Virgin - Crew Discussions II
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Info on pay
Dear Scoobydooo,
Thanks for the information on our pay and why were you up at 02.18 this morning posting the above. If your figures are correct our wages will start to go down after two years......So NO for me..!
Regards Virgin Dolly x
Thanks for the information on our pay and why were you up at 02.18 this morning posting the above. If your figures are correct our wages will start to go down after two years......So NO for me..!
Regards Virgin Dolly x
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If your figures are correct our wages will start to go down after two years......
Year 1 4.8% Increase
Year 2 3.5% increase (on companies RPI illustration)
Year 2 2% increase based on a 2% Goverment target figure
The table is the extra ££ per month each crew member can expect to take home after each increment that year.
2.18 was local time, in the states that would be erm....9.18pm !
Last edited by scoobydooo; 4th Oct 2007 at 16:24.
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Hi Scoobydooo,
Whoops thanks for putting me right..!
Still a no
from me though till our crew down payments go up,up,up and variable manning stops. It's all about profits these days and I'm tied of being used...What is the point of having a positioning sheet for a aircraft when you can't fill the places these days.
Your on the ball Scoobydooo,
Virgin Dolly x
Whoops thanks for putting me right..!
Still a no
from me though till our crew down payments go up,up,up and variable manning stops. It's all about profits these days and I'm tied of being used...What is the point of having a positioning sheet for a aircraft when you can't fill the places these days.Your on the ball Scoobydooo,
Virgin Dolly x
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I see the latest view from the roo says there will be no more negotiations if this offer is rejected. I think I can just about count on one hand how many times this has been heard now. 
I am still at a loss as to why the union has not approached its' members asking what they would accept, ( I know the company have, but it's the unions jobs) failing to do this we will just go round and round in circles with the offers mildly improving each time. How on earth can they represent us when they dont know what we want - are they psychic ?
Issues which need further addressing
SCC,CC & IFBT trip pay
Crew down (including 1)
Variable manning
Airshare related to Turnover not profit
Part time for all 10 Year loyal crews
Length of service related pay (i.e. basic increasing each year)
Anyone know what happened to WDMM, they have gone very quiet - not a word since the offer - do you think the company found out who was behind it and had a stern word ?
I am still at a loss as to why the union has not approached its' members asking what they would accept, ( I know the company have, but it's the unions jobs) failing to do this we will just go round and round in circles with the offers mildly improving each time. How on earth can they represent us when they dont know what we want - are they psychic ?
Issues which need further addressing
SCC,CC & IFBT trip pay
Crew down (including 1)
Variable manning
Airshare related to Turnover not profit
Part time for all 10 Year loyal crews
Length of service related pay (i.e. basic increasing each year)
Anyone know what happened to WDMM, they have gone very quiet - not a word since the offer - do you think the company found out who was behind it and had a stern word ?
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I will be writing a strongly worded resigination letter to the union once I have cast my 'NO' vote and the results have been released.
I can't see any point in spending over £100 per year and getting no input into negotiations.
I can't see any point in spending over £100 per year and getting no input into negotiations.
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I am in the process of drafting one now, maybe we should make a template one for everyone to send to the man at the top of the Union - If it was recognised now perhaps they might start to ask us what we want.
The company asking us is no use, they wont take any notice anyway - they just pretend to to try and appear be all pink and fluffy !
The company asking us is no use, they wont take any notice anyway - they just pretend to to try and appear be all pink and fluffy !
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Hi everybody,
just thought i had to respond to a couple of recent posts on this thread,
well as to some leaving the union, virgin would like nothing better! without a union they could pretty much do as they please with us that would be a big step back to the dark ages.
Also i was one of the crew that went along to the Park inn hotel at lhr this week to give my views on the pay offer (This was advertised on i-fly and open to everybody who would like to attend) Only six of us bothered to attend, where was everybody else!!!
And i have to say that i have benefited from a couple of things that the union have done for me and everybody else. Firstly i found myself in a spot of bother with virgin (Downroute) and had to attend a Disciplinary hearing, without their support i well could have been out of a job. What about when we got to have our nine days off when we have leave in a month and holiday pay which we now get, and i'm sure there are other things which we now benifit from which we didn't have before the Union
Am i worth more, well yes i am but we all have to be responsible and sensible with where we go now!! so for me i have to vote yes
just thought i had to respond to a couple of recent posts on this thread,
well as to some leaving the union, virgin would like nothing better! without a union they could pretty much do as they please with us that would be a big step back to the dark ages.
