Might the announcement be to do with the cabin crew changes currently being pushed through?
Just got this press release from the T&G on behalf of BASSA.
PR02/305
For immediate release - Wednesday 24th July 2002
Newsdesks: transport and industrial correspondents
Strike threat at UK's second largest airline
BMI, formerly British Midland Airways, potentially faces a massive
disruption to its schedules if its cabin crew vote in favour of industrial action. The British Airlines Stewards & Stewardesses Association (BASSA) is now conducting a consultative ballot, the first stage in the process, as tension between its members and the company's management reaches an all-time high. A branch of BASSA was created at the airline a year ago and has grown to become the largest cabin crew union at BMI. Despite this the company has refused to recognise the union and threatened disciplinary action to anyone recruiting for BASSA during working time. This has only served to stimulate membership of BASSA, which is part of the Transport & General Workers' Union, as crew have fought back against a background of a sustained attack
on their working conditions, increased duty hours and harsh treatment by managers.
"Cabin Crew have simply had enough," said a BASSA spokeswoman. "They expect their choice of union to be recognised and respected in the same way as our sister branches at British Airways and other airlines."
The latest plan by BMI to axe its top flying rank of Flight Service Manager (FSM) has brought matters to a head. The company claims that there are new jobs available as well as other opportunities. "BMI is being totally disingenuous when it talks about new jobs, as none have been remotely suitable for flying staff and nor are they likely to be. What is more, the Company has continued to recruit brand new cabin crew members," said BASSA.
BASSA has made it clear that it will strenuously oppose any compulsory redundancies of senior crew. "We expect the company to do the honourable thing by providing a Flight Supervisor position with ring-fenced pay or compensation to any FSMs who lose their jobs in this restructuring. The seniority levels at bmi are already very low compared to other airlines and the airline can ill afford to be getting rid of experienced crew who do a
lot to make the skies a safer and more pleasant place to be."
The fate of the FSMs is expected to be known by the end of the week. The ballot results will not be counted until the beginning of August. If members vote in favour, BASSA will apply for authority to hold an official industrial action ballot. If industrial action does go ahead, the airline's main bases of London, Manchester and East Midlands could be affected during the busy summer timetable as well as shorthaul and prestigious longhaul flights to the United States.
"It is sad to see the situation deteriorating in this way. Management seem unable to understand the anger and depth of feeling amongst the crew at BMI," concluded the BASSA spokesman. "Our demands are not unreasonable. We are simply calling for the recognition we deserve as the majority cabin crew
union and for BMI to guarantee flying jobs to its senior crew hreatened by the restructuring process. We are still hoping for a negotiated settlement before any further action becomes necessary."
ENDS
Notes to Editors: Flight Service Manager positions are to be replaced by a lesser number of Cabin Service Performance Manager posts on 1 August, displacing crew who have flown for BMI for many years - effectively ending their flying careers. BMI is a privately owned UK airline with 40% foreign ownership being split between Lufthansa and SAS.