Virgin Express (VEX) lay-off

ANR1972 · Post by **ANR1972** » 18 Oct 2003, 12:55

8O well i'm sure that netiquette is important but try to work for a managment that rules like nannies a kindergarten... by the way if you don't want to name people, what about all the names of managers who passed here on the net, ... can they defend themselves?

So I won't mention their names but the inflight managment is composed of two people whose careers started funnily

... one started as a driver (never had any courses in management, he must be a born leader who adores gossip from other crews... ahum ahum) and the other one started somewhere very far from here, worked for so many companies that he thinks he 's a guru in inflight service... (but everyone prefers to avoid him as speaking to him is impossible, result: just ask for his nicknames)

But you should walk now in our offices here... both of them are afraid of a possible joint venture between SN and VEX... (they might loose their jobs...) I hope you all get to see what a great potential VEX has in its cabin staff. 8) 8)

I 'm happy that I work in another dept here (still close enough to theirs) and that here things go great. It is like working for two different companies... strange strange. Sometimes i even feel pitty when i see these crew being treated like children ... I hope for them that things will improve very soon...

By the way anyone of you thought already about a new name for the company in spé? SN + VEX? Brussels Airlines Express? BAE? SNBAE?

:jump2:

ANR

(PS. I write it explecitely: i don't want to harm anyone, and those who feel hurt, are free to respond... I don't bite...

:wave:

vflies · Post by **vflies** » 23 Oct 2003, 13:17

Hello,

Have those lay-offs been confirmed now or were they just rumors?
Any insider know more?

VFlies

ANR1972 · Post by **ANR1972** » 25 Oct 2003, 13:03

yep,

these people don't work anymore here (at VEX). They were called to inform them that they didn't had to fly that day.

That 's the way it works at VEX.

Anyway... I think they are preparing for a possible change in the future... Everyone walks here nerveously in the offices...

future will bring notice

8O 8O 8O

Avro · Post by **Avro** » 25 Oct 2003, 14:06

They were called to inform them that they didn't had to fly that day.

That's a crual way to lay off some staff 8O

Chris
8)

OCR_ole_ole · Post by **OCR_ole_ole** » 27 Oct 2003, 03:04

hi all,

just reading all the nice posts here... i worked previously for VEX and that 's the way they work... they don't like your face, or your reactions... OUT... What ANR wrote is true and instead of critizing his writing, people should think what 's behind his writing... a massive frustration...

ANR, i think i know you, and i wish you 'bon courage' overthere

and think as M.L. King did...' I had a dream....' :cheers:

M.

TWA · Post by **TWA** » 11 Nov 2003, 20:04

Somebody of the union ACV ever said that VEX was the only airlinecompany in Belgium with such a hugh turnaround when it comes to new people arriving and other employees leaving. I wonder why...

TWA · Post by **TWA** » 11 Nov 2003, 23:52

Hi

I just forgot something to tell you guys

It seems that the only few who care about the lay-offs at vex are those still working there, or working elsewhere or having left the company voluntarily, whereas those who got fired lately hold their tongue. And I rather expected the opposite.

Anyway I think that losing your job must be one of the worst things that can happen in your life. And I can confirm that some ex-vex employees are really depressed right now, because they did not receive a well-founded reason why they got sacked, but re-organisation.
They explained me that non-fixed and fixed contracts with the youngest seniority are to be considered first.

Besides I've been told that the same thing happened 2 years ago when VEX downsized its fleet from 22 to about 14 A/C. Lots of people mainly Irish and British based were phased out and it never hit the press either.

If I can be of any help to those who lost their job and would like to continue in aviation, I know that following companies are still hiring:

**http://www.ryanair.com (Charleroi based ca's)
**Air Holland (pursers B767 only)
**http://www.vbird.com (cc's and ca's for their A320 in Dusseldorf and Meestreech= Maastricht)
**Virgin Atlantic
**Emirates
**http://www.flyvlm.be(reconverion courses for bases in RTM/MAN/LUX)

Post by **sn26567** » 12 Nov 2003, 09:17

Thanks for latest update and insight view, TWA.

It is true that outside of VEX circles, little is said about this drama. Where is the transparency?

OCR_ole_ole · Post by **OCR_ole_ole** » 13 Nov 2003, 01:24

fftopic:

hihi,

What I remember about my time at VEX is the great atmosphere between the crewmembers themselves. We had loads of fun and we had a positive work atmosphere... pax were happy etc... but as soon someone of the office was around, it changed drastically. Everything had to be done by the book and this in a kindergarten way of controlling...

What Virgin Express made so special over the years was the personal touch everyone added to the service. People were very flexible and giving a lot of their soul. A simple 'thank you' was enough for us.

Then some people arrived and tried to overorganise the crew and service dept, creating this way a hostile atmosphere of gossip, unproven evidence, 'i heard that's ... etc... (reporting behind people's back etc...).

For me it was time to leave that atmosphere... i couldn't work professionally in such company. I never regretted my decision, it was sad to have to leave a nice company because of several people who mismanage the crew and service dept.

I never had any other complaints about the rest of the company, in the contrary... I do miss the majority of my former colleagues...

