I usually steer well clear of these BA v BACX debates but surely all that is needed here is a little common sense by all parties. No one in BA management BACX management the BACC or BACXCC wants to see anyone disadvantaged, I'm sure. However, there are facts of life to be faced. The decision to move the RJs to EDI must have had the blessing of the BA board therefore it is BA as a whole who must find a solution. The grounding of the 146s is a slightly different arguement. I was once told never get caught using common sense but I have decided to give it a go !
The BA secondees at Manchester are there, largely, because that is where they want to live. They don't want to commute to LHR and by the same definition I would suspect they also do not want to commute to EDI. However, would there be any reason they couldn't bid onto the BA 767 fleet with the proviso that under bidline they had priority for the MAN-JFK. (A bit of lateral thinking by BA mainline reqiured - is that beyond them ?). They would probably be away less than they are now. There is no need for any extra expense to BA or BACX other than their 767 courses. In fact it would surely save money in hotels and taxis.
An uncomfortable fact of life is that there are now not enough seats in BACX for all the people who want to occupy them. I appreciate the deal the secondees have and in their position I would not be prepared to give it up either. So why make them give it up. In return for their continued life in the regions why can't the BA and BACX CC get their heads together and get the combined managements to accept a deal where BA Mainline undertake to employ a number of BACX pilots equal to or greater than the number of BACX seats occupied by secondees. If that has to be via some kind of selection then so be it. However, this must leave as few people disadvantged as possible and I appreciate this isn't going to solve everyone's personal problems.
I am fortunate not to be personally affected this time, although with all the other F/Os in the company the prospect of career progression is likely to have to now be elsewhere. However, having been relocated in the past I know how it feels and wish all you guys in MAN the best.
Finally, we all need to accept that in life we all want to look after number 1. Being abusive to each other on here about who's number 1 has the most rights or ability doesn't get us anywhere. Might make you feel better for five minutes that's all. If BALPA BA and BACX don't start working together all our number 1s are going to lose out in the end not matter where you came from or what deal you have now.
I will now find a sofa to hide behind in expectation of the repsonses !