BA Unofficial Strike ( Merged)
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I think the reality of the present day (30years since Rainboe drove / humped bags [cabin crew excepted
] / checked people in) with modern AAA reconciliation system requirements for baggage, hi-tech pushback trucks, new checkin systems etc is such that the practical delivery of a pilot workforce to assist in the departure of pax on aircraft is a non-starter.
However, that doesn't mean that the presence of pilots standing in the terminals would be unappreciated by senior management and our customers and may help to mitigate the disateruos situation that is developing.
As to comments about pilots not knowing what happens the other side of the flight deck door, well there may be some truth in that in so far as the detailed level is concerned, as there is virtually no comprehension as to what we do by any other group of staff. It does not however, mean that pilots have a closed mindset and a lack of business awareness to see how damaging these wildcat strikes are to our futures, and as such would not be prepared to muck in wherever practical.
Now ask yourself if (m)any other groups of staff would say that. Could you see CC cleaning cabins, moving bags, shifting catering trolleys, driving potable water trucks, emptying toilets, driving pushback trucks, driving coaches etc.
Replace CC with MT drivers/checkin staff/loaders etc.
] / checked people in) with modern AAA reconciliation system requirements for baggage, hi-tech pushback trucks, new checkin systems etc is such that the practical delivery of a pilot workforce to assist in the departure of pax on aircraft is a non-starter.However, that doesn't mean that the presence of pilots standing in the terminals would be unappreciated by senior management and our customers and may help to mitigate the disateruos situation that is developing.
As to comments about pilots not knowing what happens the other side of the flight deck door, well there may be some truth in that in so far as the detailed level is concerned, as there is virtually no comprehension as to what we do by any other group of staff. It does not however, mean that pilots have a closed mindset and a lack of business awareness to see how damaging these wildcat strikes are to our futures, and as such would not be prepared to muck in wherever practical.
Now ask yourself if (m)any other groups of staff would say that. Could you see CC cleaning cabins, moving bags, shifting catering trolleys, driving potable water trucks, emptying toilets, driving pushback trucks, driving coaches etc.
Replace CC with MT drivers/checkin staff/loaders etc.
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I thought these Gate Gourmet staff are all ex-BA due to BA flogging off their airline meals business to a company that knows how not to treat staff. Might explain the reasons why BA workers have stopped working.
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Topbunk has summed up the topic with his usual professionalism and I raise my hat to him. Most of the crew I saw could not get home quick enough with the prospect of several days off 'gratis'. As a member of the union I am ashamed of the actions of my fellow BA staff who show contempt for the travelling public who pay their wages. Gate G's problems are for them to sort out.
As usual though all the staff will be welcomed back as if nothing has ever happened. Many of us would like to see some dismissals which help conscentrate a few staff. Pleased to see Easy up 28 pence yesterday.
As usual though all the staff will be welcomed back as if nothing has ever happened. Many of us would like to see some dismissals which help conscentrate a few staff. Pleased to see Easy up 28 pence yesterday.
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LTN man is correct many of the GG staff are indeed ex-BA catering and enjoy custom / practice and better rates of pay as a result of the employing of GG to do BA's food. FYI the site is on a long lease to BA whom I am sure also on the real estate above it. Whatever the outcome of this sad incident it will cost BA as if the costs increase at GG BA will end up paying for it or ultimately the passenger. As BA staff I like many others at LHR are ashamed by the actions of other BA staff and the contempt they display to the travelling public.
Now let me see if I've understood this correctly......
Gate Gourmet is bleeding GBP25m p.a, a situation that's clearly unsustainable.
It's also just lost a huge chuck of its business with Virgin.
GG has offered staff continued employment at lower salaries/less vacation and is hiring seasonal workers to cover demand peaks in order to remain in erxistence and provide employment for 2000 people.
Some GG staff broke their contractual obligations by entering into an unofficial strike, limiting GG's ability to fulfil its contractual obligations to´its customers. e.g BA
GG terminated the strikers' contracts.
BA staff with union-based affiliation to the GG staff also broke their contractual obligations by entering into an unofficial sympathy strike, limiting BA's ability to fulfil its contractual obligations to its customers. e.g the travelling public.
Bl66dy hell - I though we were past this idiocy!
