Seeing as we've been so kindly hosted here on a pilot's forum, here's a checklist for the BASSA faithful to ponder.
Stress of industrial action - CHECK!
Marriages & friendships destroyed - CHECK!
Psychological damage inflicted on crew - CHECK!
22 days of lost pay - CHECK!
Loss of ST - CHECK!
22 crew dismissed - CHECK!
100 crew suspended - CHECK!
Vilification in the national/international press - CHECK!
Derided by Joe Public - CHECK!
Criticised in Parliment - CHECK!
"Unjustified strike" said by Labour PM Gordon Brown- CHECK!
"Unjustified strike" said by Lord Adonis - CHECK!
"Unjustified strike" said by Lord Mandelson - CHECK!
"Unjustified strike" said by Labour party leader Ed Miliband - CHECK!
"Irresponsible action" said by PM David Cameron - CHECK!
"Irresponsible action" said by Chancellor George Osbourne - CHECK!
Vilified by other departments in BA - CHECK!
Strike threat by BASSA neutered forever more - CHECK!
Redeployment agreement protected (for now) - CHECK!
Mixed fleet destroyed - NO!
Firm protection for ALL current earnings - NO!
Firm protection of current & future work - NO!
Sacked reinstated "we won't leave anyone behind"- NO!
Suspended compensated for "hurt & distress" - NO!
High profile court cases in Employment Tribunals/High Court - NO!
BA embarrassed in open court - NO!
Burke Group named & shamed - NO!
ST reinstated without penalty - NO!
PCCC outed and destroyed - NO!
Pilots pay deal matched - NO! (they got 4% this year plus shares and no productivity change)
Disruption agreement protected - NO!
VCC disbanded - NO!
BA grounded/bought to its knees pleading for mercy - NO!
BALPA expelled from TUC - NO!
LGW protected for current crew - NO!
Willie Walsh sacked by board - NO! (promoted)
Board resigned in disgrace - NO!
Consumer confidence destroyed - NO!
Loads deceminated - NO!
Brand destroyed - NO!
Pride intact - NO!
Facilities agreement protected - NO!
BASSA survive to fight another day - NO! (single union in BA)
BASSA accounts verified - NO!
Drinks with crew that never buy a round - NO!*
Dinner with whinging crew who talk mindlessly about X Factor, Britain's Got Talent, Hello! magazine and other rubbish then don't pay their way - NO!*
Was it all worth it?
Let's end on a nice ditty
YouTube - Something Inside So Strong With Lyrics
ps Betty Girl, it may be unhelpful but after any strike you have to take stock of what you set out to achieve and what you have, in reality, achieved. BASSA are now recommending unanimously the worst of all the deals presented to them since June 30 2009.
* in honour of our resident windbag Watersidewonker
