romans44
you are spot on, I think a modern, progressive TU have a really important role to play, but they must be commercially switched on and be prepared to take some tough decisions and move away from the mantra of management = evil. It is in everyone's interest for a company to be financially successful, it secures and creates jobs. Equally, good to try and get the best for the workforce, to share in that success (but if no success, no workforce !).
I do take issue with the behaviours and approach of some of the BASSA reps, their aims may well be benign but they are not (in my experience) professional, balanced in their approach and pragmatic. Unfortunately, even those who were not around in the 70's (not all agreed) are 'handed down' the way we do things, and hence perpetuating archaic behaviours and approach (how many times have i heard the phrases "macho management" and "union bashers" when debating with reps !!). These behaviours saw many great British institutions confined to the dustbin because they could not get themselves 'fit for purpose' in a modern era.
BASSA need to think about their strategic objectives, how they make themselves relevant in 2010 (which IMO, they are failing at miserably) instead of playing a war against BA. They will just extract more extreme behaviours from BA management.
Negotiate 'intelligently' concede this to BA, for example, in return for future assurances, ways of working etc (a la BALPA scope agreement etc - I have nothing to do with BALPA by the way). Behave professionally, bite their tongue sometimes, sometimes accept they need to concede for the greater good (but try and get something out of it for the future). Accept the case for change ! It does not have to be "the shape of things to come" if you use opportunities to build in future things, but that might mean gibing up things now......you can't argue with the economics.....
Anyway, I feel a little bit churlish talking about such things (I hope this is not a crass, insenstive comparison, really isn't meant to be) when you see those poor buggers in Haiti who have lost everything and we get excited about a dusting of snow and working a little harder.......we really have it easy in comparison
Tom100, totally agree with you and as a progressive union member I always welcome modernization. However I feel it is a bit unfair to put the blame entirely on BASSA. As you may be aware these changes were planned long b4 the recession, but really we don't need to go on about things that have been discussed for a long time now.
I too feel sorry for the people of Haiti and find it a bit sad for you to make such a comparison, I wish I could save the world single handed but I can't.