M.Mouse
The problem is not so much that there is a surplus of engineers at LGW. It is more to do with the fact that there is a massive shortage at LHR. BA have not recruited engineers or trained apprentices for many years. There are several hundred engineers over the age of 60 that are soon to retire.
Yes there is less work at LGW now but many of the staff could be redeployed rather than forced to LHR. Take a look at Secret Squirrel’s post about all the RJ defects. For example it is not unusual to find a single avionic licensed engineer in short haul on a Saturday night looking after some 30 aircraft. Do you think this is an acceptable amount of engineering cover? Are you happy that the new workforce at LHR will be getting up at around 04:30 seven days in a row, travelling 100 miles a day on the M25 and then maintaining your aircraft?
Some engineers who are being transferred have decided this is not acceptable (funnily enough) and have left the industry altogether. Others are likely to follow further depleting the engineering license cover in BA.
There is an alternative. There are empty hangars at LGW. The unions have suggested that some of the maintenance checks be carried out there. LGW staff have volunteered for this work even though it would not normally be their first choice. BA engineering management have stated that this is a feasible option but they will not take it because their long-term objective is to transfer staff to LHR. I would argue that this is only short term fire fighting and sooner or later they must address the recuitment issue. There is an industry wide shortage of licensed engineers and it is only going to get worse. All BA are doing at the moment is driving the best people out of the airline in an attempt to make up for there lack of training and recruitment in recent years. The BA maintenance work could be kept at LGW, some engineers could be redeployed to help Secret Squirrel get his aircraft fixed, there are also plenty of third party contracts available, finally BA would have an engineering workforce at LGW ready for when the pendulum inevitably swings back and LGW is back in favour again. (Can you imagine the problems they will have trying to force people back the other way!)
LGW engineers are not generally militants, they have suffered numerous hardships at the hands of their managers in recent years, they do not want to hurt the airline. On the contrary all they want is the chance to show that LGW engineering still has a vital contribution to make to the airline.
One final thought. It is rumoured (I STRESS RUMOUR) that BA engineering management are preparing to unpacify engineering approvals for engineering management staff ahead of any further action by engineering. Their approvals were pacified in accordance with JAA regulations due to the fact that they do not have recent experience on type. Bearing in mind that these people have performance bonuses based on on-time departures and minimum ADD levels (think about it!) are you happy that this is the standard of engineering you may be offered.