bridge too far

Since you feel the Unite pdf is wrong / misleading, how about looking at the Wiki entry (and reading the whole bit including the details of heroic acts by crew towards the bottom of the page) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_attendant

You're right - I forgot to add the bit about dealing with overweight, sweaty, drink-fuelled 'tourists'. That's really glamorous.

Can someone tell me how often these "highly trained" staff have put their emergency evacuation skills into action resulting in the saving of any lives.....? We're meant to be so thankful for their "emergency disaster" skills, I'd love to know what these actually are and how often they have ever been used to make a difference? Something wrong with the quote facility - my reply below There have been 9 serious incidents in April and May this year alone. Still if you're happy to have a recent McDonalds employee on your next flight - well, good luck to you. http://www.planecrashinfo.com/

strangely

noodle

And be trained and able to: Deliver babies Administer CPR Deliver injections for anaphylactic shock To operate a defibrilator in the event of a cardiac arrest Take command of a lifeboat in a ditching event To deliver in fire fighting and survival techniques To learn and operate search techniques in the event of a bomb threat To deal with a situation wherein a pilot becomes unconscious A tad more than your average waiting staff.

Austria

Australian Tax Rates The current tax-free threshold is $6,000, and the highest marginal rate for individuals is 45%. In addition, most Australians are liable to pay the Medicare levy, of which the standard is 1.5% of taxable income Canadian Tax Rates Federal rates range from 15 - 29% but on top of that there are Provincial tax rates - Alberta's is 10% of taxable income Qatar Tax Rates range from 10 - 35% New Zealand Tax rates 14 -47% (including ACC which is an 'accident' levy - sort of insurance I guess) I don't know what, if any, charges are applied for healthcare in Canada, Qatar and NZ. It seems to me that these rates are comparable to the UK. I have far too much time on my hands

Another honest question. Once upon a time, crew were made to retire once they reached a certain age - or at least were put on ground duty. Does that still happen? In the really old days, I think female crew had to retire if they got married!

No - just asking a serious question. I don't know how 'average' was arrived at.

Aah sorry - I see. It's getting late I suppose the CSDs' salaries are included when working out the average, then. Does it include any other members of staff do you suppose? I guess if Mr Walsh's salary was included, the average would be much much higher.

I don't understand what we're arguing about . That link refers to salaries that were negotiated 13 years ago. And those salaries don't seem excessive to me. I don't know what the rates are for newer recruits but it does say that 70% of staff earn less than £20K.

rate

pull

Oops - another one who hasn't read the other version http://www.unitetheunion.com/pdf/022-BA%20Cabin%20Crew%20disputev5.pdf

o' war

charming

Beelzebub

very very frightening

Aww thanks - but I've already got one.

lightning

It does matter how fast they travel through time zones. I don't know anything about your job but I imagine you travel far more slowly through time zones before you 'turn around' and come back. I think cabin crew cross time zones more quickly and have to turn round and come back just as quickly. I do know, from a friend who used to crew, that this takes a huge toll on the body (apart from the sleep adjustment problems). She reckoned she put on half a stone every week through fluid retention, only to lose it once she was off duty. That's not good for anyone.

(light) orchestra

Blimey TDD - I didn't know submarines travelled that fast!

The truth often is.