BA cabin crew to strike
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So the dispute rolls on with 6 strike days this week and seemingly no movement from BA management. The damage to the brand with the negative press, schedule changes and now the dispute being raised in the House of commons must be raising some eyebrows at IAG. And what about the cost of all those sub charters! What is it going to be like if Unite go to a full and continuous stoppage.
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I haven't really noticed much about this latest strike in the press. And hardly any flights are being cancelled due to it (it appears to me the vast majority of Mixed Fleet are turning up for work).
Not sure what impact the strikes are really having to be honest?
Not sure what impact the strikes are really having to be honest?
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So you accept a job knowing full well the details of the package ... then later you decide the salary is not good enough. In the real world you leave and find a job that pays more. In the screwed up world of these cabin staff and their union you go on strike. Amazing! And has anyone explained to them just how unsuccessful the last strike was? The staff gained NOTHING on that occasion, but lost staff travel priveleges and wages. Well done the union. There's no way that Willie and Cruz are going to give in this time either.
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During the last three days of strikes there were about five return flights cancelled so in terms of cancellations it's having next to no impact.
Whilst I support better T&Cs for MF, it's notable that some of the loudest voices elsewhere egging on crew to strike are from those who went on strike in 2010 and have been against MF from the start. There is definitely a sense of some seeing this as unfinished business and actively wanting to see MF destabilised.
Whilst I support better T&Cs for MF, it's notable that some of the loudest voices elsewhere egging on crew to strike are from those who went on strike in 2010 and have been against MF from the start. There is definitely a sense of some seeing this as unfinished business and actively wanting to see MF destabilised.
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Unite and BASSA are becoming increasingly irrelevant and unrealistic.
British Airways mixed fleet pile on the pressure over poverty pay with more strike days
14 February 2017
Unite members working for British Airways’ mixed fleet piled further pressure on the airline today (Tuesday 14 February) by announcing a further four days of strikes on top of the four days of action planned for later this week running from 00:01 on Friday (17 February) to 23:59 on Monday (20 February).
The latest strike announcement of strike action running from 00.01 on Wednesday 22 February to 23.59 Saturday 25 February inclusively, follows calls for British Airways to enter talks at the conciliation service Acas and reach an agreement to avoid further strike disruption.
A refusal by British Airways to take up the union's offer to reach a settlement has resulted in the latest escalation said Unite, whose mixed fleet members have been embroiled in a bitter dispute over poverty pay at the airline.
So far, there has been a total of 11 days of strike action since the beginning of January which has led to the cancellation of flights and the airline chartering, or ‘wet leasing’, aircraft from other airlines such as Titan Airways, Vueling and Thomson Airways to cover striking cabin crew.
Unite regional officer Matt Smith said: "For every hour British Airways 'wet leases' an aircraft from another airline to cover striking cabin crew it costs in the region of £2,000 to £3,000.
“Our estimates put the amount of money British Airways has spent on defending the dispute and poverty pay at £1 million.
"This is money which the airline has taken a conscious decision to give to other airlines rather than addressing pay levels which are forcing hardworking mixed fleet cabin crew into financial hardship.
"We would urge British Airways to reconsider its costly intransigence and enter talks at Acas and reach an agreement."
Since 2010 all British Airways new cabin crew employees join what is called ‘mixed fleet’, where despite promises that pay would be 10 per cent above the market rate, basic pay starts at just £12,192 with £3 an hour flying pay. Unite estimates that on average ‘mixed fleet’ cabin crew earn £16,000, including allowances, a year.
ENDS
- See more at: British Airways mixed fleet
14 February 2017
Unite members working for British Airways’ mixed fleet piled further pressure on the airline today (Tuesday 14 February) by announcing a further four days of strikes on top of the four days of action planned for later this week running from 00:01 on Friday (17 February) to 23:59 on Monday (20 February).
The latest strike announcement of strike action running from 00.01 on Wednesday 22 February to 23.59 Saturday 25 February inclusively, follows calls for British Airways to enter talks at the conciliation service Acas and reach an agreement to avoid further strike disruption.
A refusal by British Airways to take up the union's offer to reach a settlement has resulted in the latest escalation said Unite, whose mixed fleet members have been embroiled in a bitter dispute over poverty pay at the airline.
So far, there has been a total of 11 days of strike action since the beginning of January which has led to the cancellation of flights and the airline chartering, or ‘wet leasing’, aircraft from other airlines such as Titan Airways, Vueling and Thomson Airways to cover striking cabin crew.
Unite regional officer Matt Smith said: "For every hour British Airways 'wet leases' an aircraft from another airline to cover striking cabin crew it costs in the region of £2,000 to £3,000.
“Our estimates put the amount of money British Airways has spent on defending the dispute and poverty pay at £1 million.
"This is money which the airline has taken a conscious decision to give to other airlines rather than addressing pay levels which are forcing hardworking mixed fleet cabin crew into financial hardship.
"We would urge British Airways to reconsider its costly intransigence and enter talks at Acas and reach an agreement."
