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Push to talk
23rd Aug 2002, 09:18
People, I have a question about bonding. This topic probably fits this forum better that where I put it first; Aircrew Notices.

I fly for an airline in th UK and when I started working for this outfit I was bonded on the type I was going to fly. Now, when my bond on this type is alomost finished (just several months left), I am being told to go to another type in the company, but I never bidded for the type and the company wants to bond me again for quite a long period on this new type, which I totally don't want.

I am wondering if this is all legal that they force this bond on me and can anyone tell me what the best thing to do is??

Regards

Smokie
23rd Aug 2002, 11:19
A Flight Engineer colleague of mine a few years ago, had a brother who was a specialist in employment law,( solicitor ) he said that the company could only bond you once and that any further bonding was indeed illegal. This was because they were effectively halting your promotion opportunities which is illegal and against the employment laws of our land.

Unfortunately Companys appear to do as they wish these days, with our unions being nothing more than toothless tigers and contracts being broken all the time. I have lost count of how many times my contract has been broken in the last 12 months !
BMI are about to have their contracts torn up and re-written shortly.

If you are brave enough and wealthy enough to take on the company solictors then go for it.

The bottom line is do you want the new type on your license ?
Also what sort of bond is it ? If it is the one where you sign up to paying a monthly lump sum to a bank and the company also pays the same amount into your your account, then if you leave you're still left paying your monthly installments.

The company you subsequently go to work for would have to be paying substantially more for you to benefit.

They are all pretty much the same these days.:( :(

Push to talk
23rd Aug 2002, 15:44
Smokie, thanks for your reply,

no I don't want or need the type on my license, since I gain nothing from it. It's more a step back for me. I am very happy that I have a job in times like these, but after my bond was finished I actually wanted to apply with other companies. But know I get this bond for another couple of years which I don't want. And remember I never wanted or bidded for the type the company wants to put me on. They'll probably say, take the bond or become redundant. So that's a lot of pressure!! And yes the bond is one like you describe.

Greetings, Ptt

Arkroyal
23rd Aug 2002, 16:46
They'll probably say, take the bond or become redundant.

Interesting legal point I'd think. They can't make you redundant if the job still exists.

Try BALPA legal services, or get good legal advice, even if it costs.

This is the worst kind of bonding, and totally immoral even if it's legal (which I doubt):mad:

Good luck.

Push to talk
23rd Aug 2002, 19:00
Arkroyal, you are quite right, but legal action doesn't really make you popular at the managment and my days will probably be counted. And the did it to people before me (including BALPA members), and they will do it to people after me as well.

Papa tango tango

Dan Winterland
25th Aug 2002, 13:04
Doesn't sound like a good company to work for. Start looking elsewhere.