Following the normal rules of negotiation, we were all led to believe that BASSA's "counter offer" was going to be four points to be negotiated with the help of ACAS which would all appear on the strike ballot if talks failed.
Now it seems to be ten different points that do not form a counter offer but sound more like a "set of demands" with no clear statement of what will be presented as agreeable for resolution at ACAS or what will appear on the strike ballot should these completely undefined negotiations fail.
Given we have been hearing about a strike ballot since well before 10/10/10/10/10 .... , BASSA and its cohorts have completely lost the plot and any rational sense of direction or adherence to rules of engagement seems to have flown out of the window.
Under these highly confused circumstances, BA would be ill-advised to enter into any negotiations with anyone or any party whatsoever, including attending at ACAS, until it had been:
1. Reassured of exactly what the respective authorities, responsibilities and bona-fide of any presented Union negotiators to this dispute are,
2. Received a clear statement of the Union's counter-offer that would lead to resolution should it be acceptable to BA, and,
3. Received a clear statement of the reasons that would appear on the elusive strike ballot should BA not agree to these terms.
Short of this BA would be foolish to continue in good faith negotiations with this floundering body that is collectively called "the Union" particularly as BA currently holds all the cards and needs to do absolutely nothing.
Last edited by AV Flyer; 5th Dec 2010 at 16:15.