British Airways - CC Industrial Relations Mk VI

[Rover90]

Slightly "on track" but may end up on the editors floor

It would not be hard to change a few restrictive practices to achieve a more practical and efficient operation and one that benefits everybody.

I have just got this Flight Crew Report out of the archive and I think it demonstrates the point and sadly it is not an isolated incident and is probably still happening to this day.

BA177 (lunchtime) to JFK with full first, club and virtually full WT on a 744.
Cabin Crew on second half Back to Back
Lady CSD mentions to Capt on bus from Compass Centre that one crew member slightly under the weather but OK to operate.
STD-10, boarding/loading nearing completion, ATC slot for STD+21 so all is well.No, sadly not.
CSD comes to Flight Deck and says that crew member now unfit to operate.
Capt being good CRM chap asks CSD what she wants to do. Obvious first, transport for sick crew member back to Compass, bag from bulk cargo no problem as it is easily identifiable.
CSD outlines two options:
i). QRS to replace crew member, 45 mins minimum but more likely to be 1hr to the aircraft.
or
ii). Having spoken to Purser in sick crew members working cabin, CSD prepared to work position of sick crew member and service will operate on schedule with no inconvenience to passengers. QRS crew member could be pax out to JFK on later flight to cover inbound service to LHR if necessary.

All crew unanimous that the "work one down" option would be best for Pax, BA and actually crew as well because delayed JFK pax are not impressed pax.

Plan relayed to Ops and met with absolute refusal, wait for QRS.

Capt had audacity to query Ops decision and was informed that it was the industrial agreement and would not be violated, Dispatcher(TRM) contacted by Ops and told flight was not to dispatch until QRS arrived and Push Back crew were separately told to disconnect and go elsewhere.

Cabin Crew absolutely totally onside and wanted to do the right thing. Industrial agreement prevented the sensible solution and this does pose the question that crew and not their union should be able to manage the situation on the day.