10 months on - any change at EZY?
 

From GAPAN last year

25 May 2011:

EasyJet Chief executive OfficerCarolyn McCall met with the pilots union BALPA and EasyJet pilots to discuss Aircrew/Company relations:


In her words “There has been a continued deterioration in relationships
between the company and pilots representatives over the last few years. For
whatever reasons management lost sight of how big a difference having great
people makes. It has taken its toll on how pilots feel about working for
EasyJet, building mistrust and a lack of respect

Maybe it can be explained in terms of pounds, shillings and pence?

Price of oils goes sky high, the euro zone trembles and the UK government persecutes aviation. Addressing mistrust and a lack of respect plays second fiddle.

Absolutely correct.
But what if, during the same period, the company makes record profits and pays out record bonuses to AMB and votes to increase those bonuses?

I believe Virgin did the same thing a few years back. The bottom percentage of the list got sent out on their harris whilst the managers received productivity bonuses. The airline industry, in general, is no different. Management and shareholders are at the top of the pyramid and sh1t runs downhill. McCall's words of 'sincerity' became worthless when someone reminded her that pilots were only coggs in the wheel of the big orange machine. Maybe I'm being a bit cynical here as I'm not part of easyjet, however it's nearly the same old story over and over.

Yep there is change... Unfortunately in the wrong direction

Management will always under offer - it's their job to - what it requires is the majority not to accept. However in easy there are many, with their own personal motives, that jump at the first offering with their myopia. They can't think past next month. It takes more than one party to make a contract.

I told them not to cut the St. Moret cheese from the fat pack..!

I for one mistrust and have no respect for our management.

As a result I arrive on time and no sooner. I encourage all to do the same.

I will not go into discretion. I encourage all to do the same

I will find any reason to take extra fuel.I encourage all to do the same

I will not work into a day off.I encourage all to do the same

I will place any defect however small into the tech log as safety is our number one priority.I encourage all to do the same

I will not partake in the SPIRIT scheme as the concept is flawed. For those not in easyjet this is a reward scheme where anyone can nominate anyone for good operating. Points are then awarded. Problem is it is open to abuse. The useless tend to nominate the useless. There was a big "get it on" at Disneyland Paris ( how ironic ) where all the nominees were praised by the orange politburo and then taken for a ride....

I will not sell my 5453 roster for the 4 summer months ( Although BALPA members and the BALPA base representative all sold their flexibility last year )

I will not do anything over and above that required by my contract.I encourage all to do the same

Robert
Can't understand why you're commenting on Pprune - the PROFFESIONAL Pilots Rumour network. :)

It is actually called the Professional Pilots Rumour Network.

It helps if you can spell Professional.

Otherwise you might be thought of as an Amateur.

Mr Angry from Purley

Not to worry we have all done it. Good weekend to you.

JW411 nice touch and light with it too. Regards

Real estate prices never drop.

Computers will never replace any jobs.

Heavier than air flying machines are impossible.

The latest Merlin offer may insult people here, but it is way, way better than the offers being received elsewhere. Get yourselves outside easyJet for a while guys - it's a hard world out there. Next to the legacy carriers, I reckon easyJet is about as good as it gets. That does not say much, but it is true nonetheless.

As for Robert G Mugabe's comments - you would be fired in an instant for your actions in just about any other airline in the world. It is great that you have found an airline willing to accommodate petulant and childish behaviour. Stick with them as long as you can, because they are few and far between in my experience.

If our working conditions aren't as bad as elsewhere is thank to people like R.Mugabe and not people that always bend 90° and say oh thank you very much...

We all know it's not too bad, but if we want to keep it at least as it is we have to be very cautious and not be too much complacent!

The pay and working conditions of other airlines is no reason for easyjet pilots not to fight for better terms and conditions for themselves. FYI they are trying it on with a sub RPI pay rise for the next four years.

At the risk of preaching to the Bishop

Report time is the time at which a crew member is required by easyJet to report for any duty.