Since 2010 all British Airways new cabin crew employees join what is called ‘mixed fleet’, where despite promises that pay would be 10 per cent above the market rate, basic pay starts at just £12,192 with £3 an hour flying pay. Unite estimates that on average ‘mixed fleet’ cabin crew earn £16,000, including allowances, a year.
ENDS
- See more at: British Airways mixed fleet
Sky News have made it their main headline this morning, interviewing one crew member who says they can only afford pot noodles.
Striking British Airways hostess: 'We can only afford Pot Noodles'
Striking British Airways hostess: 'We can only afford Pot Noodles'
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Saw that report.
There was a lot of "A friend of mine told me....." etc etc.
So not fact but gossip.
Has BA not thought about an accommodation block at Heathrow or midway between LHR and LGW? Is there one and the Crew opt not to use it?
Do BA get discounted crew rates for staff prior to flights?
There was a lot of "A friend of mine told me....." etc etc.
So not fact but gossip.
Has BA not thought about an accommodation block at Heathrow or midway between LHR and LGW? Is there one and the Crew opt not to use it?
Do BA get discounted crew rates for staff prior to flights?
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Going back to the mid 1940's (iirc 
) during the development of London Airport now lhr,it was found there was a shortage of housing within easy commute to the airport.
So many properties were built for airways staff in stanwell and the surrounding areas ,these have now been absorbed into social housing or sold off.
Exert from HACC. In its early years, at a time of acute housing shortage, the Committee gave a great deal of practical support to securing adequate housing provision for airport based staff in local areas. With assistance to what became British Airways Staff Housing Association, some 3,500 homes were provided by 1952, many of them in Stanwell, Heston and Feltham.
sorry a little of topic.
) during the development of London Airport now lhr,it was found there was a shortage of housing within easy commute to the airport.So many properties were built for airways staff in stanwell and the surrounding areas ,these have now been absorbed into social housing or sold off.
Exert from HACC. In its early years, at a time of acute housing shortage, the Committee gave a great deal of practical support to securing adequate housing provision for airport based staff in local areas. With assistance to what became British Airways Staff Housing Association, some 3,500 homes were provided by 1952, many of them in Stanwell, Heston and Feltham.
sorry a little of topic.
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After watching Willie Walsh answering questions on Sky news, I can only say how I am appalled at his answers and blatant disregard for crew welfare. I find it very disappointing, although i’m not entirely surprised at his apparent lack of knowledge regarding the rules for crew commuting to work. (what are his middle management actually telling him???) He is obviously so out of touch with his employees that he does not realise or even care that he is in danger of eclipsing Bob Ayling as the most detested of BA/IAG executives! His appearance on Sky has turned into the biggest rallying cry for this dispute so far. He clearly does not even want to try and understand the financial hardship forcing many of these crew members into a situation where they have no other option but to commute many hundreds of miles from a place of rest/home that they can actually afford, to do the job they love. All this coupled with him then defending a £2.4 million salary and conveniently forgetting the eye watering pay rises he and several other board members of BA/IAG have received over the last 5 years, it is no wonder the Unite union membership level is continuing to grow steadily every day this dispute goes on. The customers and the staff can all see how this dispute is affecting the business and damaging the image of BA as a good employer, yet Willie continued to dismiss and deny this obvious impact to the business. And alas, the division being created between the striking crew and those who are not partaking in the action will certainly last for years to come. And I would say that those other non flying-staff groups who are so very short sighted and silly enough to meddle in other staff groups disputes by volunteering to fly as crew during the dispute are certainly making a rod for their own back, just ask those who did it before!! People don’t forget things like that.
Only now under the threat of 7 continuous days of strike and more being planned, are BA starting to show tentative moves towards meaningful re-engagement in negotiations through ACAS. But his dispute is far from over and judging by the mis information, scare tactics and threats flowing out of Waterside in the last few days, I doubt very much that this is an honest attempt at brokering a settlement.
However the silver lining on these clouds, is the most comendable camaraderie and solidarity being shown amongst the supporters and activists of this dispute. Also, we have learned that striking crew will have about £35 per day deducted from their salary, while the Unite Union supports them with strike pay of £60 per day! Yes, they make more money from the very well supported hardship fund, while they strike! This just highlights the crux of this dispute.
In the face of some very heavy handed rebukes from managers patrolling T5, the check-in areas and the car parks for any crew member who publicly show signs or emblems of support, the level of support is only growing with more and more encouragement from the other fleets. Anyone can see this incredibly strong and galvanising solidarity will cause BA even more upset in the future, unless it is handled with extreme care and the attention it deserves. Currently BA are just fanning the flames of discontent.
KTF
Only now under the threat of 7 continuous days of strike and more being planned, are BA starting to show tentative moves towards meaningful re-engagement in negotiations through ACAS. But his dispute is far from over and judging by the mis information, scare tactics and threats flowing out of Waterside in the last few days, I doubt very much that this is an honest attempt at brokering a settlement.
However the silver lining on these clouds, is the most comendable camaraderie and solidarity being shown amongst the supporters and activists of this dispute. Also, we have learned that striking crew will have about £35 per day deducted from their salary, while the Unite Union supports them with strike pay of £60 per day! Yes, they make more money from the very well supported hardship fund, while they strike! This just highlights the crux of this dispute.
