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Back on my balcony at the Sea View Hotel, sipping my wine, observing another
SIA 747 continuing its approach to Changi in the soft evening light, I
considered my situation with Singapore Airlines.
Which, quite frankly, dear reader,
my left testicle told me was none too secure.
When SIA offered me the job, they indicated I’d have a three-year
contract. Except after I arrived for
ground school, they presented me with a two-year contract instead; informing me
I would never upgrade to captain.
This meant, dear reader, I was
merely a “temporary hired gun,” who could be dropped by SIA anytime they fell
on economic hard times, or felt they were paying me too much and could get another
pilot cheaper. Please understand; I’m
working for the Chinese, who would rather eat their children, then part with
one Singapore Dollar. They made the Jews
look like philanthropists.
With
regards to the pay, it fell in two classifications: Local Contract and
Expatriate Contract. The expats, of
course, receiving better pay and housing allowance.
Which brings us to the Pilot’s Union: Locals could join the union;
entitling them to a certain amount of legal representation and protection. Expats could only join as “Associate Members”
– giving them no representation or protection whatsoever – even though they
were paying the same dues.
Naturally, dear reader, after my history
with the Teamsters, I gave the Pilot’s Union a wide berth; I had better things
to do with my money and days off.
And
speaking of housing allowance, unlike most of the expats, I refused to buy a
house or condo at Singapore. Why get
saddled with a property when I’d be residing here a mere two years? Retirement especially held little appeal to
me at Singapore; as I had my eye on the island paradise of Phuket.
Thus, in 1987, I began living exclusively in hotels; preferring this
lifestyle ever since.
For example, let’s take the Sea View Hotel. They gave me an airline discount on my rent and, according to my contract, SIA paid 75-percent of the balance. In addition to daily maid service, the hotel gave me airline discounts on my laundry, food and beverages. As for “wheels,” the hotel had a fleet of four vans, which ran me free of charge to and from work. For additional transport I’d grab a taxi, at the taxi stand in front of the hotel.
Bottom line, dear reader, I never
needed a car. The last car I owned was
that new 1986 Mustang – I have never wanted or purchased another car. If a crisis arises, whereby I absolutely need
a car, I place a gun to my head...and rent one.
I apologize if my comfortable, car-less, stress-free lifestyle appalls
you.
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