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MONDAY’S BRANCH CANCELLED
Jun 29th, 2010 by admin
We are having to cancel next Monday’s branch meeting at Kempton because BA will not de-roster the relevant reps. We were hoping to be able to update you on BA’s latest offer and also ask you how you wanted to be consulted on it. This cannot now happen as and as a consequence we will be sending you all, via the post, quite a bit of paperwork, which will bring you all up to date. You will then have the opportunity - via the ERBS - to cast a postal vote on whether you wish the ballot for industrial action to proceed or, alternatively, accept the deal.
All this is very long-winded, we accept but the way BA have presented the deal (trying to lure in non-union members etc) is a sinister development which leaves us with no choice so as to be 100% transparent and to make sure you all are given a choice. Things will become clearer and more fully explained in the paperwork.
BA have made everything incredibly awkward giving no BASSA rep de-rostering facilities since March - therefore work has had to be done either in our own time or even when sick. To make matters even more awkward BA are now charging reps who have been sick with misuse of the sickness policy which means as things stand the only two reps who could turn up to Monday’s meeting without fear of reprisal are Duncan - who has been sacked and therefore out of BA’s bullying clutches - and Mark Everard who is suspended.
We hope you appreciate all this is out of our hands, if BA were really now serious about peace you would think they would facilitate de-rostering with the minimum of fuss but it seems they are stuck in “smash the union” mode whatever the meeting. Even with yesterday’s appointment with Tony Woodley BA refused to grant the reps time off.
We have always said this was never going to be a sprint but a marathon and we all appreciate you must be fed up and anxious to bring this dispute to a proper conclusion. All we can say is you are not alone and we hear there is a vast majority in Waterside who also privately think enough is enough. Trouble is no one will stand up and say so - apart from your Union of course. Hang on in there, from your pain there can be gain.
Heaven help us, BA expect reps to turn up and fly for their salaries instead of being paid to organise strike action. And they can't even throw a sickie any more? Just poor old sacked Duncan and the Porn King available for rabble rousing duties!