Also i was one of the crew that went along to the Park inn hotel at lhr this week to give my views on the pay offer (This was advertised on i-fly and open to everybody who would like to attend) Only six of us bothered to attend, where was everybody else!!!
And i have to say that i have benefited from a couple of things that the union have done for me and everybody else. Firstly i found myself in a spot of bother with virgin (Downroute) and had to attend a Disciplinary hearing, without their support i well could have been out of a job. What about when we got to have our nine days off when we have leave in a month and holiday pay which we now get, and i'm sure there are other things which we now benifit from which we didn't have before the Union
Am i worth more, well yes i am but we all have to be responsible and sensible with where we go now!! so for me i have to vote yes
Last edited by virginracer; 6th Oct 2007 at 19:17.
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I will be saying NO to the new deal. I just think the new deal shows that Virgin management are still way out of touch with what and how the crew really feel. The feeling that im getting from my last few trips is that the crew are more fed up than ever, its not just about the pay this time but the fact that the company are only recognising loyalty in one rank. There are a lot of loyal crew out there who have been in their ranks for well over ten years and surely they deserve recognition as well. We have to stick together and say NO. Its going to be a tough few months for us all but if we say YES the company will just be laughing at us, they have little respect for us as it is!
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Just looked on WDMM website and they have new information dated 7th Oct regarding the pay deal. There is a 'Strong recommendation' to say No.
www.wedeservemoremoney.com
www.wedeservemoremoney.com
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The problem we have is that crew really dont understand the implications of strike and voting. I have just come back from a trip to which in the briefing a union rep came to talk to us. Alot of the cabin crew were Shocked to find out that they wont get allowances during the strike and that the lhr/lgw bus will stop for us, concessions etc. Some crew were saying they going to vote no for deal then no for strike!!!!!!! Which if that happens all we get is 2%. The message needs to be sent that if you going to vote NO to deal then you have to be 150% behind the strike. And that means losing out for 24 to 48 hrs. But whats 48hrs !!!! If you have questions you need to get answers. This is serious stuff now .
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I have been reading this thread for some time now and I'd like to know if you would permit me to make some observations. Before I get jumped on by some of the regulars because this is my first post and I have only just joined today, please don't let that fool you. I have signed up with a new name solely in order to protect my my anonymity and have been reading Pprune and posting in other forums for many years with another identity.
I am a pilot and I work for Virgin Atlantic. Some of you have mentioned in this thread that you would like to hear how we managed to get ourselves such a good deal three years ago and are trying to compare your fight with the one that we had at that time. The big difference as far as we were concerned was that we had an extremely high number of pilots in the same, single union. In addition, our union representatives had our respect and support.
From what I have seen throughout this period of negotiation between the cabin crew and the company is that you do not have either of those advantages I have mentioned above. Correct me if I am wrong, but you have more than one union representing you all and that the number of cabin crew actually in the unions are no where near the overwhelming percentage that we the pilots had during our dispute with the company. Those two things alone are destined to thwart your objectives in these current negotiations.
Whilst I believe that you are right to negotiate for the best possible terms and conditions that you can get and the company can afford, you have to balance that against the current trading position of the airline and the industry in general. We as pilots have been briefed by management just as the cabin crew have. I would not have expected less from any company that is in the same position as VAA are at the moment.
As pilots we get to hear from and talk to the cabin crew we work with and we are able to provide our own personal perspectives on the concerns that the cabin crew have regarding their pay and conditions as well as their representation through their union. Any action that will disrupt the company will have a knock on effect for all of us and it is in our interests to make sure that our own points of view are heard, even if they are not exactly what you want to know.
One interesting observation is the fact that the cabin crew union membership are still backing their reps. I know of no other union or democratic institution that would back their reps after overwhelmingly rejecting their initial recommendation. If that was not a vote of no confidence in their reps then I do not know what else they need to realise it. Now, having shown that there is no confidence in the cabin crew reps, the reps are again recommending that the revised offer from the company should be accepted, there is a vociferous group who are still advocating a rejection of the final offer. What is even more astounding, this vociferous group are advocating going into a strike with a leadership that will have had not one but two votes of no confidence in their work and recommendations.
I certainly hope that the vociferous group are a tiny minority. I have no idea whether they are or not. However, what the silent majority need to appreciate is that if you thought that taking industrial action without a leadership that instils confidence for the hard slog which would ensue, then you are destined for failure in your objectives. Reading some of the comments on here about it would only be for a few days or whatever shows that there is a naivety from some of the militants that leaves most of us with a bit more worldly experience totally breathless. Lambs to the slaughter doesn't begin to describe what the outcome would be.