And BA is still vertically integrated to the extent that it's providing bus, baggage and sundry other services?
Gate Gourmet is bleeding GBP25m p.a, a situation that's clearly unsustainable.
It's also just lost a huge chuck of its business with Virgin.
GG has offered staff continued employment at lower salaries/less vacation and is hiring seasonal workers to cover demand peaks in order to remain in erxistence and provide employment for 2000 people.
Some GG staff broke their contractual obligations by entering into an unofficial strike, limiting GG's ability to fulfil its contractual obligations to´its customers. e.g BA
GG terminated the strikers' contracts.
BA staff with union-based affiliation to the GG staff also broke their contractual obligations by entering into an unofficial sympathy strike, limiting BA's ability to fulfil its contractual obligations to its customers. e.g the travelling public.
Bl66dy hell - I though we were past this idiocy!
And BA is still vertically integrated to the extent that it's providing bus, baggage and sundry other services?
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As a member of BA crew I cannot express how p*ssed off I am at the moment. Over the past couple of years most concerned have worked their balls off to get BA into the position of announcing record profits only last week.
With that announcement I felt proud at the effort put in to achieve this, now it seems that it has been blown out of the water due to circumstances totally out of BA's control. How the staff that walked out yesterday can even start to justify what they have done is beyond me. I have in the past always thought that negotiation was the way to handle this, but I now just hope that Willy lives up to his reputation as a union basher and sacks the lot of them. These guys don't know how good they have it at the moment.
I feel very sorry for the passengers who have and are suffering due to this ILLEGAL action and also for all the crew members like myself now stranded at stations all over the network. There is no excuse, in reality BA cannot afford more action like this in the future, either the unions go or the airline goes. I know which I would prefer to see given a good spanking and sent off into the sunset.
With that announcement I felt proud at the effort put in to achieve this, now it seems that it has been blown out of the water due to circumstances totally out of BA's control. How the staff that walked out yesterday can even start to justify what they have done is beyond me. I have in the past always thought that negotiation was the way to handle this, but I now just hope that Willy lives up to his reputation as a union basher and sacks the lot of them. These guys don't know how good they have it at the moment.
I feel very sorry for the passengers who have and are suffering due to this ILLEGAL action and also for all the crew members like myself now stranded at stations all over the network. There is no excuse, in reality BA cannot afford more action like this in the future, either the unions go or the airline goes. I know which I would prefer to see given a good spanking and sent off into the sunset.
Join Date: Mar 2004
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Artificial Horizon - it's pretty nasty to see big profits announced and then the airline in complete shutdown. It will be back to the drawing board, afraid, as this is 70's style action and it cannot keep happening.
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Am I right in thinking that before the Labour party became the government the trade union legislation would not have allowed such a strike by BA staff, didn't they change the law to give back the unions their old powers to cause such disruption?
It is surely time for BA to pick their time and get rid of the people who want confrontation and change the restrictive practices which wouldn't be allowed in any common sense environment. It will cause a lot of pain but seems like it has to be done one day.
It is surely time for BA to pick their time and get rid of the people who want confrontation and change the restrictive practices which wouldn't be allowed in any common sense environment. It will cause a lot of pain but seems like it has to be done one day.
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No you are not right, secondary action is still illegal. One of the issues that began the union's disillusionment with Labour was their failure to repeal the trade union legislation introduced in the 1990s. The TGWU must be feeling rather uncomfortable at the moment I think, it appears their members are playing into the hands of anyone who would want to be rid of the unions.
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May I suggest that Mr. Blur and the other 644 members, get back from their 9 weeks of R & R, reconvene parliament, and sort this and various other pressing matters out now, rather than in October!
Or maybe help the catering company, by preparing in-flight meals, to get things moving, at the catering company's rates of pay, of course!
Or maybe help the catering company, by preparing in-flight meals, to get things moving, at the catering company's rates of pay, of course!
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Gait Gormless have already stated their dire financial (or rather lack of) position. How many days can they survive before going totally TU.
My sympathies to the thousands of innocents caught up in this fiasco.
My sympathies to the thousands of innocents caught up in this fiasco.