Fré

P.S. just to give you an example... our crew chief never asked me why I was leaving, we never had a last talk. This says enough for me about the professionalism and human interest they have towards their crew. sad sad sad :heyyou:

P.S. Instead of writing the vex story here, I might write a book about it.

TWA · Post by **TWA** » 13 Nov 2003, 16:05

OCR_ole_ole wrote: P.S. Instead of writing the vex story here, I might write a book about it.

Good idea fré

another suggestion in order to avoid any financial risks : try to contract a newspaper :contract: , so that we can read e.g. : "Fré 's weekly column: the days of our flights... euh lives.

Or just try to get as much ex-vex and vex people involved on this site or on luchtzak.be chatbox

fftopic: Fré, I also would like to congratulate you and myself in becomming Embraer 170 members :cheers: . This calls for a nice picture http://www.cardatabase.net/modifiedairl ... d=00000353 :rock:

TWA

airfabiola · Post by **airfabiola** » 25 Nov 2003, 15:08

plse do not get off-topic here ok!!!

I just heard from people who work at Virgin Express that they are also going to clean up in office and groundstaff.
Just check their website on job applications. They are looking for an entire new sales dept.

Did they got fired?????????

This sounds really weird, as if something is definitely going on.....

Pepe

TWA · Post by **TWA** » 26 Nov 2003, 15:19

Well that does not surprise me. A captain of Air Berlin explained me once (about 3 years ago) that Virgin Express is a LOW FARE, HIGH COST company:

AirBerlin employs 90 people officestaff and about 500 crew, so 18% office staff and 82 % crew,
whereas Virgin Express has even more groundstaff and officestaff than crew!!!!!!!!!

I don't know if this is still true, but I won't be surprised as I already said.

TWA :waving:

Post by **luchtzak** » 25 Dec 2003, 12:18

Confirmation about the Virgin Express lay-offs:

Virgin Express forced to cut its operating fleet by 15%

airfabiola · Post by **airfabiola** » 25 Dec 2003, 12:46

What Christmas/New Year's present do airline employees get at Belgian and foreign companies:
a 13th month salary,
extra confirmed free tickets,
bottle of champagne,
fuel cards for your car,

well this year at Virgin Express you get a C4 (no, it's not a car)

Pépé

Jester · Post by **Jester** » 25 Dec 2003, 13:56

airfabiola wrote:What Christmas/New Year's present do airline employees get at Belgian and foreign companies:
a 13th month salary,
extra confirmed free tickets,
bottle of champagne,
fuel cards for your car,

well this year at Virgin Express you get a C4 (no, it's not a car)

Pépé

Do some crewmembers recieve any of these??? Not where I fly!! NONE of them!!!

airfabiola · Post by **airfabiola** » 25 Dec 2003, 14:11

At Vex they never got a 13th month salary, but a few years ago (5) all employees got every 3 months a fuel card, extra incentives for those working on Christmas and New Year, bottle of champagne, a watch, and confirmed free tickets,......
.............................well I heard that has all gone now for the the regular employees, I don't know if this is also valid for the middle management and above!???

Pépé

LINEAS AEREAS DE ESPAÑA, MAS QUE NUNCA

ratanga-air-transport · Post by **ratanga-air-transport** » 25 Dec 2003, 16:09

I have always been taught that the succes of a company is based upon happy and satisfied employees.....

.....so far the succes of this company, when you notice how they treat and lay off their staff with a lot of disrespect.

wacke :jump:

SN30952 · Post by **SN30952** » 25 Dec 2003, 19:02

ratanga-air-transport wrote:I have always been taught that the succes of a company is based upon happy and satisfied employees.....
.....so far the succes of this company, when you notice how they treat and lay off their staff with a lot of disrespect. wacke :jump:

What I always heard was that the succes of a company is based upon happy and satisfied customers.....

What looks awkward is the way the messages got to us...
...Sir Richard Branson's struggle to turn his Virgin Express into a player in the European budget airline market has hit more turbulence as it has been forced to cut its operating fleet by 15%.
Sir Richard struggles, but the airline has to lay off....
15% is every 6 of 7, that's worse than decimating.

Folks, that's hard. But you should know: the more they get you to compete, there will always people who will loose their job in this game. It would be nice if the winner would hire the redundancies of the loosing carrier. But that's Air Utopia.
Hope the ones that get redundant, find the courage to fight and win in their new carreers.

airDD · Post by **airDD** » 25 Dec 2003, 19:52

Belgium is a very expensive place to employ people; that makes it hard for VEX to operate from Brussels.
Should VEX shut down, I am sure that Easyjet would fly from BRU and base its staff outside of Belgium which would not be good for aviation jobs in BRU.

airDD

TWA · Post by **TWA** » 25 Dec 2003, 20:11

airDD wrote: Should VEX shut down, I am sure that Easyjet would fly from BRU and base its staff outside of Belgium which would not be good for aviation jobs in BRU.

airDD

This thing about EasyJet, I heard that this could be a possible option they are talking about

If there are any Belgians willing to work for them: GOOD LUCK:
You will do no more nightstops, at least 4 flights a day and (for the ca's) you will have to wear a nice orange electric uniform.

If you want to travel with them as a pax: DON'T if you are taller than 1m78cm because you will not fit into the seats.

TWA

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Virgin Express (VEX) lay-off

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