BA staff walkout @ LHR
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: EGKM
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Unofficial action such as this can never be justified. There is a due process which should be followed regardless of the strength of feeling.
It is true that BA has had a reduction in staff numbers over the past year or so as a result of FSAS. It is also true that there is a policy of no forced redundancies, and where possible displaced staff are found other positions via Careerlink.
Staff currently manually sign in for work. When shifts are quiet surpluss staff are allowed to go home early - with no loss of pay. Indeed some are probably even on overtime, so may find themsleves in the fortunate position of being paid time and a half for being at home. Of course in times of disruption staff would be expected to stay on, and handle the problems; but not for nothing. Overtime rates would kick in from the end of shift time.
ATR is used in several areas at LHR now, and has been in operation for some time. It has not resulted in staff in those areas working split shifts.
The 1st quarter results are out soon. They will probably be in line with the 4th quarter loss of £200 million. Yeilds are low. Premium traffic is almost non-existant. How can these irresponsible, selfish people think that their illegal action can do anything but strengthen BA's resolve to introduce ATR.
UK airlines do not have the luxury of Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. UK airlines are not getting the billions of $ of handouts that have allowed carriers like Delta, Continental and Northwest to post profits. If BA goes bankrupt - thats it.
If senior A grade staff took this illegal action they should pay the price. At the least any one who refused to work over the last few days should never be allowed to have the benefit of staff travel - ever.
It is true that BA has had a reduction in staff numbers over the past year or so as a result of FSAS. It is also true that there is a policy of no forced redundancies, and where possible displaced staff are found other positions via Careerlink.
Staff currently manually sign in for work. When shifts are quiet surpluss staff are allowed to go home early - with no loss of pay. Indeed some are probably even on overtime, so may find themsleves in the fortunate position of being paid time and a half for being at home. Of course in times of disruption staff would be expected to stay on, and handle the problems; but not for nothing. Overtime rates would kick in from the end of shift time.
ATR is used in several areas at LHR now, and has been in operation for some time. It has not resulted in staff in those areas working split shifts.
The 1st quarter results are out soon. They will probably be in line with the 4th quarter loss of £200 million. Yeilds are low. Premium traffic is almost non-existant. How can these irresponsible, selfish people think that their illegal action can do anything but strengthen BA's resolve to introduce ATR.
UK airlines do not have the luxury of Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. UK airlines are not getting the billions of $ of handouts that have allowed carriers like Delta, Continental and Northwest to post profits. If BA goes bankrupt - thats it.
If senior A grade staff took this illegal action they should pay the price. At the least any one who refused to work over the last few days should never be allowed to have the benefit of staff travel - ever.
Prince of Darkness
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: USA and a Brit
Posts: 350
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
BA staff have shot themselves in the foot. This is not the high flying nineties. The industry is in the toilet and the last thing staff need to do is give pax another reason to select a different airline - staff need all the business they can get. If folks don't want to work, fine go home and stay home. Give the job to someone who will stay at their post. The climate is not ripe for this kind of industrial behaviour.
Ozzy
Ozzy
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: UK
Posts: 1,914
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, it's all over! 250 people from one department went on unofficial action. Lovely chance though to indulge in a shedload of BA bashing, and 'while we're at it', let's stick it to the BA pilots too ('arrogant lot'). Well it's over! 250 people went out, the rest of the airline (some 50,000) tried to work around it as best they could. But don't let it stop the abuse! And now, the other 49,750 will be doing their best to get people to their destinations and get the airline back to normal, having hated being associated with such inconsiderate and savage action. But then a bit of BA-abuse is such fun, isn't it?
Guest
Posts: n/a
Another constructive comment from JW411.
As has already been stated, there is a due process for industrial action which these people stepped outside costing the passengers and the airline considerable amounts of money and jeopardising thousands of livelyhoods, (Anyone who thinks our livelyhoods haven't been put in jeopardy needs to wake up...).There can't really be any justification for that.
Many in the company are not happy with their lot but were working towards agreement via the trade unions, though it is sometimes dispiriting. This action has undermined the rest of the staff, the company and the trade union.
