Latest from BASSA (in an email)
It's a funny old world...
It wasn't so long ago that our pilot colleagues wanted our help.
They were organizing a ballot for strike action over their fears regarding
the introduction of "open skies" and the impact it could have on their
future prospects and earnings.
Our pilot colleagues were, quite rightly, concerned and felt very
confident of their moral high ground and balked at the audacity of British
Airways for daring to seek to undermine them by employing cheap labour
pilots, on inferior terms and conditions.
BA attempted to end their legitimate ballot by legal action, and their
threats prevailed.
Sound familiar?
How surprising then, as we face a battle for our own survival, that BALPA
has tacitly set up a facility on its website forum, for its own members to
actively volunteer to work as cabin crew to break our strike.
How thoughtful of them to repay our support. They can rest assured that
when their time comes, and it will, that we will be equally supportive.
Apologies to those pilot colleagues - and we know there are many - who
have a conscience and would never dream of doing such an underhand act,
but to those that choose to do so and those that requested it....
Have a good long hard look at yourself and remember how much our two
communities will suffer. Our Unions may not have always seen eye to eye
but at the end of the sector when push comes to shove (and doors go into
manual) crew will always "protect" pilots ...............
My bold.
Checked with people in the know and was allowed to look myself.
THERE IS CATEGORICALLY NO SUCH LINK ON THE BALPA FORUM AND THE REPS THERE HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR THAT THEY WILL NOT AND CAN NOT ENCOURAGE FLIGHT CREW TO VOLUNTEER.
So CRM and safety is further eroded for what? A downright lie and a cheap shot at another Union. No wonder so many of us will have nothing to do with BASSA. If people ARE volunteering (they are, in droves
) it's because BASSA and it's deluded members leave them a stark choice. Let BASSA destroy BA or make sure BASSA are defeated. With partners, kids, mortgages, food bills and jobs that they appreciate, is it any surprise that they've stepped up to the plate?
It seems everyone is against BASSA - CC89, non-union members, "plastic" CSD's, pilots, BALPA, UNITE, WW, all other departments within BA, The Judiciary, the travelling public.....
.....wait, that might actually be true.
Lurker, PiB etc - despite the misgivings of the CAA that are reported on the BASSA Forum, the truth is that the CAA HAVE approved the training of other employees in the CC roles. They will be closely observing next week (as they should be) but rest assured, unless there is an unequivocal official announcement from the CAA that they are blocking BA, then those employees have passed SEP and are qualified. I look forward to working alongside such motivated crew. Will make a pleasant change from some of our number.