, en vanuit het standpunt van de vlieger gezien een zeer prestigieuze maatschappij om voor te werken.

Toen de KLM in 1987 de winstgevendheid en de vooruitzichten inzag van een feeder luchtvaartmaatschappij vanuit de UK naar Amsterdam, kocht zij 14% van de aandelen van AIRuk. Geleidelijk werd het belang in AIRuk uitgebreid totdat in 1996 KLM volledig eigenaar was. Tijdens deze periode ontmantelde de KLM, nu met mensen in de directie van AIRuk, de maatschappij langzaam van haar bezittingen zoals het verkopen van waardevolle routes en slots binnen de UK.

Tijdens deze periode had een AIRuk vlieger de keuze om 4 verschillende turboprop vliegtuigen en 4 verschillende jets te vliegen, gecombineerd met een variatie van verschillende levensstijlen.

Vanaf Maart 1998 opereerde AIRuk onder de merknaam KLMuk en in 1999 werd de naam veranderd in KLMuk, kort waarna, tijdens een zeer korte periode, de gehele nadruk kwam te liggen op het voeden van het KLM netwerk in Amsterdam. Tegelijkertijd werd er een nieuwe luchtvaartmaatschappij opgericht onder de naam Buzz, om te kunnen voorzien in de toen aanwezige point to point routes, om te kunnen profiteren van de zich nog steeds uitbreidende low cost sector, en om de overgebleven vliegers en vliegtuigen die niet langer nodig waren in het feeder netwerk te benutten.

In November 2002 werd het bedrijf verder ontmanteld, door het te splitsen in twee maatschappijen. KLCuk en Buzz. KLCuk werd geïntegreerd in de KLM organisatie; de overgebleven bezittingen ( vliegtuig lease contracten en feeder routes naar Amsterdam) werden overgebracht naar de KLM organisatie, terwijl de vliegers in dienst bleven van KLCuk. Gezien de verwachte snelle groei van Buzz lag het in de planning van bedrijf om steeds meer vliegers over te plaatsen naar deze operatie. Gedurende deze periode was er voor de KLCuk vliegers een mogelijkheid om in dienst te treden bij de KLM( na een file check en met een restrictie op leeftijd). Door de voorwaarden van dit aanbod was de overgang eigenlijk alleen geschikt voor die vliegers die nog niet al te lang in dienst waren van de maatschappij; het aanbod hield in ontslag nemen bij KLCuk en opnieuw starten als een nieuwe werknemer bij de KLM. In overweging nemend de mogelijkheid om naar Buzz over te stappen naar een standplaats in de UK, was voor de meerderheid het aanbod geen aanvaardbare optie.

Nadat het termijn van de “eenmalige aanbieding” om over te stappen naar de KLM was verstreken, behielden de KLCuk vliegers de mogelijkheid om te gaan vliegen voor Buzz, met een gecontroleerde uitstroom van vliegers vanuit KLCuk tijdens de volgende vijf jaar. Gebaseerd op levensstijl, was dit de manier waarop de meerderheid van de KLCuk vliegers hun toekomstige carrière hadden gepland, en tevens de manier om de reductie van KLCuk vliegers te bewerkstelligen in de komende jaren zoals de KLM dat met het VNV was overeengekomen.

Uiteindelijk komt dan de ultieme ontmanteling van het laatste bezit; de uitverkoop van Buzz, de KLM, ondanks alle beloftes aan de UK vliegers, besloot om dit bezit zo snel mogelijk van de hand te doen. Vervolgens werd de maatschappij tegen een dump prijs verkocht aan Ryanair. Derhalve zagen de KLCuk vliegers hun carrière mogelijkheden en aspiraties verdwijnen als sneeuw voor de zon, garanties voor de toekomst waren weg, en de deur naar de KLM zat stevig dicht.