As has already been stated, there is a due process for industrial action which these people stepped outside costing the passengers and the airline considerable amounts of money and jeopardising thousands of livelyhoods, (Anyone who thinks our livelyhoods haven't been put in jeopardy needs to wake up...).There can't really be any justification for that.
Many in the company are not happy with their lot but were working towards agreement via the trade unions, though it is sometimes dispiriting. This action has undermined the rest of the staff, the company and the trade union.
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: FL 370
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I still feel we haven't got down to the nitty-gritty on this one, despite Anti-Ice's insights.
I have great respect for BA ground staff, I use Terminal 4 about twice a week, and think that on the whole they do an outstanding job given the ever higher passenger expectations, fuelled by very unrealistic Company television advertisements..., and the abundantly clear lack of resources.
Remember the listening bank ? The bank that liked to say 'yes' ? Well, BA have now become the airline that likes to say 'sorry'
Personally, this strike has inconvenienced me to the tune of £ 350.-- The price of a ticket on another carrier to get me to my intended Western European destination, and from Terminal 4 at that.
I believe that this strike action has done no-one any favours, but the ground staff must clearly have felt they were pushed too far once too often for them to take such drastic action.
As an aside, BA staff here and everywhere must surely be ashamed by their 'colleague' Brutus Shuttleworth, who somehow seems unworthy of that accolade. Lovely that, knifing your cabin crew in the back.
Quoque Tu, Brute ?
I have great respect for BA ground staff, I use Terminal 4 about twice a week, and think that on the whole they do an outstanding job given the ever higher passenger expectations, fuelled by very unrealistic Company television advertisements..., and the abundantly clear lack of resources.
Remember the listening bank ? The bank that liked to say 'yes' ? Well, BA have now become the airline that likes to say 'sorry'
Personally, this strike has inconvenienced me to the tune of £ 350.-- The price of a ticket on another carrier to get me to my intended Western European destination, and from Terminal 4 at that.
I believe that this strike action has done no-one any favours, but the ground staff must clearly have felt they were pushed too far once too often for them to take such drastic action.
As an aside, BA staff here and everywhere must surely be ashamed by their 'colleague' Brutus Shuttleworth, who somehow seems unworthy of that accolade. Lovely that, knifing your cabin crew in the back.
Quoque Tu, Brute ?
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: UK
Posts: 361
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thankyou flyingdutchman for your recognition - and all the others who realise that despite being non-professional , groundstaff have a very hard time of it at times.
They are sworn at /insulted on a DAILY basis , and quite often physically threatened / attacked.
They are dedicated, and the company rely on handfuls of goodwill from them at times.
They would NOT do this unless they were pretty much desperate.
They do not earn great money - my friend there has to work a double shift every week just to get by.
They just feel insulted that these draconian measures were even suggested, let alone imposed .
Ozzy, while i agree many things are not 'ripe' in worldwide aviation right now - how would you respond to a significant pay drop / significant change to your conditions?
We have agreed to alot already.
This is just going too far.
They are sworn at /insulted on a DAILY basis , and quite often physically threatened / attacked.
They are dedicated, and the company rely on handfuls of goodwill from them at times.
They would NOT do this unless they were pretty much desperate.
They do not earn great money - my friend there has to work a double shift every week just to get by.
They just feel insulted that these draconian measures were even suggested, let alone imposed .
Ozzy, while i agree many things are not 'ripe' in worldwide aviation right now - how would you respond to a significant pay drop / significant change to your conditions?
We have agreed to alot already.
This is just going too far.
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Scotland
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If all the information gathered so far are to be beleived then:
I must admit to feeling disgusted and the idiots on strike.
Don't they know the aviation industry is a hard place at the moment?The sh
tbags are complaining because they'll have to Swipe in in the morning and swipe out at tnight, to ensure they worke the hours they're paid for??
Sack the lot of them and bring in the countless thousands that would love to work or better yet, bring back some of the people previously let go because of cost savings. That will cut down on training
!
