Strike Action Planned at NCL
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Strike Action Planned at NCL
Four proposed strike periods have been announced involving, fire, security and ATCOs at NCL, with the first scheduled for 30/06/05
Airport management are currently saying PAX should not adjust their plans, as they are confident services will not be affected, because there will be sufficient non-union staff to maintain services.
Allegedly unions agreed a 3.3% pay rise, but this was rejected by ballot.
Must say I have mixed feelings about this one. The aggressive style of management at NCL has undoubtedly lead to poor morale amongst the remaining work-force. This is sad because in the days of TW NIA was a happy environment.
There seems to be a big dispute about the actual profits of the company, with unions citing £16M and management £200K. Either way senior management (high 6 figure) bonuses seem difficult to justify having been earned by significant redundancies, increased workloads for remaining staff, and worse working conditions overall.
On the other hand 3.3% is the sort of rise one might expect in the public sector. The problem really appears to be the inequity of managers taking massive bonuses when they peg the workers to inflation level rises.
Sadly the timing could not be more cynically targetted to damage family holidays, starting as it does at the beginning of the school holidays. It was somewhat disigenuous of the union rep interviewed on TV to say "they hadn't realised that it was the start of school holidays" Come off it!!
What is really needed here is a change of CEO. JP has become a major liability, he needs to go and allow some of the remaining and reasonable managers to come to a fair deal with their employees. Copenhagen shareholders and councillors I hope you take note.
Airport management are currently saying PAX should not adjust their plans, as they are confident services will not be affected, because there will be sufficient non-union staff to maintain services.
Allegedly unions agreed a 3.3% pay rise, but this was rejected by ballot.
Must say I have mixed feelings about this one. The aggressive style of management at NCL has undoubtedly lead to poor morale amongst the remaining work-force. This is sad because in the days of TW NIA was a happy environment.
There seems to be a big dispute about the actual profits of the company, with unions citing £16M and management £200K. Either way senior management (high 6 figure) bonuses seem difficult to justify having been earned by significant redundancies, increased workloads for remaining staff, and worse working conditions overall.
On the other hand 3.3% is the sort of rise one might expect in the public sector. The problem really appears to be the inequity of managers taking massive bonuses when they peg the workers to inflation level rises.
Sadly the timing could not be more cynically targetted to damage family holidays, starting as it does at the beginning of the school holidays. It was somewhat disigenuous of the union rep interviewed on TV to say "they hadn't realised that it was the start of school holidays" Come off it!!
What is really needed here is a change of CEO. JP has become a major liability, he needs to go and allow some of the remaining and reasonable managers to come to a fair deal with their employees. Copenhagen shareholders and councillors I hope you take note.
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I assume then that the firemen are mainly non union as managers say they will be able to maintain servicies! Without suficient fire cover the airport will have to close. A sad situation but not unexpected if managers are taking huge bonuses whilst the workers get 3.3% at a time where energy bills in particular are rising at closer to 10%. Still I'm sure MME would welcome the extra trafic.
I'll bet this one does not go ahead!
I'll bet this one does not go ahead!
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Airport security is a concern. How exactly are they going to effectively search the many thousands of passengers and their luggage? How can they rely upon their seasonal staff and what if some of them go sick?
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Security worries? Yeah you should be worried. Apparently, the admin staff (phone operators, secretaries, office cleaners etc.) are undergoing training to fill in for those on strike. What a perfect time for the terrorists to strike (no pun intended). Perhaps if we ask nicely they'll take out Parkin at the same time and do us all a favour.
Oh, and as a passenger or member of the general public, don't get taken ill or have any kind of accident that may require first aid because that is supplied by trained security personnel as well.
Don't let there me any kind of accident or incident either because security are heavily involved in these sort of things also.
Oh, and as a passenger or member of the general public, don't get taken ill or have any kind of accident that may require first aid because that is supplied by trained security personnel as well.
Don't let there me any kind of accident or incident either because security are heavily involved in these sort of things also.
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Couldn't they bring in trained staff from Copenhagen?
Airport Ltd. Those same people will also have the chance now to make sure that despite any half baked measures put in place, the strike WILL be effective.Lets hope that the management come to their senses and this can all be avoided.
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EGNT situation
EGNT Airports profit is very healthy if you take away the huge interest payments made as a result of CPHs takeover, plus the dividends paid to the local authorities (which the management choose to express after these variables).
If people are treat like boxes of photocopier paper for long enough (ie no pay rises for several years, jam tomorrow promises) they will finally say enough is enough. Nobody wants a strike but when the CEO goes from £60K (TW era) to £300k whilst everyone else stands still or goes backwards there comes a point where some form of redress/ balance is required.
Shame for the public, but believe you me the management are worried.
If people are treat like boxes of photocopier paper for long enough (ie no pay rises for several years, jam tomorrow promises) they will finally say enough is enough. Nobody wants a strike but when the CEO goes from £60K (TW era) to £300k whilst everyone else stands still or goes backwards there comes a point where some form of redress/ balance is required.
Shame for the public, but believe you me the management are worried.
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You'd condone that would you?
