Oh dear, seems there are just two of us left in the room.... When I came back to this site to try and gain another perspective on the issue (apart from only Management and BASSA's, I mean), I had a feeling I would be faced with the same old faces: either you or Sporran. But that's ok. Gosh, where to start...
The "old us and them mentality" was not purely an LHR thing. I agree with you that it was almost solely a Longhaul thing as the shorthaul pilots work as hard as the cabin crew and there is more face-to-face contact, resulting in a better feeling of 'comraderie'. I have been Eurofleet, Gatwick Longhaul and Heathrow Longhaul-based, so I speak from experience.
I still don't believe you about the allegations of SEP instructors at Gatwick. It certainly wasn't taught in my day, and anything in the rumour mill makes its way to the BASSA website pretty quickly - and that would be far too juicy for people to keep to themselves...
On both the BA1 bus and the crew bus to the Arora, I disagree with you: In my post, I was not referring to the BA1, but the Central Area bus. That service has been withdrawn, and it does make sense, but it has added half an hour on to my commute to work. Although I understand your "you have cabin shoes, don't you" comment was made in jest, I should point out that I am prohibited from wearing cabin shoes or loafers with my uniform skirt - (a "court shoe" is recommended.) I love your manipulation of the figures of crew wanting to go to the car park - in my many years of flying, there is ALWAYS a small minority of people not staying at the Arora. Furthermore, your observation of all the air kissing that goes on is not news to me. I don't know how often you have to endure those torturous few minutes, but I have to live with it 3 out of every 4 trips I go on, ie: trips other than back-to-backs. Which brings me neatly to my next point: not everyone chooses to live in "far-flung provinces". You and I have had this conversation before: I am on the "new" contract, find it difficult to make ends meet every month, and so cannot afford to run a car (queue sad music - ha ha) I don't live in a far-flung place - I live on the outskirts of London, so I have to rely on any transport that will get me to work in a timely fashion. First we stopped subsidising the 285 bus, so that was withdrawn, then the Central Area bus disappeared, then they started only running the BA1 to service the Waterside/office based community- so thank goodness that is coming back - I don't know what your experience of public transport is, but I allow a great deal of wiggle-room when it comes to getting to work and in all my years of flying, I have never been late. It is a trying experience dragging my suitcase, cabin bag and handbag up and down stairs, on and off transport, in rain, high winds and on sweltering days in my heels, and that last slope is the one that nearly breaks the camel's back, but I try to come to work groomed and eager. (I was almost drowned out by the violins there...)
I will forgive you your comments about the fiddling that goes on, as I believe you are as jet-lagged as I. I said "charter companies" and I refer to the likes of Air2000, Monarch, Brittania, etc. Not Virgin. I obviously meant it to refer, amongst other "fiddles", to the practice of SELLING alcohol on board, a method which charter companies, and NOT Virgin, employ. Many BA crew are charter veterans, so if you have not been filled in on the various stories, bring it up at your next room party, without prejudice and sit back and listen to the various "cons". I was quite amazed, and although it goes against the grain of my principles (ooh, get me!), I secretly thought it was quite enterprising and showed incredibly ingenious thinking.
I know the small savings I am making are a drop in the ocean, but I was told that those cr*ppy little washbags were worth £26 each (unbelievable!), so each one recycled must make some difference - and times that by the number of flights per day. It's small, I don't get paid extra to do it, but every little bit helps.
You have misunderstood the EG300 issue.The EG300 was agreed to with stipulations by the union, that the management swore they would adhere to - and then went back on their word. We agree it was a necessary change, but the rules were broken by the very people who drew them up, and we take issue with that. We were assured that due to the "special" nature of our job, discretion would be applied - and they even employed a whole new management team to deal with that (hmmm: cost saving...) - so was discretion applied? Was it heck! When someone has their appendix removed and is then told that only 2 days of their recuperation (including the day of operation) will be "discounted" - that is a sorry state of affairs.
The whole payscale thing is my own personal bugbear. I think I am giving my anonymity here by divulging this, but I have had enough face-to-face conversations about this, not to care. The issue HAS been going on for 10 years as there is a band of about 400 crew who started on one contract and were forced onto the new contract or told they could leave. One would suppose that was illegal, but one would be wrong. We were also assured that when we reached the top of our payscale, the issue would be "looked at" again. I reached the top of the payscale 2 years ago, and I am wanting answers now. I realise that I will be sacrificed yet again, but that, I guess, is the art of negotiation.
I just wonder, CarnageMatey if you shouldn't be directing your ire at our management and their MISmanagement of our company and its resources, instead of all the issues you have with your cabin crew colleagues?
I agree my union are a little over-dramatic, but perhaps they are taking a leaf out of our leader's book: to paraphrase our wonderful CEO, "a reasonable man gets nowhere". I reiterate what I said earlier: yes, I am going to get shafted, but I'm damned if I am going to let them do it to me with my smiling, willing co-operation.
It seems senseless you and I going over old ground. You look after your interests and I'll look after mine. Although I'm sure we have both learnt a bit from another perspective, it hasn't truly changed our opinion, has it? Let's just agree to disagree.
On that note, I bid you farewell, as I need to get my sleep in and my energy up, for tonight is Saturday Night! Whoo!