After all, this is unofficial action ergo it is illegal. BA can just turn round to them and tell em to ****** off home and wait for their P45's!
I'll be right behind them to take one of their jobs they're to uptight to do!
Bunch of childish idiots in a huff because they'll now have to show their doing what they're paid for!
I must admit to feeling disgusted and the idiots on strike.
Don't they know the aviation industry is a hard place at the moment?The sh
tbags are complaining because they'll have to Swipe in in the morning and swipe out at tnight, to ensure they worke the hours they're paid for??Sack the lot of them and bring in the countless thousands that would love to work or better yet, bring back some of the people previously let go because of cost savings. That will cut down on training
! After all, this is unofficial action ergo it is illegal. BA can just turn round to them and tell em to ****** off home and wait for their P45's!
I'll be right behind them to take one of their jobs they're to uptight to do!
Bunch of childish idiots in a huff because they'll now have to show their doing what they're paid for!
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Danger - Deep Excavation
Posts: 340
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
To Fly To Serve. A story.
To Fly To Serve was the company motto when I joined BA.
At that time, we were all one big team: it didn't matter whether you were a cook, pilot or programmer. BA promoted that "one team" identity through events like "To Be The Best" and "A Day in the Life" showing how all the individual cogs contributed towards the objective of serving the customer and getting a regular profit-share.
We might have got a bit more money doing something else, but the Staff Travel was good and if you met up with other BA staff anywhere else in the world there was a common bond. The job was secure and terms and conditions were stable.
There was also a very strong sense of pride in the company.
I felt a sense of history as well. The first time I went into Speedbird House, I was impressed reading the names on the doors! Departments like "Legal and Government Affairs" sounded important to me, maybe dating from the British Empire, and showed what a sophisticated business operating an Intercontinental Airline really is.
Then along came 90s Outsourcing (QCS Catering, major parts of IT, Drake and Skull, Ryder Motor Transport), lower rate contracts for new entrants (crew, c-in, res agents), sending work overseas (Revenue accounts in Mumbai).
Job insecurity and fear of outsourcing grew, flight benefits decreased in value as airfares fell.
I have no doubt that the continued relentless pressure on costs coupled with out-of-touch management has led to the situation that kicked-off on Friday night.
Baggage handlers maybe, but Check-in staff and ticket agents
walking off the job in UNOFFICIAL action on one of the busiest days in the year shows:
1. BA management has no clue what it's really like to work on the front-line in the Heathrow Terminals. BA needs to force through more cost-cutting, but has screwed up big-time.
2. Staff are saying enough is enough. At least they're going down fighting.
For the pax reading this, I'm truly sorry this happened, but unless you work in the "full-service" airline industry you just don't know what it's like these days.
The lowest common denominator has won.
Passengers want low airfares. Quality goes down, service levels go down, but who cares: the ticket's cheap.
Paxboy - I predict you'll have to pay for your snack on board BA in the next few years and you'll be earning less free flights in the Exec Club.
Good luck to the staff in LHR, I fear the worst is yet to come.
Apologies for the long post, it's been "The Week of the Long-Knives" here in Switzerland at Swiss, so I'm at best philsophical, at worst, I'm starting to hate the industry I used to love. Schön abig.
At that time, we were all one big team: it didn't matter whether you were a cook, pilot or programmer. BA promoted that "one team" identity through events like "To Be The Best" and "A Day in the Life" showing how all the individual cogs contributed towards the objective of serving the customer and getting a regular profit-share.
We might have got a bit more money doing something else, but the Staff Travel was good and if you met up with other BA staff anywhere else in the world there was a common bond. The job was secure and terms and conditions were stable.
There was also a very strong sense of pride in the company.
I felt a sense of history as well. The first time I went into Speedbird House, I was impressed reading the names on the doors! Departments like "Legal and Government Affairs" sounded important to me, maybe dating from the British Empire, and showed what a sophisticated business operating an Intercontinental Airline really is.
