BASSA ain't happy .... and is
still blaming everybody else! If they could have been bothered to
actually negotiate, they could have shaped Mixed Fleet. And they continue to wonder why the company went ahead without them.
So ........ what has all the strike stuff achieved? Anyone? It has hardened resolve to kick BASSA in to touch.
Nothing else.
"MIXED FLEET"
Jun 24th, 2010 by admin
New Fleet is now “Mixed Fleet” and it’s happening...
Almost 18 months ago to the day, we were leaked BA’s Operation Columbus proposals.......... we immediately published them.
Yesterday those proposals finally became reality.
If you take a moment to read your ESS you will see exactly how excited, the oily Bill Francis is over its launch. Existing current crew will probably be slightly less overjoyed.
Every single fact that we have published about it, has now been proven to be true. Far from misleading people, we told the truth, its there in black and white for everybody to see.
Performance related pay without annual increments
No variable payments
£2.40 hourly rate
Reduced salary levels
External entry for Cabin Service Manager
No purser
No fixed roster
No recognised agreement
Working on the ground
Mixed flying
Developmental “working up” for no additional pay
To quote directly from the recruiting advert
“At start up our route network will be relatively small but as the fleet grows, we will be adding further destinations providing you with a greater variety of trips to choose from”
You may need to pause and reflect, what those routes will be and who’s work it will be. The answer, unfortunately, is yours.
In his introductory briefing to his management team Bill Francis emphasised the cost savings this “mixed fleet” will bring, not only for the reasons above but he also specifically emphasised the savings that will result from less rest both at base and downroute - one easy example being the ending of the double night.
Are you going to be forced onto it right now? Of course not. Over a period of time is the answer though nobody knows exactly and that is the concern. It is a fleet at your base, doing your work, at a far cheaper cost. You work it out.
What is not in any doubt is that your routes will go as they are transferred over, season by season.
This is why your union has been unable to reach agreement for so long. What union wants an agreement that essentially is the beginning of the end for all its members?
Your union has been trying to warn you how serious this situation is for 18 months, many of you were aware of that and joined the recent disputes, many people though simply did not believe it and joined in with the “keep the flag flying” hysteria.
Every action has a consequence, no matter how brave and strong some crew were, others simply were not and that lack of support has lead us to today.
The irony is that there is no big thank you or reward for breaking the strike, simply an invitation alongside everyone else to “apply” for mixed fleet.
Mixed fleet is here, nothing is going to change that now, but without proper safeguards, it awaits us in all its glory, sooner or later. Our focus must remain on achieving those safeguards, for without them, our future is decidedly uncertain.