Unite 's Offer and Gatwick Crew
Sadly, the majority of Gatwick based cabin crew have failed to take the
initiative to read and fully comprehend the extent of the Unite
proposal -which was tabled at the TUC in order to avert industrial action.
Instead, many chose to simply read a few inaccurate lines in an email from
Bill Francis and take that as fact instead.
The formal offer presented by Unite was rejected by British Airways after
only a few minutes.....
Your representatives at Gatwick and Heathrow, from both BASSA and AMICUS,
have fought for more than 13 months in order to protect Gatwick 's right
to transfer under Op's and Choice , and to return the 2nd purser to our
Longhaul aircraft.
Ultimately we have fought as equally to protect your future career, and
from working to poorer conditions than those you currently enjoy, as we
have for every other crew member.
In return, British Airways claims that 70% of the base have volunteered to
work during the strike, undermining the work we have done on your behalf.
So let's set the record straight, once and for all.
Unite 's offer has been rejected by BA, however, before it could have been
officially accepted, the membership would have been balloted as to whether
or not they wished to accept it.
Part of Unite 's offer represents a pay cut deal, similar to the pilots
deal and is REPAYABLE!
To repeat... It is REPAYABLE. Just like a loan.
How?
With a temporary 2.6% pay cut for the 2010 period.
This means, for a crew member who se basic salary is GBP11,600 per year,
a temporary cut of GBP301.06 in 2010, or no more than GBP25 a month for
12 months.
This would then be REPAID in FULL- PLUS with a cash bonus NEXT year!
What price is that? A take-away on a Saturday night? A carton of 200
cigarettes? Half a tank of petrol? A round of drinks on at the bar?
So, for GBP25 a month (or less) for 12 months, REPAYABLE with a cash
bonus, Unite offers to protect your transfer rights, return the second
purser to our 777 aircraft and protect your career path for the remainder
of your career!
Make no mistake. BA are insisting that everyone must play their part in
achieving their determined cost savings. The PSR on the 777 equates to
GBP200,000 per year. Our proposal also ensure you can transfer under Op's
and Choice to LHR, within the appropriate rank, to higher pay-scales on
current TandC's.
BA's last proposal STILL means the PSR stays off the 777.
Gatwick Pursers are currently telling us that they are acutely
experiencing the financial hardship the reduction of onboard pursers is
causing.
Plus, if BA have their way, which they currently DO, you have NO transfer
rights outside of LGW on current fleets. Your transfer rights are gone
FOREVER.
Having offered BA all the cost savings they asked for, it is clear - this
dispute is not about cost saving. It's simply about whether you have the
right to Union representation within this airline. It's about you standing
up for your rights in the workplace. We have. Will you?
If not- we can only assume you are happy to have your working positions
removed from our aircraft unilaterally- and that you have no desire to
transfer. With Op's and Choice gone forever- you will have extremely
limited opportunity as cabin crew within British Airways. Do not kid
yourself that LGW will be priortised for recruitment on New Fleet. New
Fleet will have limited places for the single supervisory grade, and
applications will come from the current management structure within the
whole of BA - AND- direct entry from external recruitment. Competition for
all positions will be far higher than you can imagine.
We would like to thank the many Gatwick cabin crew who have not
volunteered to work over our legitimate strike, and who we will continue
to fight for without fear nor regret.
The unite document can be read in its entirety here: -
http://www.bassa.co.uk/bassa/downloads/10thMarchUniteFinalDocument.doc
Although our proposal has been rejected- we strongly suggest you take the
time to read it and understand exactly what is at stake. If you
don't- we won't be here. So WHO will?
Your reps, as always are available to answer any questions you may have.
You may feel that by volunteering to work over the strike will protect
you, but you are simply placing your head in the sand and allowing another
to fight on your behalf.
Everybody has a right to choose. Choose a career with a future even if it
means fighting for it. You 're not alone.
Do nothing- and things will only get worse. Don't miss your opportunity to
make a change. Your future depends upon it.