Then along came 90s Outsourcing (QCS Catering, major parts of IT, Drake and Skull, Ryder Motor Transport), lower rate contracts for new entrants (crew, c-in, res agents), sending work overseas (Revenue accounts in Mumbai).
Job insecurity and fear of outsourcing grew, flight benefits decreased in value as airfares fell.
I have no doubt that the continued relentless pressure on costs coupled with out-of-touch management has led to the situation that kicked-off on Friday night.
Baggage handlers maybe, but Check-in staff and ticket agents
walking off the job in UNOFFICIAL action on one of the busiest days in the year shows:
1. BA management has no clue what it's really like to work on the front-line in the Heathrow Terminals. BA needs to force through more cost-cutting, but has screwed up big-time.
2. Staff are saying enough is enough. At least they're going down fighting.
For the pax reading this, I'm truly sorry this happened, but unless you work in the "full-service" airline industry you just don't know what it's like these days.
The lowest common denominator has won.
Passengers want low airfares. Quality goes down, service levels go down, but who cares: the ticket's cheap.
Paxboy - I predict you'll have to pay for your snack on board BA in the next few years and you'll be earning less free flights in the Exec Club.
Good luck to the staff in LHR, I fear the worst is yet to come.
Apologies for the long post, it's been "The Week of the Long-Knives" here in Switzerland at Swiss, so I'm at best philsophical, at worst, I'm starting to hate the industry I used to love. Schön abig.
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: West Country
Posts: 1,271
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
FWIW - I am actually working tonight and I have not heard a single employee criticise those who walked out earlier today - many were very supportive. This attitude even includes the junior management (senior managers don't work Saturday nights
)
This shows how bad the moral is within BA at the present time, something that should be laid at the door of the Board memebers. Perhaps, rather than treat the company as their own private air-taxi service, they should start to earn their remuneration, fire the incompetant senior management and get someone in charge who knows how to run a airline.
)This shows how bad the moral is within BA at the present time, something that should be laid at the door of the Board memebers. Perhaps, rather than treat the company as their own private air-taxi service, they should start to earn their remuneration, fire the incompetant senior management and get someone in charge who knows how to run a airline.
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: manchester
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Crikey Notso - you sound astonished that anyone should have the temerity to criticise BA over this!
Lets face it BA comprises many differing attitudes and mechanisms. But these include- some crappy and often pompous line management, militant and sometimes lazy staff , outdated and inappropraite industrial agreements and an all to often lousy attitude to the fare paying passenger.
Until we (employees) accept that the passenger deserves better then we have a grim future. Try taking your head out of the sand!
_____________________________________
And Flying Dutchman - well what would your reaction be to hearing of thousands of pax stranded and aircraft departing empty ? Would you respond with a bloody great cheer ? Please let us all know where you stand on this ?
edited for spelling
Lets face it BA comprises many differing attitudes and mechanisms. But these include- some crappy and often pompous line management, militant and sometimes lazy staff , outdated and inappropraite industrial agreements and an all to often lousy attitude to the fare paying passenger.
Until we (employees) accept that the passenger deserves better then we have a grim future. Try taking your head out of the sand!
_____________________________________
And Flying Dutchman - well what would your reaction be to hearing of thousands of pax stranded and aircraft departing empty ? Would you respond with a bloody great cheer ? Please let us all know where you stand on this ?
edited for spelling
Last edited by Shuttleworth; 20th Jul 2003 at 19:50.
Join Date: May 2002
Location: West of LAM.
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
All i can add is "selfish b******S" Having just spent an evening which had been planned for weeks without one of my best mates because he had the misfortune of booking BA instead of Ryan Air i am most angry. If you've got a grievence than air it properly through the proper channels. Do not leave innocent people who have nothing to do with your dispute stranded with no information or any hope of getting to their destination in a reasonable time.
I'm all for strike action but publicise it and let the innocents make alternative arrangements..i fear you have not won many friends by your actions however genuine your greivences are. Good luck in the future though, i know now to give BA a miss.
320
I'm all for strike action but publicise it and let the innocents make alternative arrangements..i fear you have not won many friends by your actions however genuine your greivences are. Good luck in the future though, i know now to give BA a miss.
