BA MEETING 7th DECEMBER (UPDATED 8th DECEMBER) Thursday, December 07, 2006
Today BASSA/T&GWU held an important meeting with our side being led by Steve Hart our Regional Secretary and the company led by David LeBrecht Head of Industrial Relations. At the start of the meeting Steve Hart confirmed his conversation with Amicus officials the previous evening, that they too shared all the same issues as BASSA.
The meeting was held in an attempt to resolve our many differences and the serious breakdown of our industrial realtionship with BA. We went into the meeting with open minds but we have to report back to you now that if we had any doubts about the need for an industrial ballot then BA's manner and the words they uttered, have completely obliterated any lingering doubt.
In this meeting Mr LeBrecht accused BASSA reps of 'not representing the membership' and of 'winding up the crews'. He then claimed that you were all 'happy and delivering excellent cabin service'. We responded that you were not happy, but angry, frustrated and determined. He patronisingly disagreed.
All this perfectly illustrates what is the fundamental problem in the relationship between the TUs and BA Industrial Relations. To accuse us of not representing you, when we hear from you everyday how the crew are treated by many elements of BA management is an insult. It is BA who are out of touch with their workforce, not us.
It may interest you to know that since the orange flyer landed on your doormats, over 100 non new entrant crew have joined BASSA determined not to miss our ballot - also over 1000 have contacted us with support and ensuring their correct addresses are logged by us. These facts alone show that we are doing something right in fighting YOUR corner.
BA then put some issues of their own on the table, their wish list included, wait for it - they now want all cabin crew to go on hourly pay! That says it all - the ballot remains on course.
Other quotes from BA (Mr LeBrecht)
"I feel sorry for you as a Trade Union as perserving and improving conditions within British Airways is no longer a realistic expectation"
"If the employer was that good you wouldn't exist"
"It's unrealistic for crew to expect promotion" said in relation to PSR switch upper deck
"We, (BA), will not tolerate a position where a Trade Union says NO"
"I don't know why we're here....these discussions are a sham"...this was his opening gambit
"Sometimes you may not like the answer...we are still going to do it"
BA then wanted to discuss their own agenda:
Disruption agreement and operational alleviations
Hourly rate
Holiday pay (lack of)
IFS business plan
NSP seating
In conclusion, not only did BA refuse to address any of our issues they introduced some extra items of their own including the very unpopular and already rejected hourly flying pay instead of allowances.
Even the most hardened rep was quite shocked at BAs complete lack of interest in addressing the issues we have between us. Then to introduce an item that they know is universally unpopular with Cabin Crew was beyond belief.
I think by now, if you read Mr Lebrechts quotes, you will be left in no doubt how BA regards your future. His words have certainly bought home to us how vital it is WE stand united and firm against BAs plans.
YOUR support has been over-whelming so far.
YOU are giving us the strength to take the fight to the company. KEEP IT UP!