BASSA's latest 'communication' is a an exercise in outright fibbing! But that is to be expected.
Strike Statement Unite Cabin Crew 12 March 2010
Today at 11am GMT, our union Unite have announced a series of strike dates for British Airways Unite cabin crew.
We are of course saddened to have to announce this action. We wished that we could have reached agreement to prevent this but at this point – it simply has not been possible.
Saddened? You have got to be kidding! BASSA members might still want to ask which,
if any, of their reps are actually going to strike.
Go on, ask them!
Why has this happened?
We have committed all of our time, energy and ability to reach an agreement with British Airways to cover several areas. These include imposition, cost savings and also the introduction of a new mixed flying fleet. By the end of the extensive TUC talks and despite extending by a day, this was still not possible. On the last day we put forward a radical and comprehensive package. We have already published this document for your information.
British Airways rejected our formal offer. It therefore need no longer concern you or require your consideration any further. They simply will not accept it. End of discussion.
By the close of play on the last day of talks no formal offer by British Airways had been registered. Yesterday at the point where the industrial action ballot was being authorised by our General Secretaries, a British Airways offer was finally received. In recognition of this Lenny McCluskey, in conjunction with the General Secretaries, simultaneously authorised the ballot dates and a process to consult with you regarding the offer.
"We have committed all of our time, energy and ability to reach an agreement ...." That is patently untrue when you consider how long this union-led fiasco has gone on. But wait, it gets better.
BA
did give Unite a formal offer by close of play (which is posted above by deeceethree) and Unite asked if the they could extend the strike ballot deadline so as to conduct a consultative ballot about BA's latest proposal. BA agreed, giving Unite 3 weeks to do so,
as long as no strike dates were announced! Fact! This latest BASSA rubbish above is an out and out lie.
Len McCluskey
was aware that he had three weeks extra time, with no jeopardy to the last existing strike ballot, with BA's say-so to consult BASSA members about whether they wanted to accept BA's latest offer,
but it was conditional on no strike dates being announced. So, imagine BA's surprise when the Unite/BASSA circus announces strike dates. It would appear that this was done at the behest of BASSA- they are utterly out of ideas now and didn't want BASSA members seeing the BA offer!
In simple terms this meant although strike dates had been announced, a consultative ballot on whether you wished to accept this offer would also have also been carried out in the days leading up to the first day of dispute.
You, as our members, would have chosen if this was acceptable or not. If acceptable, the strike would have been cancelled. If unacceptable, the strike action would proceed.
Absolute tripe! As already stated, the offer was
only ever available as long as there were no strike date announcements during the
consultative ballot process. You, the BASSA members, were
not going to be given a say-so in this because BASSA were afraid you might accept! BASSA are severely twisting the truth here - no company would ever allow you to announce strike dates
and have a 3-week consultation. Don't be daft!
It is worth pointing out that you would have been accepting every single point contained within the offer. There would have been no further negotiation or changing of the words. Quite simply, that would have been the end of that! The cost savings alongwith new fleet would be introduced with immediate effect.
Although we have said the Unite proposal need no longer concern you, it does serve one purpose. It is worthwhile referring to it as a cross reference for you to see the detailed work and words we had provided to protect you. In comparison, when we are able to give you the details, you will note the sparse words and vague promises contained within the British Airways formal offer. You can then judge it’s sincerity.
Yes, BASSA were seriously worried that you might be "accepting every single point contained within the offer". Massively worried! BASSA attempts to persuade you to keep referring to to their "detailed work and words" (I have read that entire document and it's arrogance beggars belief!)but still didn't provide you with, or allow you time to consider, BA's last offer - which Unite/BASSA had in their sticky mitts when they wrote this nonsense. Whose sincerity needs judging now? Have BASSA given you sight of BA's offer yet? No, you had to read it here on PPRuNE or elsewhere on a news website.
For the record your Union would not have recommended acceptance of this offer, but ultimately, that choice would have been yours.
Oh no, you were
never going to be given a choice. You
still haven't been given one!
Everybody now knows that British Airways is disputing around £10 million of our proposed savings. We resolutely stand behind these figures. We were happy to have any independent valuation that was necessary.
So lets forget the myth that this is around the so called ‘survival of the airline’, as it’s simply not true.
QUESTION: Why would we not recommend accepting the British Airways offer?
ANSWER: It would have been irresponsible of us to do so. With our hands on our heart we could not recommend any deal that we ultimately knew would bring about the end of a job we all love doing.
Independent evaluation? BASSA has never been interested in anyone's independent evaluation of anything before. Why now suddenly? Because it isn't about a so-called "£10 million", its about controlling BA management of cabin crew, and keeping reps and senior cabin crew in cushy numbers. Read the last Unite/BASSA proposal yourselves - it is riddled with meddling in BA's business affairs.
And if any of you believe that it isn't about the 'survival of the airline’, you deserve what is surely coming.
STOP PRESS…STOP PRESS…
STOP PRESS…STOP PRESS…
It would now appear through recent media announcements that Mr Walsh has now withdrawn his formal offer so we are now no longer even able to seek your opinion if you wished to proceed with the dispute or not, that option has gone. It would appear that they still remain a management regrettably intent on confrontation.
A pathetic attempt to sound surprised that BA withdrew it's offer. Unite and BASSA
knew, unequivocally, that it would be withdrawn the minute strike dates were announced.
No, BASSA members, it was imperative that you
never got sight of BA's offer in time, because that would have signalled the beginning of the end for the pampered few at the top of your tree. That lot don't care if it brings down the company. And they
certainly don't give a monkey's cuss for you lot swimming in the cess pool now. It is too late that many of you are having a dawning realisation of having been played like a fiddle.
Thanks a bunch for screwing it for
all BA employees.