Been there done that..
Been There Done That...
Im trying to understand these concerns regarding Open Skies with BALPA. It seems like this should be a fairly easy situation to resolve amicably if done properly. BA is looking to expand a new cost effective service to protect it's market share with competitors such as Eos, Silver Jet and L'Avion chipping away at it's LHR and CDG marketshares. BALPA seems concerned about the company taking jobs from the core company pilots and future jobs as well as pay security on flights with over 100 seats. It seems that this could be easily resolved with a simple written agreement or an ammendment to the current BALPA union contract. The ammendment would state that no current mainline flights can ever be downsized in order to be outsourced into open Skies. That all flights with over 100 seats must always be staffed with BA mainline pilots. Open Skies would be allowed to fly new route authority expansion flights only and they must be on aircraft with less than 100 seats.
This seems like a very viable, fair and reasonable solution for both sides. BALPA wanting anything more than this just makes them seem territorial, greedy and obstructive to the companies future business growth and long term survival in an increasingly more costly and competitive marketplace with skyrocketing jet fuel prices. The public will see it this way too which will hurt their cause in gaining any public sympathy or support. Would an agreement of this nature not be acceptable or are there other issues the public is not aware of in the negotiations to avert this pending, costly and potentially irreparable strike ?
Coming from a former employee of a major trunk carrier in America known as Eastern Airlines. I have lived through my airline going through this type of strike in the past. It was like shooting ones self in the foot. Between dealing with all the corporate greed and the corrupt union officials with self destructive agendas who would rather destroy a historic loved company just to win their cause at any cost. Neither side had our best interests at heart. It was nothing more than a bully, push and shoving contest. Yet, in the end when there is no airline left and no more jobs when the dust all settled. Then it was we the employees who were left holding the bag feeling quite penny wise and pound foolish for listening to our union leadership. We listened to our union leaders in this regard about the strike and now our airline doesnt exist anymore ! Take it from one who has taken the union strike stance in the past and we lost our company as well as our way of life in the process. It is not a very good feeling at all. Something to think long and hard about for sure especially in this economy where quality replacement airline jobs are very hard to come by. It may not be worth winning the battle when you lose the war in the end with everyone on the unemployment line.