Gentlemen. The significance of the analogy between a previous dispute at BA and Walsh's latest efforts, is that united we stand, divided we fall. The clever manipulation by Walsh to involve other employees to "save BA", has diluted trade unionism in the airline and fostered an 'I'm alright Jack' culture. There is always envy within groups of workers in a large organisation about what they consider their worth. Engineers at BA may consider themselves underpaid, and regard baggage handlers as overpaid for the training and skill required for their profession.
In British Airways it seemed everyone disliked the cabin crew..... but coveted their job. Hence the legions of VCC's from dreary dead end jobs in Waterside and Newcastle, who fancied this opportunity to fly as cabin crew. I can assure you that no cabin crew would ever volunteer to be baggage handlers.
BA flight crew are on a hiding to nothing if they consider industrial action, as the rank and file of BA will be turned against them in a blitz of propaganda and rhetoric from IAG in Madrid. They will be accused of shafting the belated efforts of BA management to turn shorthaul around into profitablility. And before you know it, the wrath of Walsh will unleash a holocaust of further attacks on the sacred Bidline, and whist he is at it, the final salary pension scheme will be terminated for current employees. You only have to witness what is going on at Unilever. The final salary pension scheme ended, not due to concerns of the financial viability of the company, but simply to increase shareholder value.
The greatest mistake that BA's pilots made was not to support their cabin crew colleagues. That decision has weakened trade unionism as a whole in BA, and has neutered the will of BA flight crew to fight for anything in the future. This is a defining moment and definitely not a time to roll over as it will only bring a temporary respite. Much worse is in the pipeline.
Last edited by Count Niemantznarr; 8th Jan 2012 at 14:19.