Sterling, terms and conditions?
 

Have had no lock so far in the nordic forum so I'll try here instead:

Does anybody know anything about the terms and conditions at Sterling: salary, lifestyle, rostering, sector pay, per diem, leave etc?

I´ll bite....
 

Here is one way of looking at it, although I do not work for Sterling, that does not mean that I don´t know their terms and conditions, I´ve seen their contracts, at least the one that is still in force, as they have not yet agreed on a new set of T&C´s, after one year of negotiations....
However, I trust that not much will change

Salary - Crap, well below industry standard.
Lifestyle - Non-existing, unless you´re based near your residence.
Rostering - !!!!e, they can re-schedule up until check-in, and they do.
Sector pay - None
Per diem - Hardly any, again below industry standard.
Leave - I would;) , just kidding. From memory 5 weeks annual leave

Not the best job around, but then again, which job is, they (including Sterling) all seem to try to emulate Ryanair, and in Sterlings case I think they would like to actually show Ryanair how it is done.:ugh:

But give it a go, I believe they are recruiting still, at least they have pilots joining later this months.

Happy hunting:ok:

Thanks but I would like to see some figures so that I can make my own judgement on how "crap" the salary is. In general, salary in Scandinavia is always below industry standard, at least in Sweden. Since I am Swedish, and I for different reasons wan't to go home, I am interested in the conditions at Sterling. Life is about more than making money.

Could you (or anyone else) give me some figures to work with?

25 pilots just resigned from the company (app. 10%) and more to come.
Seems that there are a lot of better offers around the world.

Sterling Info at WWW.PPJN.com
 

Thank you guys... I've heard similar stories from others...

...and thanks Norwegian but most of the figures on ppjn hasn't been updated since early 2005. But it might still be the same?

And again...
 

Hello Kif,

The only things on ppjn that appear to be different from 2005 are the minimum required hours, now significantly down from 1300 total hrs. to only a few hundred, at least if you buy your typerating from Sterling and GOT (Gothenburg) is not a base at the moment, however, they are looking at making it a base again, soon I suspect.

RTO - the pay you mention for new hire F/O should read, in the region of 25.000,- danish kroner GROSS, is that not correct. Then deduct danish tax (maybe some get away with swedish tax), deduct repayment of cpl+typerating and you are left with NOTHING. Go work part-time at McDonalds to pay for your rent, car etc. (Anyone disagree????)

Best regards,:ok:

Well... thanks again everybody for you response to my questions. I will keep your comments in mind when deciding my future. I have a very good 737-job right now and the only problem is that it is in the "wrong" country. I don't need to take a crap job in order to survive but I do, in the long run, want to go home...:)

Just correct me if I'm wrong. Doesn't Sterling have ARN base aswell?

Yes, they do have an Arlanda base, and they are short of crew there, however most of the Sterling crew are based at Copenhagen and they want to remain there, and with the current "overenskomst" agreement the company can´t force anyone away from their present base, they can only ask for volunteers or sling crew to ARN.

Unless you want to be treated with disrespect and contempt from management on a daily basis, do not join Sterling.

Have you tried applying to JetX/Primera, they are supposed to start operating 737-800 from ARN and GOT soon. www.jetx.is

Yeah. I know about them aswell and I know a few working for them. Don't know anyone at Sterling though. Thats why I've been asking here on the forum. I'm in no hurry though. Just investigating my options. Seeya out there and thanks once again!

Another 3 pilots have left the company, total 28 now. + 1 = 29

Sterling - not so sterling...
 

Kif, and others.

It can never be said loud enough: STAY AWAY FROM STERLING.

I was employed there and resigned for several reasons:

Had to swallow a major pay cut.
Extremely family hostile rostering.

No agreement with the union for over a year now.

Very hostile environment. (O'Leary wannabes of the worst kind)
Managers are either incompetent or afraid.

Within less than a year they managed to screw up two companies... what a feat..... books will be written.

