Thanks for being so honest airrage and Hand Solo.
You tip your hand (pun unintended) every time you post. BRAL's post was bang on the money; the problem really is that what you want and what we want are really not different sides of the same coin, they are different coins, and hence there is no compromise possible on here. What is really needed is a meeting (s) between our BALPA, your BACC, and the two sets of managements.
I live in hope.
Having said all that, I was talking to our Chief Pilot Fleets the other day, and he mentioned that mainline were now noticing that the load factors on the old RJ routes now operated by 737s are well down (relatively) and that the routes were not really viable on these aircraft types. The plan, apparently, is to replace them with Embraers in the short/medium term. This is the future for the BACEX base at Gatwick, expect an announcement soon. Having said all that, coud it be that this was a long range plan after all, and aimed at sorting out the short haul problems?
Finally, because it irks me a bit. Some BA guys keep going on about how BACE are 'proud to work for peanuts' or something like that.
We're not. We think we need to be paid more, and we shall be working towards that goal.
What we were proud of was our ability to get the job done, to achieve the flying roster, to provide a good service to the peeps who eventually pay our wages - the customer, and, (old fashioned concept though it is), be part of a successful Company. Ever since we started mixing with BA, we have amazed by the totally self oriented attitudes, the scrabbling for small print and the rule book to avoid carrying out the job, the ridiculous and constant detail changes to everything, the refusal to compromise at all with management over anything, and most of all the polarisation which exists between all levels of BA staffing.
It makes us sick to be part of it. Its NOT an individual thing (I even have friends who work for BA) itis a collective Company and Corporate malaise.
Harry, we don't like it at all - remember the only reason that BA's offer to buy us was accepted was because BA made it very clear that the franchise was not up for renewal. Despite 9/11, the market shrinkage, BA management , BA management implants to us, BA doctrines on how to do everything, despite having to accept BAR costs and overheads, WE ARE STILL MAKING A PROFIT! I leave it to your imagination how much bigger that would be if we had not had to become part of BA.
Well, no good wingeing, we're here now. But do accept that it will take a while before we fully acclimatise to the ME ME ME doctrine of the BA workforce ethic, which seems to me to run from the hangar cat up to Colin Marshall. And also, do not expect to have your own way with us over scope. I know you have tried to split our 146 guys away by bribing them with mainline Ts and Cs, because there's a horrid anomaly for you there which immediately breaches your scope plan ! In the final analysis, my colleague above has it right, you won't strike over this for the same reason you have actually raised the issue in the first place your own self interest.
Harry, love to buy you a beer sometime - how have YOU found BA?
