Why in your comment "The problem with your approach is that it is safe to do these things. LGW do them, other airlines do them. It's only LHR that don't want to do them, not because it is unsafe but because it's too much like hard work. do you feel the need to include your cutting little 'LHR' remark?
The day I see 6 LGW crew on an AMS or MAN I'll withdraw the LHR remark. Until then I will remain convinced that LGW short haul crew work harder than the LHR crew.
[/quote]Do you realise you have made a complete sweeping generalisation of 10,500 people there?? [/quote]
No I'd say I've made a fairly accurate generalisation of about 50% of them. For every shining star we have in the cabin there's at least one piece of space junk.
It is a bit like me saying that ALL pilots are tight a#ses that will go out for a meal with the crew, order lobster and then want to split the bill! Not a fair comment......
But nonetheless quite a common one on the BASSA forum I think you'd agree. Besides, it's usually me subsidising all those bottles of white wine on the bill when everybody else has been drinking 20p beers!
[/quote]I know nothing about you (what fleet you are on etc etc) but if you have operated on a MAN or NCL from LHR you will know that the crew always get the service done (5 crew on a 195 seat 757 - admittedly one cabin but still always with a full bar and snack or sandwich).[/quote]
Yes but it used to be 6 crew on an A319 for a MAN (one on a blocked out cabin seat!) and 5 for a 319 to NCL. Things are improving, but the base level for crew complement is often much above what the actual load on the day dictates. And we've all sat their wasting time and money and p'ing off the passengers because the CSD (remember those) wanted an extra crew member from standby because there was one club passenger more than the matrix permitted.
I will give you another case in hand: you always seem to complain that BA crew do not know how good they have it, that they are too well paid etc etc etc.
I DO know how good I have it and wouldn't dream of complaining. I have worked for both BMI and Virgin before. When I walk around Heathrow I have my eyes wide open.
Fantastic. I applaud your stance and wish there were more of you. But how many times do you hear "Our basic is even lower than Virgin" from colleagues, conveniently overlooking all the extras on top of that? Many of your colleagues really
don't know they're born!
Not just to collegues at other airlines, but also those within other BA departments that have suffered.
when I note on this site that I am happy with a deal, you highlight the NEGATIVE aspect of that deal.I don't understand your point here? You would be a VERY welcome meber on the BASSA forum with such negative comments of the deal (where many are complaining). Am I meant to be upset with the deal and complain (which you would immediately attack as being selfish, paid too much already, not working enough etc etc)? The payrise will take place from Feb instead of Oct to help fund the new pay increments (from which I will benefit).
The negative aspect is that you did get 'done' by the company. My beef on this subject is with BASSA who have wound the crew up into a frenzy, distressed most of them, cost us a fortune then come away with pretty much nothing that couldn't have been achieved a month ago without a ballot. It would be nice of them to say "sorry chaps, we totally misjudged this" but instead they simply close down their forum, delete the criticism and publish a piece from DH about what good boys they all are!
Q. How much do you think BA crew should be paid? Do you think we are over-paid and underworked?
A. New contract is probably about right, although I think the new increments are probably a step too far. It's a job, not a career. I also think EF crew are utilised poorly with too many long turnarounds and not enough sectors. The ratio of flying hours to duty hours is appalling and must be one of the worst in the industry.
Q. Do you think it would be fair to reduce the take home salary of exisiting BA crew?
A. No,but I do think it is fair for the company to ask you to be more efficient to get that money. PS the hourly rate didn't have to redce your take home, thats just what BASSA like to say to scare you into objecting to it.
Q. What do you think of the deal that was struck between the T&G and BA?
A. Very reasonable. Somebody had to be because BASSA certainly weren't. I have no doubt that T&G declined to refer the matter to ACAS because they'd have p'ed themselves laughing at some of BASSAs demands. Also the pension deal is the one BALPA negotiated on behalf of all flying crew, and I think that is as good as anyone could get.
Q. Were you hoping for the crew to go on strike so BA would be able to impose all the changes they had proposed?
A I was hoping BASSA would be given a kick in the nuts so that they would realise the Mike Street days are over and its about time they started contributing to the efficiency drive. How that was achieved I didn't care.