Wij komen nu bij een wat recentere geschiedenis van KLCuk Ltd. De overgebleven vliegers binnen deze groep hebben zeer hard gewerkt om zich aan te passen aan een met ongekende snelheid (zelfs voor luchtvaartbegrippen) veranderende werkomgeving. Wij hebben ons een totaal andere werk en rusttijden regeling, nieuwe AOM’s , nieuwe SOP’s , een nieuwe stijl van management, en een totaal andere cockpit filosofie eigen gemaakt.

Recentelijk zijn wij geconfronteerd met een “rebasing” waarbij vliegers en hun familie gedwongen werden te verhuizen, een slecht voorstel om onze pensioen voorziening te veranderen, een aanname stop voor vliegers uit de UK, de weigering om een geschikte kandidaat aan te stellen in een management functie, een continue en routinematige schending van onze arbeidsovereenkomst, en een dreiging om onze vliegers te ontslaan naar aanleiding harmonisatie kwesties. Nu heeft u een klein beetje inzicht in hoe uw collega’s zijn behandeld in de laatste 3 en een half jaar.

Kortom wij voelen ons gediscrimineerd

In november 2002, toen KLMuk vliegers KLCuk vliegers werden waren er 249 vliegers in dienst. Vanaf Maart 2006 zijn daarvan nog 143 overgebleven. In de afgelopen 3 en een half jaar hebben 106 vliegers KLCuk verlaten, en zijn er dus 106 nieuwe plaatsen gecreëerd voor KLM, geplaatst op de KLM senioriteitlijst. Er kan slechts maar een achterliggende gedachte zijn waarom 42,5 % van het vliegerscorps het bedrijf heeft verlaten in zo’n korte tijd.

Dit alles ondanks het feit dat wij als groep KLCuk vliegers 1700 dienstjaren hebben binnen de KLM groep. Er zijn bij ons gezagvoerders in dienst met meer dan 20 dienstjaren, en met meer dan 10.000 vlieguren.

Dit moet u toch allemaal vreemd in de oren klinken gezien uw eigen ervaringen. Wij vliegen dezelfde vliegtuigen, en werken volgens dezelfde KLM SOP’s, met collega’s die anders worden betaald, het voordeel hebben van andere salaris structuren, pensioenen werkgelegenheidsbescherming, werknemersrechten dan het UK vliegerscorps.

De actie van Balpa is bedoeld om een einde te maken aan deze discriminatie. Er zijn een aantal mogelijke oplossingen die de KLM zou kunnen aandragen om de situatie op te lossen. Een onderdeel van het voorstel van Balpa is om haar leden nogmaals een mogelijkheid te geven in dienst te treden bij de KLM, maar wel onder eerlijke en redelijke voorwaarden.

Balpa geeft de voorkeur aan een oplossing die aanvaardbaar is voor alle UK vliegers. Dit is een enorme opgave, maar de fundering hiervoor dient nu gelegd te worden. De KLM is altijd bij haar eerste aanbod gebleven, door Balpa en haar leden aangemerkt als belachelijk.




Wij hopen dat u nu een inzicht heeft gekregen in de situatie waarin de KLCuk collega’s zich bevinden. Volledig in het nauw, en met ontoereikende voorstellen geconfronteerd, hebben de KLCuk vliegers besloten om voor zichzelf op te komen.Hiermee hopen Balpa en haar leden voor eens en voor altijd een toekomst veilig te stellen, bestaande uit gelijkheid, wederzijds respect en een volwaardige plaats in de dynamische en groeiende KLM-Airfrance groep.

Wij willen er met nadruk op wijzen dat de voorstellen van Balpa geen directe invloed hebben op uw carrière. De KLCuk vliegers hebben geïnvesteerd in het verleden en verdienen een belang in de toekomst!

Wij vragen uw steun in deze moeilijke tijd.












.

Heard today. 132 ballot papers sent out. 128 returned with 100% (yes 100%) in favour of strike action.

Maybe now KLM will wake up and look at our grievance seriously or they can prepare for a summer of disruption. I am sure that the customers will look forward to that!

Thank you...
 

