Litebulbs - "It is a trade dispute, no more no less."
I completely disagree.
It is a power struggle as to who controls BA's IFCE operations.
Did you honestly believe BASSA was ever going to accept the BA/Woodley brokered deal? BA knew they were safe in offering that deal that BASSA would reject it. If BA thought for one moment it would have been accepted they would never have come to an agreement with Woodley in the first place.
BA knew BASSA would reject it which would then let them off the hook on not having to negotiate any further. BA needed something to reasonably justify not negotiating otherwise they would have been seen to not be wearing the white hat in attempting to resolve the dispute.
BA cannot come to any agreement that leaves the current leadership of BASSA intact otherwise BASSA will simply kick-up again and again and again within a matter of months. If it's not hot towels it will be not closing window blinds. If it is not extra payments for non-functional lights in the crew rest areas it will be some other unhelpful matter and every time it will be "we'll strike and strike and strike until we're sick"!
Don't you see that this is all about power but no-one can admit that is what it is about? BA cannot say openly "we do not like your choice in Union branch leadership and until you change it we will not settle". Rather all they can do is appear to be negotiating reasonably while continually finding plausible reasons not to settle and hoping all the time that BASSA's leadership will self combust.
Am I the only one who sees this?
Last edited by AV Flyer; 2nd Apr 2011 at 23:49.