In September 2012, we were confronted with a serious cost-saving exercise within the company. The flying staff was of course one of the cost-cutting targets. Negotiations were tough and lasted for more than 11 months. But, thanks to the staff representatives’ energy and time and the flying staff’s trust and patience, our efforts paid off and an agreement was signed with the management.  

 New Collective Labor Agreement

Three main issues were included in the new CLA:

• in exchange for a gross salary reduction, Thomas Cook will invest in a fleet expansion and offer a 2-year job guarantee to his flying staff.
• this gross salary reduction will continue for another 2 years to block the setting up of a lower B pay scale for new pilots or upgraded pilots.
• after these 4 years, all pilots will go back to their old gross salary.

BeCA Executive Committee would like to express its warmest thanks to those involved in the negotiations: be aware that your investment in time and energy has been highly appreciated!

Other negotiations on a better Loss of License scheme and a livable upgrading policy are still ongoing. We wish those involved a lot of success and we will let you know about new developments.

Pilots’ unity in Europe strengthened

On the European level, we see a rapidly evolving airline and travel industry. More and more airlines are members of a group and try to get organised under one single umbrella. On the pilot side, BeCA has done the same by actively contributing to the work of the European Cockpit Association (ECA).

In the past years, regular meetings between the pilot associations of the countries where Thomas Cook is based (Belgium, England, Scandinavia, Germany) had already taken place. But a closer and more formal way of working was needed. In order to get a common understanding between all of us, BeCA, the British Air Line Association (BALPA), TCPU Scandinavia (TCPU) and Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) agreed upon:

• an ongoing exchange of information
• sharing knowledge and experiences, including details of our collective labor agreements, national laws and regulations
• sharing other important information to protect and enhance our professional interests and job security,
• avoiding any action that could reduce the leverage available to another Member Association.

The European management of Thomas Cook Airlines will now have a single point of contact to consult for issues that concern all the pilots across the group. Regular meetings are planned to discuss different topics. Since the long-term goal of Thomas Cook is to have a European AOC, under which all the airliners will operate, there will be a lot of work ahead of us, but we are confident that this new structure will make us stronger!