Flight safety suffering from all the uncertainty and exodus from this company. Last year we had three major incidents which were covered up by management internally as well. We had to read about them in the newspapers.


A lot of guys are leaving; that goes for both ex Maersk guys and Sterling originals. A lot of experience is oozing out of the company. In stead they are hiring fresh pilots with zero PIC time on anything but ms flightsim.

On the positive side:: it is very easy to get in: all you have to do is to prove that the cheque you pay for your type rating doesn't bounce.

It is too bad that a very shady company like Sterling still is able to attract people. It must be because this is pretty much what is left in Scandinavia for scandis wanting to pilot 737's

I'd rather commute, be happy and relaxed when I am home with my family, on a stable, commuter friendly roster, than p.... off every day I return from work. Fatigued, frustrated and severely under paid.

So, guys and gals. Stay away from Sterling. Let the icelanders stew in their own juice.

Ahhh. that felt good ........ :E

F/O's who bought T/R on B737 with a summer contract already leaving before the contract starts, because of jobs in other companies.
Another 4 pilot left last month and 5+ the next to come.
Right now the company is looking for 18 F/O with T/R to fullfill the summer schedule. Normally the way to get a job is to buy the T/R in Sterling. (another way of earning money on your employes)
My guess is that they will start to give T/R just to get some pilots.
Most of the offices closed during the week, due to lack of personell.
Maintenance outsoursed, operations on minimum etc etc.
New flight attendents not showing up once imployed, flight understaffed.
What a place to work.
Wonder have long it will last.

KIF - In order to set things in perspective, salary wise......... If you take two routes every morning, distributing papers you will earn more and get free excercise and fresh air. Then - on the down side - you cannot stand in your new black polished uniform shoes, very correct short haircut and defending that it is absolutely all right - to first pay 100K + B737 TR and end up flying an rather old dash 500 .............. You have experience ............. look else where ............... Good people I have known for years have been to SIM tests else where and are now in pools waiting for the call .............

Rumors about an upcomming union strike!
Anyone??

Conflickt warning send by the union today.
www.flyvebranchen.dk

Conflict warning...
 

It should be great to watch Sterlings CEO and other management to come crawling on their knees, ready to negotiate a new agreement with the pilots.

He is such a pompous ass, always putting on his O´leary look-alike face telling crew to leave the company if they don´t like the way they are treated.

Crawl on their knees was exactly what they did when the cabin crew warned of a conflict some time ago. Only makes me wonder why it has taken the pilots this long to take some action in relation to the current agreement which was due for renewal 1 year ago.

This is the only kind of action this company will ever understand, because it will cost them money. And that would be money they don´t have.

GO GUYS AND GIRLS:ok:

Good guys... Very good. Give them hell, if they're trying to make it the "Ryanair"-way... Stop them now, don't let the company grow under those circumstances.

Sterling mngmt (AND O'LEARY) needs to know, that this kind of behaviour will not last forever.

STOP THE ROT NOW!!!!

Streik date is set to 17. may 2007.
New HR manager pr. 1. maj 2007.
Another 5 pilots quit.

What exactly is this strike for? I know (you've all told me) that the terms and conditions seems to be crappy but what is this strike aiming to improve? Salary? Roster? Leave? Anything else?

Kif, are you from this planet?

Yes. I am from this planet. I am just wondering what this perticular strike is aiming to improve because I DONT KNOW!

I don't know anything about the terms and conditions at Sterling besides what have been told on this forum (and what some former Sterling pilots I've met have told me). I do not work at Sterling, and none of my friends do. I dont even live and work in Scandinavia so I haven't been interested in T&C at Sterling before. I am just curious if the upcoming strike is aiming to improve things or just stopping things from getting worse. Its a valid question for me to ask if I may say so without you behaving like a :mad: .

If you don't know, you ask! So I ask again; what is this strike aiming to improve? Salary? Roster? All of it? Or is it just to prevent things from getting worse? Could a grown-up with information please answer this time....

