A lot of talk about union pressures, terms and conditions, strikes, etc. Is this really the approach to save BA at LGW? I think not!
Tandemrotor, has that desert island sun been getting to you? - in your first post you effectively justify the takeover of CFE on the basis of pilot T+C's and scope clauses. I'm sure pilot T+C's could have been improved within CFE with union negotiation, without the need to integrate the entire company and lose the management expertise which was so successfully focused on LGW short-haul operations. Even with some added costs and BA burdens, LGW short-haul would be in far better shape if CFE was still in existence, and anyone close to the business would find it very difficult to argue with that assessment.
I honestly believe that the unions have brought BA to their knees, and where will it get those union members? Out of work? I am certainly not gloating as I have many friends who will be affected if this is the case, and I just feel anger and sorrow at what has happened for purely political reasons.
The CFE management fought tooth and nail against what was clearly a ludicrous business decision, taken for political expediency.
Many people with their own short-term interests at heart forced a business decision which people will probably live to regret....including many of the pilots who argued over a few quid and crew meals.
Inevitably there were many CFE pilots who were happy to jump on the BA gravy-train, but there was also a lot of uncertainty and concern, despite whatever problems there may have been at CFE, at suddenly being absorbed into a loss-making company.
In trim.
[ 19 December 2001: Message edited by: In trim ]</p>