320
Whilst it was obviously hugely distressing for the passengers involved (not me - I won't fly BA until both Marshall and King have finally gone), it must have been something very serious for the normally loyal, hard-working staff to take such action....
But BA has still to learn WHY it was once so good (although it was then called BOAC and BEA, perhaps) - and is now regarded with far less respect.
Shall be driving back past that profligate building next to the A4 on Monday wondering whether 'management' will have been working overnight to remedy the situation. Somehow I think not...
But BA has still to learn WHY it was once so good (although it was then called BOAC and BEA, perhaps) - and is now regarded with far less respect.
Shall be driving back past that profligate building next to the A4 on Monday wondering whether 'management' will have been working overnight to remedy the situation. Somehow I think not...
Join Date: May 2003
Location: UK
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In reply to some of the previous comments:
BA deserve all the flak they get- they had a history to be proud of, but they rested on their laurels and now all their chickens have come home to roost (excuse the cliches). They put themselves on a pedestal...
The companies that have sensible and enlightened human resource policies, don't have wildcat strikes...bad management brings it's own reward!
I do feel sorry for passengers...it's a shame they have been caught up in all this, but having seen [and been the brunt of] some of the treatment dished out to staff by passengers (rude, threatening violence, etc) as a matter of course, I haven't a great deal of sympathy.
The staff that took this action are normal people just like you and me...what would make you just walk off the job like they did?
I would guess that would take a lot...I suspect it took a lot for those people too.
So all those people who are condemning the BA staff I ask you why...Is it because you are selfish (I don't care about anyone else- just me) or you're jealous (I wish I could stand up for myself).
What was the quote?: "walk a mile in the other persons shoes"?
BA deserve all the flak they get- they had a history to be proud of, but they rested on their laurels and now all their chickens have come home to roost (excuse the cliches). They put themselves on a pedestal...
The companies that have sensible and enlightened human resource policies, don't have wildcat strikes...bad management brings it's own reward!
I do feel sorry for passengers...it's a shame they have been caught up in all this, but having seen [and been the brunt of] some of the treatment dished out to staff by passengers (rude, threatening violence, etc) as a matter of course, I haven't a great deal of sympathy.
The staff that took this action are normal people just like you and me...what would make you just walk off the job like they did?
I would guess that would take a lot...I suspect it took a lot for those people too.
So all those people who are condemning the BA staff I ask you why...Is it because you are selfish (I don't care about anyone else- just me) or you're jealous (I wish I could stand up for myself).
What was the quote?: "walk a mile in the other persons shoes"?
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Europe
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Why Management did not go to T1?
I totally agree with the following statement:
"1. BA management has no clue what it's really like to work on the front-line in the Heathrow Terminals. BA needs to force through more cost-cutting, but has screwed up big-time.
2. Staff are saying enough is enough. At least they're going down fighting. "
Why BA Management did not face those anxious passengers in T1 the other day?
They should have tried, at least once, and felt the real atmosphere at the airport: e.g.the verbal and physical abuse which is everyday life for any agent.
They would have immediately understood that any restrictive measure imposed to any LHR ground staff is the equivalent of an insult, nothing else, as the job is very very hard and agents are overstretched to the limit.
Until that day, when Management will be enough brave to go down to the "Floor" and face the angry passengers, we will never see a good, efficient and professional line of Managers and Directors, especially those in charge of Fornt Line staff at LHR: it is impossible to explain a job like this unless you try it.
Thanks.
"1. BA management has no clue what it's really like to work on the front-line in the Heathrow Terminals. BA needs to force through more cost-cutting, but has screwed up big-time.
2. Staff are saying enough is enough. At least they're going down fighting. "
Why BA Management did not face those anxious passengers in T1 the other day?
They should have tried, at least once, and felt the real atmosphere at the airport: e.g.the verbal and physical abuse which is everyday life for any agent.
