Peace has broken out!
Well I would like to say that it was actually my message posted on Monday that resolved the strike - but I know that is not true! (The boys at Waterside I am sure were not at all happy)
It is interesting to note from an outsiders point of view:
1. VS management claim it as a victory as they say they had enough crews to operate a near normal service (thus implying the strike would have no effect)
2. Brian Boyd in his letter published here claims it is the highest cabin crew basic in the UK (which implies it was the Union's negotiating skills and VS capitulation which brought this deal in)
Thus both sides claim they win! It's just like listening to those by-election candidates who don't win, come 2nd and then claim it was a significant victory. The emperor's new clothes comes to mind.
I am delighted that a strike has been averted because no longer will cabin crew member be placed in confrontation with fellow cabin crew member.
However, I have considerable experience in industrial relations and the VS cabin crew should present themselves to management as a cohesive negotiating force who can collectively bargain on behalf of ALL crew.
016FSM makes the point the point about a split in the FSM/CSS and junior negotiations and I agree. However, who better to put junior crew opinions forward than someone who has been and experienced work as a junior. So, therefore, a VS "Crewforce" group with no external employed reps and who represented ALL cabin crew could effectively negotiate with management.
With no disrepect to Brian Boyd and his colleagues, they are "employees" of the union, they don't stand at 5am waiting on crew buses that don't show up, they don't have to get up at 3am to prep for flights nor do they have to contend with disruptive passengers, tech aircraft, delays downroute and all the other problems that go with working as cabin crew.
Be under no illusion, there should never have needed to be a threat of strike action because what happened clearly states that the Union and the company could not and WOULD NOT reach agreement without having a power struggle and brinkmanship.
A "Crewforce" would negotiate with VS management on different terms. The company relies on the fact that not all crew are union members and so the modus operandi is "divide and conquer" for negotiations to bully a pro-company result. The union full time reps don't give up their salaries when cabin crew go on strike so, as outsiders, they don't have the interest nor worry nor stress as the crew members do so no matter what they say they can never represent the members as passionately or as commitedly as the crew themselves. The company's approach would be different if negotiating DIRECTLY with ALL cabin crew collectively.
If you are a union member, ask yourself this - what exactly does my union subscription buy me? What do I get for my money? (If you are concerned about industrial injury or representation then "Crewforce" can obtain that for you anyway as every legal and quasi legal firm will want to deal with such an internal representative body)
Don't get me wrong I am not anti union per se. I just think that in this case, the union needs to be the cabin crew themselves. There have been a substantial number of comments that people are unhappy. Now is the time to sort this out for once and for all. (The union will say more people should join as they claim it is their victory - hmmmmm?)
May I just say that I have huge respect for all the VS cabin crew who has discussed this matter here and particularly for people such as 016FSM who has clearly demonstrated to us all that not only is she very good at her job, but she is a credit to Virgin Atlantic. On the basis of the discussion, thoughts and opinions expressed here, the clear and concise manner, she has expressed herself - I would offer her a job tomorrow!