Flyeruk
Beg to differ with your carefully considered post. If the deal that appears to have been put together by the two sides is acceptable to both, then surely te logical next step is to put it to the membership in a postal ballot. The shilly-shallying around in holding a meeting where only a small percentage of the membership will be able to attend and then asking those attendees to determine whether the ofer should be put to the wider membership is pure nonsense. It arises sheerly because the union is reluctant to reballot for industrial action. The pretext given is that there is a mandate out there which expires pdq so the union needs to do something in order to be able to use it. Bat that is pure baloney. If the membership feel that the deal is not up to the mark, they can be reballoted on IA. Of course, where the wheels fall off is that Unite have put so many items down as a reason for balloting, that they may have run out of grievances.
Regarding cabin crew being dependant on high levels of variable pay in order to make ends meet, that, sadly, is not the company's problem. Another thought - The union claim that the allowances are only there to cover the high living costs encountered in some destinations. See the £15 yoghurt story. So the only elements that should provide an income for staff are the box and long range payments and the like. Yet it is patently clear that cabin crew do make money out of the allowances system, either by self catering or by eating on the cheap.
Does a company get the union it deserves ? Probably. But in this instance, weak management in IFCE in the past has meant that the union has been able to dictate terms. This dispute has lasted as long as it has because the current management recognised that rolling over and playing dead was not the correct approach to industrial relations. The fact that they are less acquiescent was something that took the union by surprise.
Should sacked crew be reinstated ? Should ACAS arbitrate on them ? Well, no. Anyone who feels that they have been unjustly treated has the option to go to a tribunal. If Unite believe that there is better than a 50% chance of success, they will provide financial and legal support. So why the need to go to ACAS ?