They would have immediately understood that any restrictive measure imposed to any LHR ground staff is the equivalent of an insult, nothing else, as the job is very very hard and agents are overstretched to the limit.
Until that day, when Management will be enough brave to go down to the "Floor" and face the angry passengers, we will never see a good, efficient and professional line of Managers and Directors, especially those in charge of Fornt Line staff at LHR: it is impossible to explain a job like this unless you try it.
Thanks.
Bringer of Wx
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: London
Posts: 236
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I would tend to agree with Kaptin M's comments. To the poster that said that unnanounced action was out of date, you were probably right 20 years ago (no one in their right mind would want a return to the 70's), but consider the bigger picture nowadays:
Business, spearheaded by the large multinationals and in passive collusion with various governments, has in recent years tended to view its employees increasingly as profit centres in themselves. Senior management exploitation tactics can (and frequently do include):
Erosion of or simply theft from pension funds
Shrinking salaries
Worsening working conditions
Increased hours
Bullying attitudes
Outsourcing/globalising
(which never benefits employees, only ever top management and shareholders)
Whilst harsh on the affected passengers this weekend, I think this action is indicative of the pendulum beginning to have swung too far the other way. When people can take no more, or feel that they are powerless in any negotiations, they only have one weapon of last resort - the inalienable right of withdrawal of labour.
Perhaps, as another poster put it, this is capitalism, but in my view, capitalism can only be sustainable when all parties benefit.
When the free market system starts to fail the majority of participants (as it appears to be beginning to do), maybe it's time for a restoration of more equitably balanced industrial relations, and an end to unbridled Fat Cat-ism?
Perhaps the world needs a few less beancounters and a few more visionary employers, who carry their staff with them and are not just pandering to equity holders?
Jx
Business, spearheaded by the large multinationals and in passive collusion with various governments, has in recent years tended to view its employees increasingly as profit centres in themselves. Senior management exploitation tactics can (and frequently do include):
Erosion of or simply theft from pension funds
Shrinking salaries
Worsening working conditions
Increased hours
Bullying attitudes
Outsourcing/globalising
(which never benefits employees, only ever top management and shareholders)
Whilst harsh on the affected passengers this weekend, I think this action is indicative of the pendulum beginning to have swung too far the other way. When people can take no more, or feel that they are powerless in any negotiations, they only have one weapon of last resort - the inalienable right of withdrawal of labour.
Perhaps, as another poster put it, this is capitalism, but in my view, capitalism can only be sustainable when all parties benefit.
When the free market system starts to fail the majority of participants (as it appears to be beginning to do), maybe it's time for a restoration of more equitably balanced industrial relations, and an end to unbridled Fat Cat-ism?
Perhaps the world needs a few less beancounters and a few more visionary employers, who carry their staff with them and are not just pandering to equity holders?
Jx
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: london
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Gentlemen, please!!
Some of you are behaving like old women on this subject!(With no disrespect intended for all old women around!)
Those of you who criticise the staff s actions should consider yourselves fortunate for not being in their position and having, quite clearly, to resort to extremelly desperate measures to get their point across!
As for British Airways, they re still an extremelly reliable, reasonably priced and safe airline, with wonderful, hard working staff! ( and no, i dont work for them. )You can not possible judge the whole airline by this one incident!If you say you ll not fly with them again, it just shows your narrowmindness and lack of judgement.May i suggest you travel by coach or train from now on.There are clearly no problems in those areas in this wonderful country of ours...
And for the gentleman who s banker wife said she would not travel with BA again and would ensure that none of her staff would fly with them either, just ask her how would she feel if her staff decided to act in a similar manner ( in a surprising, un announced way, that she could not prevent because no one had actually given her any clues on what was about to happen)and all her clients decided to withdraw their money from the bank!Now, that would be a wonderfull, proportionate reaction!!!
People will still fly with British Airways , i know i will! And for those of you who choose not to, after this incident, i m sure you ll get another cheer from the cabin crew, because you re probably the kind of passengers they really dislike carrying...
Some of you are behaving like old women on this subject!(With no disrespect intended for all old women around!)