The report time dictates the amount of time one can spend on duty. If you report early it could effect the flight duty period allowed. As an example a four sector day with a report at 0600 local allows a 10:45 hrs FDP. If you report earlier your FDP is limited to 09:00 hrs.


CAP 371 permits aircraft commanders to extend FDPs or reduce rest periods as a consequence of unforeseen events during the execution of a schedule or roster. However, rosters should never be planned in such a way that minor unforeseen events will automatically require the use of discretion. CAA FODCOM 10/2009

In my humble opinion some of our previous summer rotations were unrealistically planned considering the strains placed upon the operation by CTOT constraints and airspace congestion. Combined with crew shortages easyJet placed unrealistic expectations on its crews. Apparently we might be short of skippers again.

easyJet's fuel policy is to carry the minimum amount of fuel necessary to safely and efficiently complete the flight while meeting regulatory requirements and maintaining operational flexibility. Rightly so.

To that end extra fuel might be needed for a whole host of reasons.

Some I know say that is why we have contingency fuel but my view is that contingency is part of the regulatory requirement and designed for unforeseen events. Some pilots and pilot managers seem to blur the line between extra fuel and contingency fuel.

Sounds like the easyJet postings from 8 years ago. So nothing has changed - ever..!

The majority UK & EU operators in a snapshot! Nicely put...

DK :uhoh:

The downgrading terms and conditions at easyjet is the result of one and only one virus: CTC LOW HOURED CHEAP FOs.


It's too late to cry now, the game is over, the company is fully contaminated, you all are heading to hell.

Rants of the kind just written about CTC cadets are frankly completely counterproductive. I consider these guys/gals my colleagues and friends - not some sort of filth that got stuck on my shoes. They are a key part of the team and we need to work with them as equals.

For what it is worth, I do not agree with the comments being made about our managers - some are very good, including our CEO. We have a number of very capable people in key positions. It is true, however, that the Merlin negotiations are in bad shape and industrial action is a real possibility. I for one do not relish that as there would be no winners. I do not believe, however, it will come to that. There are clear solutions to the current problems that will not cost easyJet more money. However unfortunate the current impasse is, it is not an impossible situation. I would be very interested to know if any of those making the most extreme comments about our managers have ever worked for other airlines. Perhaps they could enlighten us on who that was and why they were so much better. I have worked for 4 previous airlines and I am struggling to think of a notably better management team at any of them - perhaps I have just been unfortunate.

Alexander de meerkat congrats mate you are the perfect asshole! :ok:

Wind check - is it better to be a perfect asshole or a complete d*ckhead? Reading your previous post makes you sound like you have some sort of mental illmess. You appear to have no arguments and no knowledge. From where I sit AdM appears to have both.

Meerkat,
Let me try to understand your views. You rate your CEO and managers as very good. You believe merlin negotiations are in bad shape and industrial action is a real possibility. You state the whole problem could be solved at no cost.
Hate to think what bad management would do.

You make it sound a bit like the love that dare not speak its name. Its OK behind closed doors but distasteful out in the open. I say speak out and be proud.

Fair one.

night night

regards Bob

quertyuiop - I do rate our CEO and some of our managers as good. She is doing a great job in making easyJet the profitable company it is, and it is her success that is enabling us to be sat here complaining about our share in the Company's success rather than how to avoid redundancies. Sure, we want more of the pie, but the good news is that a pie exists which is worth dividing up. Good managers must first and foremost be able to make their company profitable - without that we are all stuffed. Love her or not, she works 7 days a week, 16 hours a day looking after easyJet's interests. I frankly do not resent her salary one bit - I would not want that level of commitment to my employer. In my view she is a good communicator and genuinely wishes to work with the pilots. The problems we have lie further down the greasy pole.