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That's the problem, they can't. Perhaps Margaret Becket could lend them a lift on one of her Royal flights. The irony of all this is that it was all caused by Virgin. The smiling jersey must be pissing himself.
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Baggage Handlers & Drivers
Fantastic excuse now created for culling their cosy working conditions now don't you think? Surprised there was such an effect of them walking out, when drivers are normally hiding in location where their radio contact is unreliable, preventing them from actually doing any work...
TGWU - They Greatly Want Unemployment
I have much sympathy however for highly out of the ordinary contract termination of Gate Gourmet workers - have seen many on TV who were patently not part of any dispute.
Gate Gourmet management will - hopefully - be paying a hefty chunck of compensation to all affected by their lack of management.
Same goes for BA management who failed to have any contingency plans in place.
Ramp definitely, but customer-facing staff would be an error as quality control would fall. What is BA's reputation built upon (supposedly)? - Quality.
Fantastic excuse now created for culling their cosy working conditions now don't you think? Surprised there was such an effect of them walking out, when drivers are normally hiding in location where their radio contact is unreliable, preventing them from actually doing any work...
TGWU - They Greatly Want Unemployment
I have much sympathy however for highly out of the ordinary contract termination of Gate Gourmet workers - have seen many on TV who were patently not part of any dispute.
Gate Gourmet management will - hopefully - be paying a hefty chunck of compensation to all affected by their lack of management.
Same goes for BA management who failed to have any contingency plans in place.
As I said a few sackings might focus BA staff, but be assured it will never happen. WW must now look to T5 with at least check-in or ramp as a target for outsourcing.
Last edited by Re-Heat; 12th Aug 2005 at 09:34.
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Stop the press…….Breaking NEWS !!!!
A source inside British Airways (BA) has leaked to the Daily PPRuNe that BA's senior management are close to completing secret negotiations on a deal with a company called ‘Gate Pilot’.
The new deal will see all of BA’s FlightCrew re-employed through an outsourcing arrangement, with terms and conditions of employment similar to those found in many low-cost airlines.
An unnamed Irish spokesperson from BA said that he was “Very excited by the idea of being able to rid BA of the archaic practices of long-term employment rights and seniority systems, as well as saving a bloomin’ fortune in pension & national insurance contributions” and the miracle worker (for it is he
) went on to say “This new deal will do wonders for BA’s bottom line, shareholder dividends and Directors incentive bonus payments. With some swinging cuts, BA will become the lowest-cost global airline !.... begorrah”.
Asked about the what he thought the FlightCrew might think of the new deal he commented, in a thick Dublin accent, that “If you mean those overpaid bunch of prima Donna’s, I think you will find that Gate Pilot will offer them fully protected rights under TUPE… well, at least to start with, begorrah!”
The American spokesperson for Gate Pilot, Mr.S Eptictank, commented that “Employment through Gate Pilot will see former BA FlightCrew continuing to enjoy some, though not all, of the benefits presently afforded to them through their direct employment with British Airways. Gate Pilot and British Airways management teams are confident that the FlightCrew workforce will understand the need to cut costs in order to protect the bottom line for BA’s shareholders and that this action is both crucial and in-line with British Airways drive to outsource as much as possible and that no department is sacrosanct, not even Flight Operations”.
British Airways FlightCrew union, BLUPA, were unavailable for comment but a recorded message on their answering machine suggested that they were off seeking medical advice for injection of some backbone and to look for a dictionary so that they could determine the meaning of the word ‘hypocrisy’.
The new deal will see all of BA’s FlightCrew re-employed through an outsourcing arrangement, with terms and conditions of employment similar to those found in many low-cost airlines.
An unnamed Irish spokesperson from BA said that he was “Very excited by the idea of being able to rid BA of the archaic practices of long-term employment rights and seniority systems, as well as saving a bloomin’ fortune in pension & national insurance contributions” and the miracle worker (for it is he
) went on to say “This new deal will do wonders for BA’s bottom line, shareholder dividends and Directors incentive bonus payments. With some swinging cuts, BA will become the lowest-cost global airline !.... begorrah”.Asked about the what he thought the FlightCrew might think of the new deal he commented, in a thick Dublin accent, that “If you mean those overpaid bunch of prima Donna’s, I think you will find that Gate Pilot will offer them fully protected rights under TUPE… well, at least to start with, begorrah!”
