PC767,
That was a long fought battle that, ultimately, BAPLA lost in many respects but won on the grounds of strengthening and getting BA to legitimise SCOPE. It is not really for discussion on this thread but the support from many other departments in BA to BALPA's efforts was underwhelming. Openskies will no longer be expanding, the aircraft tagged to go to it have been sold and the whole airline now operates under a French AOC, possibly giving it access to closed markets that mainline BA can't operate. Time will tell but I feel that it is a dead duck.
As to CC bringing the airline down? Yes it is a possibility if BASSA don't recognise that there is a problem. No one knows how long this downturn will last. I think ALL departments will agree that temporary measures until the situation improves are acceptable. What cannot be though is the ability to stick your heads in the sand and shout 'no no no no no' until the company caves in and lets you continue to run your little empire on it's current terms and conditions. Times change and BASSA needs to 'negotiate' (v. ne·go·ti·at·ed, ne·go·ti·at·ing, ne·go·ti·ates
v.intr.
To confer with another or others in order to come to terms or reach an agreement) rather than stonewall the attempts of the company to rationalise. Only then will an acceptable status quo be achieved. Remeber that many other departments of BA have already rationalised and are living under totally different terms than a few years back. Why should IfCE be any different? Why should you continue to enjoy outdated working practices and recompense above the industry standard when other departments are having to tighten their belts, take the short term pain on already rationalised contracts and then attempt to get it back later?
Is it BA management spin? Possibly some but definitely not all.