Those of you who criticise the staff s actions should consider yourselves fortunate for not being in their position and having, quite clearly, to resort to extremelly desperate measures to get their point across!
As for British Airways, they re still an extremelly reliable, reasonably priced and safe airline, with wonderful, hard working staff! ( and no, i dont work for them. )You can not possible judge the whole airline by this one incident!If you say you ll not fly with them again, it just shows your narrowmindness and lack of judgement.May i suggest you travel by coach or train from now on.There are clearly no problems in those areas in this wonderful country of ours...
And for the gentleman who s banker wife said she would not travel with BA again and would ensure that none of her staff would fly with them either, just ask her how would she feel if her staff decided to act in a similar manner ( in a surprising, un announced way, that she could not prevent because no one had actually given her any clues on what was about to happen)and all her clients decided to withdraw their money from the bank!Now, that would be a wonderfull, proportionate reaction!!!
People will still fly with British Airways , i know i will! And for those of you who choose not to, after this incident, i m sure you ll get another cheer from the cabin crew, because you re probably the kind of passengers they really dislike carrying...
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"Your post is probably constructed to illicit a reaction. If so, you succeeded. Please do not comment on matters on which you have obviously no comprehension"......thanks jayjay...
Sounds like you have no comprehension.I am not posting to create a reaction,far from it.All i am doing is expressing mine and maybe others opinions.We all feel for the pax affected by this walkout.But my point is why should some parts of the airline make such sacrifices and others not.Also to all those bitching about the employess concerned doing the airline no good what so ever,then either fly with some other airline like you say you will,or come and work for B.A for a while.............
Sounds like you have no comprehension.I am not posting to create a reaction,far from it.All i am doing is expressing mine and maybe others opinions.We all feel for the pax affected by this walkout.But my point is why should some parts of the airline make such sacrifices and others not.Also to all those bitching about the employess concerned doing the airline no good what so ever,then either fly with some other airline like you say you will,or come and work for B.A for a while.............
mostly harmless
As an SLF, I’ve always been impressed by the professionalism of the BA check-in staff at LHR (and LGW, for that matter). As I have observed and other posters have noted, they are the staff who face stressed passengers when things go wrong.
Other posters state that the strike has been set off by the introduction of computerised clocking in. The management’s objective is to ensure that time paid is time worked. This is all very normal and contractual. However, for low-paid workers like handlers, the extra pay that they receive from the inaccuracies of the existing manual system makes a big difference to their income. From their point of view, it is very easy to consider that this extra pay is theirs. Indeed they might even have taken the job knowing that they would get this extra. Management’s task is to implement existing contract conditions for the first time. Unless you have something to sweeten the medicine, this is not an easy management task.
We’ve seen rumours on this thread that BA are going to introduce ‘as needed’ shifts and split-shift working. Well, if you have a computerised employee time system, you don’t need to do this (not if you are competent management, anyway). So, if these rumours are still knocking around, the management haven’t finished the job of communication. And if they haven’t done this, introducing the change is asking for trouble.
The fact that management have not been in evidence at LHR talking to passengers illustrates their lack of preparation.
answer=42
Other posters state that the strike has been set off by the introduction of computerised clocking in. The management’s objective is to ensure that time paid is time worked. This is all very normal and contractual. However, for low-paid workers like handlers, the extra pay that they receive from the inaccuracies of the existing manual system makes a big difference to their income. From their point of view, it is very easy to consider that this extra pay is theirs. Indeed they might even have taken the job knowing that they would get this extra. Management’s task is to implement existing contract conditions for the first time. Unless you have something to sweeten the medicine, this is not an easy management task.
We’ve seen rumours on this thread that BA are going to introduce ‘as needed’ shifts and split-shift working. Well, if you have a computerised employee time system, you don’t need to do this (not if you are competent management, anyway). So, if these rumours are still knocking around, the management haven’t finished the job of communication. And if they haven’t done this, introducing the change is asking for trouble.
The fact that management have not been in evidence at LHR talking to passengers illustrates their lack of preparation.
answer=42