Once again, some disgusting and unprofessional behaviour from BASSA. Their open topped bus has been going past a hotel at Heathrow, used by BA crew, other airline crew and the public, at slow speed with chants of 'SCABBIN CREW'. How mature - I'm sure this will earn support from those trying to rest...!
The 5th of June currently shows a complete schedule. There are no cancelled flights. Everyone remains booked based on the full schedule until the cancellations are announced. Take a look at the arrivals and departures section of ba.com.
I thinks it's great we are maintaining the current schedule with ease, but I think in order to finally defeat BASSA for good, we really should be moving towards an even bigger flying program. That's what is finally going to leave the loonies out in the cold.
Fly73 discussed the amount of crew on 2hr standby, between 30 and 40 plus VCCs. They imply that the strike is waning and BA is maintaining its reduced operation.
However, they also state that the reason for their own extended standby duty was due to their flight being cancelled, and that the 30-40 other crew also had flights cancelled.
With so many crew and VCCs hanging about, for days, why are additional flights not being reinstated and the battle to break the strike accelerated.
Or does this reflect that the strike isn't going entirely BAs way with additional flights having to be cancelled.
Why isn't anyone videoing the BASSA bus and its crew of crazies to use in disciplinaries. Legal strikes are one thing, being a complete bunch of muppets is another.
Just to be clear, there hasn't been a single additional cancellation outside of the initial list since the strike began, so BA is extremely well placed based on its initial plan. From a number of our own experiences, it's clear however that BA has more resource available than required to fly the current schedule and my frustration is that it doesn't expand the operation to make use of those willing to work.
Once again, some disgusting and unprofessional behaviour from BASSA. Their open topped bus has been going past a hotel at Heathrow, used by BA crew, other airline crew and the public, at slow speed with chants of 'SCABBIN CREW'. How mature - I'm sure this will earn support from those trying to rest...!
Couldn't agree more - How do these so called caring crew justify this behaviour?
Here's a comment from The Sun yesterday which sums it up nicely -
BA cabin crew partied in the sun yesterday - as thousands of travellers faced misery. Picket-line strikers wore fancy dress, blew whistles and did the CONGA, in full view of Heathrow passengers. Flag-waving staff circled the airport in an open-top bus, while in a nearby field a mini CARNIVAL was held - with a marquee, balloons and workers' kids enjoying the sun. IT expert Andy Patterson, whose flight to Geneva was cancelled, said: "Picketers were sun-bathing, swigging drinks and dancing. Women were dressed like they were at a hen party. I was disgusted."
BentleyH - like you I also hope that the cancellations would decrease with the growing numbers of CC turning up to work. I would think, though, the first flight to be cancelled 'on the day' will be greeted with headlines and glee from the parts of the press that claim to be even-handed but aren't (BBC anyone?) and so the planners are being ultra-cautious. I would love to see a 100% LH programme announced, though - perhaps this will happen in the final 5 day strike.
I'm looking forward to working over the Bank Holiday and make no bones about my job as a 'Backing BA' volunteer, which is to undermine the strikers and, selfishly, to ensure I have a job in 12 months time.
Latest from Duncan Holley The media are turning, mainly because they cannot believe this strike is still ongoing for the simple reason he wants to "punish" strikers. I have spoken over the last few days to every media outlet available (except the Daily Mail) and they are horrified. Even the Daily Telegraph said to me last night - "the problem is Walsh you know". Hello?
I wonder who is giving the delightful Mr Holley his media briefings?
I remember years back to when I had the good fortune to attend a course on dealing with the press which was tutored by some of Fleet streets finest hacks. Their take on newspaper journolism followed, roughly, this:
The newspaper journilist is, will be and always will be your 'bestest' buddy if you are an ordinary Joe Public or minor official who holds no power or public voice. They will agree to everything you say, accept your viewpoint and sympathise with your stance. They will press you to explain whilst stoking your anger/emotions in order to try to make you lose control and provide information you possibly didn't want to divulge. Once they have plumbed the depths of your position and garnered every sound bite, information morsel and scoop they can they will conclude the interview.
What they write in the piece afterwards very, very rarely resembles what you thought you said in the interview or what you believed their opinion on your stance was. All told, from the Fleet street hacks themselves, stick purely to facts, don't employ rhetoric and keep calm when dealing with the press.
Good luck Mr Holley, it seems you have messed up on your media course in the same way you did at BA. Hope your attendence record at Unite is better than your last one.
I await the future press releases with unreserved glee.
Apparently somebody turned up with a box of Krispy Kremes for them yesterday, to show BA staff support them! Probably told them that he loved them at the same time.
GMiss M, how dare you accuse those of us who have gone in to work of being spineless.
(On Blackberry so cannot start new line, so fogive the unusual formatting of this post)
Coming into work on a strike day is a scary and difficulkt thing to do. Largely because the decision is such an important one and there is always an element of doubt in any sane person's mind as to whether what they have done is right. But also because, while I won't shout names at you, ignore you on flights, leave notes in your dropfile, threaten and intimidate you for having gone on strike, it is a very real prospect for those who have gone to work that they may endure all of the above at the hands of our striking colleagues.
I have always said i respect the decision of those who have gone on strike. I have defended those people on here in the face of criticism from people who should often keep their noses out - i just wonder why the same luxury cannot be afforded to those of us who, like you, have made a personal decision - albeit a different one to your own.
Not sure how other folk on here feel, but, on viewing the pathetic and puerile behaviour of these (unprintable words), I really do not wish for them to return within the employment of British Airways. To know that I'll be working within the same company as such morons, knowing of such disloyal militant behaviour that could flare up again over goodness knows what.
I've always had sympathy for those that have lost their jobs, houses etc, families struggling through no fault of their own, absolutely heartbreaking and would'nt wish unemployment on anyone.
But these load of (unprintable) who think the company owe them a living, stick their fingers up at all those that have done so much (working for free etc) to help the airline in its dire need, should not be back within the employment of BA. I'm dam angry, imagine how those who have lost their jobs must feel.
Just hope this concludes without the return of the afforementioned.
At the update in Waterside today Willie stated that New Fleet recruitment would begin soon. With staff travel gone forever a large number of commuters are going to be looking for new jobs soon, so I suspect some of the worst militants will be removed from BA by that natural wastage.
Regarding the above from HandSolo, has Mr. Walsh commented again on staff travel since the start of the new strikes to confirm that even his compromise of seniority-free staff travel has now been fully revoked?
Alot of you seem to be wondering why the flying programme cannot be increased.
Although there are alot of crew reporting, alot of the pilots on the 747 and airbus are the volunteers. So there would have to be alot of crew, who did strike, return to work first for the programme to be increased. Or more non pilot volunteers to be trained up and I think this is happening now.
For example on eurofleet there are less pilots because some of them are the volunteers.
Spoke to Bill Francis yesterday and he said that they would increase the programme but only when they are sure that they can crew the flight. They do not want unhappy people in the terminal talking to the media about cancelled flights.