I don't mind being delayed to a certain extent and I agree that working conditions for some at the airport are very poor, but I would rather the airport brought in trained staff from CPH to deal with important issues such as security rather than hastily trained "receptionists and phone operators" as you put it.
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EGNT Days
The sad thing about the situation at EGNT is that - I believe - 99% of the staff would have been happy with a modest reward for their hard work (the companies success, on going change etc.).
However - like most companies run with the CEOs bonus being the single most important factor - an appauling industrial relations situation has developed and it is now very difficult for either side to relent.
If people are treat with utter disresepect, they will utlimately kick off.
We have had to sit and watch Parkin earn more and more money, spout alot of clap trap about market rates and watch our own salaries reduce in value. He'll be gone soon, with a bit of luck, and hopefully will be repalced by someone with blood in their veins and not someone espousing the American dream everytime they open thier gob.
I've been the victim of strikes before and would hope - difficult as it is - that any inconvenienced passengers will take a look at the broader picture.
However - like most companies run with the CEOs bonus being the single most important factor - an appauling industrial relations situation has developed and it is now very difficult for either side to relent.
If people are treat with utter disresepect, they will utlimately kick off.
We have had to sit and watch Parkin earn more and more money, spout alot of clap trap about market rates and watch our own salaries reduce in value. He'll be gone soon, with a bit of luck, and hopefully will be repalced by someone with blood in their veins and not someone espousing the American dream everytime they open thier gob.
I've been the victim of strikes before and would hope - difficult as it is - that any inconvenienced passengers will take a look at the broader picture.
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I'm more than willing to look at the broader picture, as I've said i agree with the motives for going on strike, but you are talking about people who will have spent hundreds and probably thousands of pounds to go on holiday, and for many of them it will be the only holiday they have this year. It is perfectly possible for the people on strike to make their point by not turning up for work and perhaps by having a peaceful picket line outside.
The general concensus from people that I talk to is that sometimes strikes are necessary. People who are due to travel (for the most part) are content to be lumbered with a delay, but if the strikers start preventing people from getting into the airport and ultimately away on holidays that they have spent a lot of money on, any support from the public will dry up very quickly.
The general concensus from people that I talk to is that sometimes strikes are necessary. People who are due to travel (for the most part) are content to be lumbered with a delay, but if the strikers start preventing people from getting into the airport and ultimately away on holidays that they have spent a lot of money on, any support from the public will dry up very quickly.
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I doubt it, certainly the package holiday companies have it covered, for instance in the Thomson brochure it says
and Airtours:
Though no doubt food vouchers will be circulated. Delayed departure due to strikes is covered in most insurance policies, but only to the tune of about £10-20 per 12 hour delay.
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Events beyond our control include: war, threat of war, riots, civil disturbances, terrorist activity, industrial disputes, natural and nuclear disasters, fire, epidemics, health risks, technical problems with transport beyond our control or that of our suppliers, closed or congested airports or ports, hurricanes and other actual or potential severe weather conditions, and any other similar events.
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Strikers on the picket line would be breaking the law if they attempted to prevent anybody, whether passenger or employee, from crossing the picket line. Most of the airport employees are a fairly decent bunch, and I expect the strike (if it goes ahead) will be entirely lawful and peaceful.
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The problem with peaceful and civilised methods of trying to make your point (at Newcastle Airport) is that it will get you precisely nowhere. That's what the last three years has proved.
I'm not militant at all, but I've been pretty shocked at some of things that have gone on in recent times. Individuals who try to 'make a point' are in danger of loosing their jobs. The Unions have advised that the airport are the worst people they've ever dealt with.
The strike - believe me - (if it happens) is an absolute last resort. Moderate, christian people - who wouldn't normally rock the boat - are sick of being put upon.
I'll not bore you with the stories. Whatever spin is put on the story - the case is a simple one. People have been treat with contempt and disresepct. This - probably - is not the best way to achieve redress, as nobody wins (sorry about the cliche) - but it's the only thing Parkin may be forced to listen to. No doubt he'll use it to turn the knife a bit more when it's all over.
I'm not militant at all, but I've been pretty shocked at some of things that have gone on in recent times. Individuals who try to 'make a point' are in danger of loosing their jobs. The Unions have advised that the airport are the worst people they've ever dealt with.
The strike - believe me - (if it happens) is an absolute last resort. Moderate, christian people - who wouldn't normally rock the boat - are sick of being put upon.
I'll not bore you with the stories. Whatever spin is put on the story - the case is a simple one. People have been treat with contempt and disresepct. This - probably - is not the best way to achieve redress, as nobody wins (sorry about the cliche) - but it's the only thing Parkin may be forced to listen to. No doubt he'll use it to turn the knife a bit more when it's all over.
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strike action ncl
I dont really get your point John. Not turning up for work and mounting a peaceful picket IS a strike. A strike cannot work unless it has the potential to hurt the employer. The employer in this case carries passengers,so it is inevitable that they are affected. Picking a busy time for a strike is the most effective way of winning. It is obviously a waste of time striking at a slack time,as this could no doubt be covered by non union workers,who,incidentally would gain from any benefits achieved by the strike. I do not know the circumstances at ncl,and therefore have no opinion on jusification for the strike.