In the face of some very heavy handed rebukes from managers patrolling T5, the check-in areas and the car parks for any crew member who publicly show signs or emblems of support, the level of support is only growing with more and more encouragement from the other fleets. Anyone can see this incredibly strong and galvanising solidarity will cause BA even more upset in the future, unless it is handled with extreme care and the attention it deserves. Currently BA are just fanning the flames of discontent.
KTF
Here we go again As Virgin Mary now illustrates, a rerun of Unite against BA/ Willie Walsh, with the unfortunate people of Mixed Fleet used as the catalyst this time around. If Unite had negotiated seriously last time, MF would not have been created.
Better dust off the old cabin crew uniform. Who won last time?
Better dust off the old cabin crew uniform. Who won last time?
Last edited by cessnapete; 26th Feb 2017 at 08:43.
What a load of left wing Corbynista tosh that post was!
Neatly forgetting that the dismal terms and conditions suffered by Mixed Fleet is a direct result of Unite/BASSA's lunatic behaviour in 2010!
Here a suggestion: BASSA should ask its well rewarded members to forgo their pay increase for this year and consolidate it with the BA offer to their 'Poverty Pay' colleagues.
This would result in a good increase to Mixed Fleet pay at a small cost to their 'Legacy' members.
Just a thought......
Neatly forgetting that the dismal terms and conditions suffered by Mixed Fleet is a direct result of Unite/BASSA's lunatic behaviour in 2010!
Here a suggestion: BASSA should ask its well rewarded members to forgo their pay increase for this year and consolidate it with the BA offer to their 'Poverty Pay' colleagues.
This would result in a good increase to Mixed Fleet pay at a small cost to their 'Legacy' members.
Just a thought......
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Some crew are in for a very nasty shock when they get their February payslips if they think they earn more money by striking.
Unite pay strike pay for the days crew go on strike.
BA deducts pay from the day a crew member goes on strike until they are next rostered for duty. Big difference.
And crew lose other bonuses for attendance etc. And they are losing out on a pay rises received by non-union MF members.
I wonder how many crew who went on strike in 2010 who couldn't contain their excitement at the prospect of strikes on MF bothered to point this out?
Also, back in 2009/10 BA made it very clear that the cost of industrial action would be recovered from the department responsible for it, so be careful what you wish for....
It is also beyond tragic that some are using this strike to replay the battles of seven years ago again in their own heads.
Unite pay strike pay for the days crew go on strike.
BA deducts pay from the day a crew member goes on strike until they are next rostered for duty. Big difference.
And crew lose other bonuses for attendance etc. And they are losing out on a pay rises received by non-union MF members.
I wonder how many crew who went on strike in 2010 who couldn't contain their excitement at the prospect of strikes on MF bothered to point this out?
Also, back in 2009/10 BA made it very clear that the cost of industrial action would be recovered from the department responsible for it, so be careful what you wish for....
It is also beyond tragic that some are using this strike to replay the battles of seven years ago again in their own heads.
Last edited by nguba; 26th Feb 2017 at 13:05.
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Neatly forgetting that the dismal terms and conditions suffered by Mixed Fleet is a direct result of Unite/BASSA's lunatic behaviour in 2010!
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To put the figures into perspective. I think the Legacy crew strikes cost something just over two hundred million pounds. These strikes so far have probably cost just a couple of million. If you say there are three thousand striking crew, a couple of million would pay for about a £700 one of pay bonus each. If added to basic salary, that would be a couple of million pounds per year extra every year (increasing as the MF numbers increase). It is very easy to see why the company isn't budging. The only thing that will see a payrise is if they cannot recruit enough crew. Currently they are receiving eleven applicants per position, so they can be fussy and only take the top ten percent.
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Well a second ballot is out for more strike action from MIxed Fleet Unite and yet the BA management spin machine seem to be putting more effort into videos, letters and blatant untruths while trying to convince thier crew to vote no, rather than simply addressing the core issues. Crew management does not need to be difficult, so why do BA always make it so???
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They (BA management) always have been awkward ! So long as the work is covered, which the majority of it has, I fear our MF colleagues are getting nowhere fast. It is nothing new in the past they spent much of the time spinning the facts and the travelling public are not interested.
I hope for the crews it is resolved soon as it must be so demoralising, especially as 'your' card is marked henceforth!
I hope for the crews it is resolved soon as it must be so demoralising, especially as 'your' card is marked henceforth!
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So it's not like this then:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmZw...yShuQ&index=31
I get the impression these days that airlines are glad of whoever they can get to do the job.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmZw...yShuQ&index=31
I get the impression these days that airlines are glad of whoever they can get to do the job.
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So the dispute rolls on with 6 strike days this week and seemingly no movement from BA management. The damage to the brand with the negative press, schedule changes and now the dispute being raised in the House of commons must be raising some eyebrows at IAG. And what about the cost of all those sub charters! What is it going to be like if Unite go to a full and continuous stoppage.
No damage to the brand other than in the misguided minds of the cabin crew who were striking. If you can get more elsewhere then why not move onwards and upwards?