Some ex-Flight Engineers remain with BA in several operational roles including as pilots, although not as cabin crew.
Wrong. Some are still cabin crew. Probably shouldn't name names, but if you're interested, ask any ex-rocket cabin crew who they are.
Not sure any were on £80k + allowances in the first place.
Wrong. A small number were, mainly those who had been training E/Os
Even if there were, they would all have retired long ago.
Wrong, (at least) three still remain, including the one I had a pint with last week. Not all on SH!
Not sure how any of the above is related to the Columbus debate
Neither am I, just don't like seeing misinformation passed off as fact.
As regards the Columbus debate:
I have very happy memories of the cabin crew I flew with during my many years in BA. Somehow, I never seemed to encounter the attitudes and problems that seem to be recounted ad nauseam by some pilots, although no doubt those attitudes did exist amongst a few cabin crew.
In the main, I flew with delightful cabin crew, who looked after the passengers and me very well and caused very few problems. They spoiled me rotten, if the truth be known.
So I have no axe to grind, and I don't wish to see their T&Cs decimated.
However, they appear to have been represented, for many years, by a union that has a firm grasp of the inessential and is rooted firmly in the industrial mindset of the 1980s, when many of the reps joined!
Cabin crew costs are way out of line with any other UK airline, around double according to the latest CAA figures. Don't take my word for it, look them up for yourselves.
Willie will not let that state of affairs continue.
Unless their union get serious, about negotiating sensibly on the inevitable changes that are coming, Willie is going to have a field day!
And that, believe it or not, I wouldn't like to see happen to such a great bunch of people.