Fokkerking - Thank you very much for your support. It is appreciated and it makes us feel more part of the Club. It will also make it easier for us "to hold your jackets" when (every little helps!) when and if you have your battle with AF.

Is this a record?
 

Ballot result for UK KLC pilots on Friday gave: papers despatched 132, papers returned 128, in favour of proposal for industrial action 128 i.e. 100% support (on returned papers)! Is this a record? More seriously it does show the feeling of unity on the issue at hand and should send an unambiguous signal to the powers that be in Amsterdam. Bear in mind that these are not a group of militant troublemakers just itching for any excuse for a fight but just ordinary people trying to secure their future employment prospects. It has come to this end after a calculated attrition of the workforce, first by cutting off the inflow of workers at the bottom and then cheesing off the remaining workforce so much they leave or even move to Australia!

started to hit the press today, here is the first one from the USA!

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/3985197.html

...and from the BALPA website:-
NEWS from BALPA
British Airline Pilots’ Association
Tuesday 20 June 2006
UK BASED KLM PILOTS VOTE MASSIVELY FOR STRIKE ACTION
In what is the most decisive result in a trade union strike ballot, UK based KLM pilots who are employed through the UK company ‘KLCuk’, a UK-based operator, owned by the giant Dutch airline KLM, voted 128 to nil for strike action against the company on the grounds of discrimination.
Compared to their KLM mainline colleagues, the KLCuk pilots have been treated as second class citizens, suffered enforced rebasing from one base to another (to completely different areas in the UK), threatened with detrimental changes to their pension scheme, refused promotion, endured continuous and routine breaking of agreements and were told that if they did not attend harmonisation training to harmonise their cockpits with their KLM mainline colleagues then they would be sacked.
‘This is a long and pretty awful story of a loyal and professional workforce being badly treated’ Jim McAuslan, General Secretary of the British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA) explained ‘The problems began when KLCuk pilots found themselves in limbo after KLM took over what was AirUK, a very successful British airline with over 500 pilots in 1998, four years later KLM split the company in two – rebranding them as KLCuk (which would operate feeder routes in and out of Amsterdam) and a new low frills airline, Buzz.’
‘The pilots were told they could fly with Buzz or with KLCuk. Those staying with KLCuk could, if they wish, transfer to KLM mainline but they had to do so immediately, resign from KLCuk and begin with KLM, as a new starting entrant to the airline (with certain protections). If they did not transfer they would then be working alongside KLM colleagues on much better terms and conditions and with a much improved career ahead of them.
But even that option was snatched from them when “out of the blue” everything changed when KLM had shut off the once only option of moving to KLM mainline and subsequently selling off Buzz to Ryanair. To top it all an agreement was reached by KLM, with other parties that would reduce the number of UK pilots flying for KLCuk by 28 a year starting in 2002.
‘BALPA has been trying to find a long lasting solution to this problem rather than the salami slicing that has been a hallmark of the management approach. We have suggested to the company that they are wasting the huge talent that makes up the KLCuk pilot workforce; the remaining pilots have in excess of a combined 1,600 years of service for the KLM group. We have suggested the discrimination can be ended by offering the opportunity to transfer to KLM mainline on fair and reasonable terms and conditions. But the suggestions have fallen on deaf ears and, as this massive vote strike action shows, the pilots’ patience has now run out.’
Pilots are resolute in their determination to achieve fairness and to halt the discrimination. They are resolute also in their belief that a negotiated solution is the best way ahead. We will only take the action authorised by this ballot if we are left with no alternative.
‘We are pleased that ACAS is now involved and we look forward to meetings this week. But this may now be too late and prolonging an already delayed situation is not something we will accept. By law, any industrial action must begin within 28 days of 16 th June. The clock is ticking.’
Jim McAuslan added that the move to trans-national airlines would throw up similar challenges for managements across Europe. It does not bode well for the Air France/KLM group merger when a few hundred UK based pilots cannot be dealt with fairly by KLM