Dear Colleagues
Vote "YES" for Industrial Action
Say "NO" to Imposition
As Unite General Secretaries, we are writing to ask you to support the recommendation and vote "Yes" for industrial action. We can assure you that we have not arrived at this position without careful consideration. However, we do not subscribe to the actions of British Airways in attempting to impose changes to your terms and conditions.
Unite has attempted to resolve the current differences we have with British Airways through negotiation, but despite our efforts, the Company, on 6th October, announced its intentions to enforce changes to the way you work as of 16th November.
These actions are totally unacceptable to Unite and, as such, we have been left with no alternative other than to fully endorse the call for an industrial action ballot in support of our BA Cabin Crew membership.
Please find enclosed a ballot paper which must be completed and returned, by no later than noon 14th December, 2009 in the prepaid envelope provided. Also enclosed is a newsletter from the Unite the Union Cabin Crew Representatives in support of our recommendation.
Please support your Union, vote "YES".
Best wishes
Derek Simpson and Tony Woodley
Joint General Secretaries
My bold and colour for emphasis.
Whilst the proceeding legal niceties do indeed cover the requirements for ballot I am amazed to see so little detail in the reasoning!
Once again, as with the last ballot which BASSA issued, they seem to be going for a 'scatter gun' approach. Where in this reasoning other than the cover all of:
we do not subscribe to the actions of British Airways in attempting to impose changes to your terms and conditions.
Where are the specifics as to why you would be called out on strike? The term 'changes to terms and conditions' covers such a huge swathe of variables that it would be almost impossible to convene a strike. I was always under the impression that specific details as to the discord must be given and allow the company to ability to accede to change if it wished. None of that exists within this ballot.
The supposed spin for negotiations will play directly into the hands of the BA QC as they have the transcripts of the meetings. Meetings which BA allowed to continue for a considerable time after the deadlines set other departments in an attempt to achieve reasoned negotiation. Those 'negotiations' from BASSA ended with infighting between BASSA and CC89. Not the most auspicious of endings.
BASSA have drawn their guns and shot themselves in both feet. This ballot isn't worth the paper its printed on. BA will tear it to pieces in court and then come after the costs!
Please don't allow your Union to commit financial suicide on your behalf!