I looked at this thread expecting to read about the thread topic and find it has descended into the usual BASSAbashing by the usual suspects.
BASSA made mistakes as did we all but we achieved an honourable negotiated Settlement Agreement, recognising our Union and promising to abide by our industrial agreements.
Upholding that agreement and the new behaviours required of it is challenging for both sides but a recent joint message from both our CEO Keith Williams and the head of Unite Len McCluskey, addressed not only to BASSA members but our whole IFCE department including our managers, shows the commitment the Leadership Team have to making it a success.
Moving forward, our dispute exposed a dysfunctionality that goes deeper than just our Cabin Crew Union. The New Year is bringing new initiatives, including closer collaboration between Flight Ops and IFCE and Beyond the Flight Deck. The senior Cabin Crew have been invited to take part in a confidential survey to identify Flight Crew behaviours which would support our community and cement the foundations of the refreshing new relationship required of our Settlement Agreement.
The Cabin Crew dispute saw an anti Cabin Crew sentiment become accepted as the cultural norm by some but peace has restored dignity to our profession. We may not be as technically qualified or highly trained as other employees but our role is as important. Indeed innovative developments, such as equipping the Senior Cabin Crew with I Pads and the newly launched Flywell forum, are empowering and up-skilling us whilst making us more productive. Plans for CSDs to manage their own teams and harnessing our community’s knowledge and passion to improve the customer experience will reduce our departments overheads, as ground positions duplicating these functions can be cut from the business.
Back to the thread topic. If the merger goes ahead our new Flight Crew colleagues can expect to be welcomed to a Company that does not tolerate bullying and a Cabin Crew community ready to support them if should they be subjected to any.
Our Company is reportedly recruiting 800 Pilots over the next few years and the newly acquired short haul slots are predicted to be used for long haul flights. With new aircraft rolling out too, this is an exciting time of expansion and those Pilots who are junior now will benefit long term, with opportunities for promotion and fleet movement if they merge with BMI.
A ‘NO’ vote may not affect your terms and conditions in the short term but any future expansion will undoubtedly take place on the lower cost BMI fleet. My humble advice would be for the junior Flight Crew to persuade the senior Pilots to vote to accept the deal, to give themselves a future.
Instead of focusing on the Cabin Crew and obsessing about BASSA and rising to the bait offered by the Count, I recommend you all engage with your Association Reps to discuss how you will achieve the required productivity to seal the deal, as it has an expiration date.
The postings made by Dingbaticus on this site are my own thoughts, feelings and beliefs and don’t necessarily represent my employers positions, strategies or opinions.