I'm not totally sure but I think we may be a bit closer to the start dates now. I'm keeping my fingers crossed as it says only groundstaff will be affected. From a friend who is a purser at LGW, he says they are short on cabin crew and they also have the 900 hours issue meaning they need just a few more, hence the 2-3 extra courses. Although I trust what he says, BA could obviously change their mind however with less than a month to go, anyone in current employment will have handed their notice in now I'm sure. I'm not panicking over this one at all at the mo tbh but we'll just have to sit it out and wait I guess
Yes - I do agree, and I am also aware of the 900hrs+ issue etc. The only concern I have is the Unions.....
Let me explain - the devil is in the wording; are we talking positions or people here. If we are talking positions then it will mainly affect those temporary summer check-in/loaders staff.
However if we are talking about 100 staff currently employed then the Unions will take a s stanpoint of rather than running new entrants courses and making people redundant offer those courses to the groundstaff first. You know the drill.......
In any event - some ground handler outthere is about to sign a very lucrative contract for next summer!
Yeah definitely. Agree with what you've said however, unfortunately I'm somewhat of an optimist so I'm crossing my fingers hoping we're only talking positions
Hopefully, as you said, in 4 weeks time, we'll be there on day 1 commencing our courses, Mrs Lauderdale included.
It's not what you want to read when you know your course date is only 20 days away! All rather worrying, but then crew I know at Gatwick are saying that most of them are high on hours and they need more crew to keep the operation going.....
The recent announcement about LGW was about ground staff. Several different departments, and this has been in the pipeline for quite some time. There will be opportunities for these employees, and the company is aiming for no forced redundancies.
There are no plans (at least for the moment) to cut down on crew levels. Some crew are getting close to 900hrs and we need to avoid the debacle of last year. It is anticipated that crew will quit as well, as there is a fairly high turn over of crew (has been in the last couple of years).
Having more crew than we need, can release temporary part-time for those who would like that.
Study hard, have fun on your course, and if you get a really good rosta with long trips: don't boast! It'll wind up the crew who've been here for years. Just say you've got a nice rosta and smile.
GG Is correct and in no way at the moment do the job losses effect the CC. From the ramp and operations aspect do not be suprised to see the whole organisation go and most of the ground operations out sourced. LGW from that point of view will be treated as any other station outside of LHR.
At the wages they pay, I would imagine there is a constant level of attrition, which would make me think they always need cabin crew at LGW. Back when LGW WW was still mainline, I remember EuroGatwick made significantly less than even Short Haul at LHR. I had a friend who lodged with me for a bit in London, and she was EuroGatwick and could hardly make ends meet.
On a different note, how do they roster you? Do you bid now?
We have a bidding system. Whilst we earn less than our colleagues at LHR, it's not difficult to make ends meet, as long as you live within your means (like any job anywhere). Crew moan about money on a regular basis, but then pop off to the mall or similar the next minute. If you've got your head screwed on, and have control of your spending, it's not difficult, really.
Does anyone out there have any idea what might be happening about courses for temp Lhr new entrants? Do you think the whole thing will go to pot now with the new Qantas /Iberia merger.Ive been 'on hold' now for 7 months and when the 12 months is up, is it all over as has been suggested? I heard that there were courses in January but they have been cancelled again.Must've been infuriating for anyone who was supposed to be on them...
Just wondering if anyone could shed some light on when it is likely that British Airways will be hiring Cabin Crew again in 2009?
Also will it be these sneaky 11month temp contracts or possibly permanent contracts.. and also does one have a choice of LGW/LHR, short or long haul, or is it at the airlines discretion etc...
The way things are at the moment, futher recruitment in the next year looks doubtful. There are hundreds of people who have been offered employment already and are in holding pools for the various fleets and are waiting for training courses.
The last major recruitment campaign was for permanent Eurofleet LHR, Single Fleet LGW and 11 month temporary LHR. Candidates were only allowed to apply for one fleet and candidates chose this at the time of application. There were some instances where people were offered places on different fleets than which they applied but this was fairly hit and miss and only happened if it suited the company.
The new, mixed flying fleet that they company is wanting to create at LHR could possibly create some employment (not necessarily on that fleet), if it gets the go-ahead, once the holding pools have been depleted but it won't be for some time, I would imagine.
I believe that the internal lists for mainline crew to transfer from a fleet to another will need to be exhausted before starting an external recruitment campaign, i.e. from LGW to LHR or viceversa.
Exactly! And as we have seen in the past, the company will use external recruitment (eg, WW temps) as a way to work through the transfer lists while keeping the operation going.
I wouldn't be surprised if, once the holding pools have been depleted, we see external temps going into 'mid fleet' and then being offered LGW as LGW achieve their LHR transfers. Then again, you know what the company is like - anything can happen.
At interviews we were told that we would only be held in the holding pool for up to 12 months. In light of recent events and the current market situation does anyone know if this is likely to happen? Or will the company keep hold of those in holding pools until they are needed?
"And as we have seen in the past, the company will use external recruitment (eg, WW temps) as a way to work through the transfer lists while keeping the operation going."
To be honest, there has been literally no fleet transfers during the past year when WW temps have been used.
Just to keep you updated, having been on the 19th of Jan course that was cancelled, I have now been offered the 30th of March as have several others i know (all also originally on the 19th). Was told that this is the only course planned at the moment, so grabbed it with both hands.
New Temp Lhr Entrants
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