The American spokesperson for Gate Pilot, Mr.S Eptictank, commented that “Employment through Gate Pilot will see former BA FlightCrew continuing to enjoy some, though not all, of the benefits presently afforded to them through their direct employment with British Airways. Gate Pilot and British Airways management teams are confident that the FlightCrew workforce will understand the need to cut costs in order to protect the bottom line for BA’s shareholders and that this action is both crucial and in-line with British Airways drive to outsource as much as possible and that no department is sacrosanct, not even Flight Operations”.
British Airways FlightCrew union, BLUPA, were unavailable for comment but a recorded message on their answering machine suggested that they were off seeking medical advice for injection of some backbone and to look for a dictionary so that they could determine the meaning of the word ‘hypocrisy’.
HZ123
Outsourcing customer touchpoints is a recipe for disaster.
Assuming in this age of rationalisation that your customers do in fact encounter a human being prior to boarding, they need to be your best people i.e call centre, ticket desk, check-in, boarding, cabin, lost and found.
If you relinquish control of these vital service differentiators, you've lost
Outsourcing customer touchpoints is a recipe for disaster.
Assuming in this age of rationalisation that your customers do in fact encounter a human being prior to boarding, they need to be your best people i.e call centre, ticket desk, check-in, boarding, cabin, lost and found.
If you relinquish control of these vital service differentiators, you've lost
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I am a pilot. I have made myself aware of every aspect of the operation of the jet i sign for, from checkin to check out.
I have also been (amongst others) a baggage handler, construction labourer, heavy pant operator, hgv driver, security manager and security operative.I have a valid airside pass. I dont feel it would be too much of a challege to turn up and shove a few planes about, chuck a few bags around and make a few butties, nor would I be too proud to do it. I have a couple of weeks leave and would happily break the w@nkers strike for free . Its a good sales pitch that such unskilled work gets itself sold and militantly embedded as an indespensible entity. This sort of work isnt skilled it can be picked up quickly as a learned task. Working a ramp is only exclusive in europe. Regular people the world over can do it with out much ado. I know ive been there done it ate the pie. Protectionist bull****.
So who ever said that pilots wouldnt know what goes on outside the cockpit,look to your own breadth (or lack) of experience before you call others. You could maybe step into my left seat while i'm busy at heathrow..... I dont think so .
As for the cabin crew ,weed out the wankers. Its outrageous that they get found rooms while the public dont. Those within reasonable distance should have gone home , nay volunteered to go home and be flexible, but unfortunatly they are also infiltrated by a bunch of tossers ruining the future for the younger keener people with their poison and sad old philosphies.
I have also been (amongst others) a baggage handler, construction labourer, heavy pant operator, hgv driver, security manager and security operative.I have a valid airside pass. I dont feel it would be too much of a challege to turn up and shove a few planes about, chuck a few bags around and make a few butties, nor would I be too proud to do it. I have a couple of weeks leave and would happily break the w@nkers strike for free . Its a good sales pitch that such unskilled work gets itself sold and militantly embedded as an indespensible entity. This sort of work isnt skilled it can be picked up quickly as a learned task. Working a ramp is only exclusive in europe. Regular people the world over can do it with out much ado. I know ive been there done it ate the pie. Protectionist bull****.
So who ever said that pilots wouldnt know what goes on outside the cockpit,look to your own breadth (or lack) of experience before you call others. You could maybe step into my left seat while i'm busy at heathrow..... I dont think so .
As for the cabin crew ,weed out the wankers. Its outrageous that they get found rooms while the public dont. Those within reasonable distance should have gone home , nay volunteered to go home and be flexible, but unfortunatly they are also infiltrated by a bunch of tossers ruining the future for the younger keener people with their poison and sad old philosphies.
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Industry margins are very tight. One day strike can easily change the annual report figures from black to red.
Also there will be a plenty of passengers who will decide to use another airline (plenty of them at LHR) in the future. Don't be surprised about possible cuts affecting all BA departments. That's the grave you have made yourself.
Also there will be a plenty of passengers who will decide to use another airline (plenty of them at LHR) in the future. Don't be surprised about possible cuts affecting all BA departments. That's the grave you have made yourself.