The fact that we are on the way to industrial action does not mean she is a bad manager - it means that we have a clear dispute about the way ahead. My own view is that if we got an RPI pay rise instead of RPI-1% over the next 4 years and we sorted out the 'easyJet pilots for easyJet cockpits (and simulators!)' problem, a clear majority of pilots would vote Yes. All we have to do is persuade the Company to pay 1% for our profit bonus instead of 2%, and use that to finance the RPI increase. Next, give the cadets a decent basic salary and normal sector pay instead of this 'power by the hour' madness that gets everyone's back up - it would cost exactly the same but be so much better received by the cadets. Finally, get rid of the plethora of 'consultants' who are taking easyJet pilots' jobs in the Training Department and you are basically home and dry. Sure, there are other issues, but those are key ones that will get a Yes vote.

Easyjet, Ryanair: Same virus, same sh1te.

LCC :yuk::yuk::yuk::yuk::yuk:

slightly off-topic.....

I was just thinking you know what would happen if our UK tanker drivers (not intended as a dig at them) all new joiners were all on different contracts, had to pay for all their own training, no holiday pay, no pension, only got paid when they were actually moving, fatigue induced working hours, safety concerns due to experience levels, being responsible for 150+ pax in an aluminium tube carrying 8tons of fuel.......!!!!

It makes you wonder.......:ugh::ugh::ugh:

Refreshed after my love in with i-like-tea.

I am more prone to agree with my hairy rodent friend.

While I have some issues with lower management who are typical greasy pole merchants or "poachers turned gamekeepers" I feel the AMB are trying to improve the lot of the average worker. Hell I even received a dividend payment.

With regard to the cadet / PTF issue it is an issue inherited and continued from the previous regime. While it is a cheaper alternative financially it is a more expensive issue when you factor in the loyalty and engagement of the workforce. ( We all know where that is )

That said I think the real foolish parties here are the cadets/ PTF people themselves who have decided their worth by accepting the terms and conditions. ( A fool and their money are soon parted ). While most are misguided and regretting decisions made , they are on the whole competent nice kids.

BALPA HQ are the most complicit party by not advising the company and the regulatory bodies at the off that these pay to fly schemes had a nasty smell attached to them. I regard that organisation with the most contempt.

Uncle Bob and I are in broad agreement I think. Where I would possibly disagree is his assessment of BALPA. However, rather than go into a sub-debate on the merits or otherwise of BALPA membership, the only point I would make is that, love them or hate them, BALPA is the only vehicle available to us right now to engage with the Company.

Following the latest 'insight' shared with us all by wind check from his extensive understanding of our industry, he does makes an interesting point. I would suggest that the only real difference between us and Ryanair is BALPA - warts and all. There are very few Ryanair pilots who, given a straight choice, would not prefer to be working for us. Conversely there are virtually none of our pilots who would prefer to be working for Ryanair - that should tell us something. Sure, we have a fight on our hands but we have a real chance of progress simply due to the presence of a Union. In the current climate, even if it is just for a couple of months, every single UK-based easyJet pilot should be in BALPA. You do not have to love them, but you do need to support them right now even if it is only to see out the current crisis.

I do believe Carolyn McCall is an excellent CEO, and in my experience the vast majority of the pilots like her. We should be under no illusion about the scale of the challenges she faces in her efforts to continue easyJet's success, and like all CEOs in such circumstances she wants to cut costs. Alas, she finds herself caught in the corporate culture so prevalent in the western world which seems unable to see the incongruity of massive management bonuses being handed out at the same time as sub-RPI pay deals for everyone else. In her defence, her bonus KPIs are not set by her and I believe she is genuinely a people-person who cares for her staff. The danger we face in all this is that we must be seen as an employee group who can be dealt with reasonably rather than just circumvented. Just reading the comments from the likes of wind check and others on here makes my heart sink, and my only hope is that none of our managers ever read this forum and know how low the calibre of some our pilots can be. When our managers come round the crew rooms looking for feedback from the pilots, it is vital they are met with rational discussion and not some rant from berks who are both ill-informed and unable to string two sentences together.