The pilots have taken a massive paycut and reduction in T&C since the merger with Maersk. Now it's time to draw a line, and get some of it back.

But the Icelandic beancounters will win this battle I'm afraid.

Good luck guys&gals in NB - You'll need it!

Kif - of course you can ask. I think it is pretty much all the things you mention.

Correct me if I am wrong. But I think it was only Ex. Maersk Pilots taking a blow on T and Cs - For Sterling, it was improvement - but now it seems they have finally had enough.

Meanwhile people are still leaving - most going to EZY.

Strike warning is primarily about roster. The roster is totally flexible today. On the 20th in one month you are told what to do next month.
Today you have 12 days off pr. month, which the company can spread out almost as they want.
The pilots are looking for a fixed roster - ie. 5/4-5/3.

Secondary is the pay. Sterling are now the lowest paid airline Pilots in CPH. (Cimber FO's avg. about 10% more basic pay, and 4% better pension.)

Overlooking it all, is the fact that people are fed up with managements attitude towards staff. Disrespectful to put it mildly.
The CEO is a O'Leary wannabe, but without the Airline Management insight. (Read: not qualified)

Flight Crew and HQ staff have been fleeing the place the last couple of months.

So unless you really need to be in ARN or OSL (Cause that is where you will be sent!) I would go somewhere else.

Hope this helps.

OY

Hello!

Do you know if Sterling will be hiring any more typerated pilots in the near future?

I just wonder because they are announcing new routes etc starting in autumn!

Hi EUmember - Maybe you should read all the posts in this thread. I think you should start up a new one or look elsewhere.
Have a nice day. Twin2040

Don't know. You can call and ask the Training Dept.
But again.......if you want to work in OSL, you should probably go for Norweigian, and if you're mind is set for ARN, you are right now probably better off with JETX.
Sterling might get better in the future, if they wake up and smell the coffee :ugh: , but right now its really ridiculous.

OY

Latest is the Union just signed a new set of T&C's. Fixed roster pattern and a salary increase. (Don't know how much yet.)
The new deal is suppodsely sent out this week for th pilots to vote on.
Now we just a new management.....

OY

...the smell of the coffee...
 

Sorry - these URLs will take you to a danish language site, "Stand-By" in both articles quoting the "Børsen":
Danish CAA looks into Sterlings economy and Sterling has a credibility problem.

Another danish article from "Børsen": Pengene fosser ud af Sterling.

Pilots vote in favor of new contract.. (Yes: 89% No 11% )

thats good news guys i am very interested in applying to the company how much does the type rating cost,is it pay for the rating and a get a job i am looking at applying with them i am a low houred how are the job prospects?

26577 euro approx for the T/R. Then you will have quite a big chance to get a job afterwards. Many pilots are leaving, maybe they are coming back now after the new scales? =) But still I believe that there is a shortage of pilots, also for low hours. But you need to know a scandinavian language, i think...

Hi Thanks, Would You Know How Much The Salary Is Now, My Wife Is Swedish I Speak A Bit Of Swedish ,so Its Not Definate That If I Get A Rating With Them I Get A Job

Cheers

Any one who can shed some light on the new T&C and does any one know who you should talk to to get a job. Sent in an application months ago but haven't heard anything.

Cheers lads

jetfly

hi jet fly i am planning to apply for a job there as well did you apply for the type rating scheme?

No, I'm already rated on the beast. =) Would you like some adwise sawaya, if your not rated on anything I would go for the airbus. and if you are paying yourself I would go for an orange airbus.

Best of luck!!

jf

hi jet2,i the only reason i want to get the rating with sterling way is that i was told you have a high chnce of getting a job on the 737...but if the market dictates airbus i reckon would go for that but i wouldnt like to have rating rotting away.....

Sterling interview
 

Hi, I'm newly type-rated on 737 without hours and I just got invited to employment interview and simcheck at Sterling. Can anybody give me any tips for preperation.

thanks..