No doubt by now, the militants are battling to contain their wrath and angst at what I, simple line pilot, have to say about the current situation. Well, before they all jump on here and make their usual claims of management infiltration or whatever, they have to realise that I and many of my pilot colleagues agree that your terms and conditions need improving. What we are offering is support and advice without the rhetoric that appears to accompany some of the missives that some militants post on here.
I am fairly sure that the company will not improve their offer. All the claims by the innocents who have no real understanding of real world economics with childish rants about how the company has pledged X number of millions for climate change or invested in new aircraft orders or improvements in company infrastructure which in turn, somehow is meant to suggest that the pot is still very full and they should be compared to cabin crew from BA or wherever, are little more than pitiful examples of a childs tantrum and foot stomping in anger.
The only advice I can offer is that you think very carefully what would happen if you managed to stop the flying program for one or two days. The cost to the company would indeed run into the hundreds of millions of pounds. It still would not get your offer increased and more than likely would lead to a downsizing with all the ramifications that entails.
You have a two year offer on the table. It is not perfect but it will now give you two years in which to organise yourselves properly for the next round of negotiation when the current offer eventually expires. If you, the cabin crew, are not able to learn from this experience that you need to have overwhelming support from your members, not just a simple majority and that you need to have one, professional and well trained representative union to negotiate on your behalf, not a combination of less organised unions battling with each other for your union dues, then you will be doomed to failure in the future too.
My advice, for what it is worth, is take the offer and use the next two years to plan your next round of negotiations. Use everything you have learnt and make sure that you organise yourselves properly.
We pilots work closely with you and see and hear the complaints about your terms and conditions. We know that we are much better off that you but that does not mean that we do not care about how you feel. We know that a happy crew reflects on our customers and it is how they perceive our company that generates the money that we all have a fair claim on for providing our services to the company in the first place.
Good luck with the decisions you have to make and remember to visit us and have a chat on those long flights. We appreciate the company and want you to get the best possible deal you can. It's not rocket science but neither is it beyond the realms of possibility to get yourselves organised properly to get your fair share of the pie if you do a good job and keep our passengers coming back for more.
I am a pilot and I work for Virgin Atlantic. Some of you have mentioned in this thread that you would like to hear how we managed to get ourselves such a good deal three years ago and are trying to compare your fight with the one that we had at that time. The big difference as far as we were concerned was that we had an extremely high number of pilots in the same, single union. In addition, our union representatives had our respect and support.
From what I have seen throughout this period of negotiation between the cabin crew and the company is that you do not have either of those advantages I have mentioned above. Correct me if I am wrong, but you have more than one union representing you all and that the number of cabin crew actually in the unions are no where near the overwhelming percentage that we the pilots had during our dispute with the company. Those two things alone are destined to thwart your objectives in these current negotiations.
Whilst I believe that you are right to negotiate for the best possible terms and conditions that you can get and the company can afford, you have to balance that against the current trading position of the airline and the industry in general. We as pilots have been briefed by management just as the cabin crew have. I would not have expected less from any company that is in the same position as VAA are at the moment.
As pilots we get to hear from and talk to the cabin crew we work with and we are able to provide our own personal perspectives on the concerns that the cabin crew have regarding their pay and conditions as well as their representation through their union. Any action that will disrupt the company will have a knock on effect for all of us and it is in our interests to make sure that our own points of view are heard, even if they are not exactly what you want to know.
One interesting observation is the fact that the cabin crew union membership are still backing their reps. I know of no other union or democratic institution that would back their reps after overwhelmingly rejecting their initial recommendation. If that was not a vote of no confidence in their reps then I do not know what else they need to realise it. Now, having shown that there is no confidence in the cabin crew reps, the reps are again recommending that the revised offer from the company should be accepted, there is a vociferous group who are still advocating a rejection of the final offer. What is even more astounding, this vociferous group are advocating going into a strike with a leadership that will have had not one but two votes of no confidence in their work and recommendations.
I certainly hope that the vociferous group are a tiny minority. I have no idea whether they are or not. However, what the silent majority need to appreciate is that if you thought that taking industrial action without a leadership that instils confidence for the hard slog which would ensue, then you are destined for failure in your objectives. Reading some of the comments on here about it would only be for a few days or whatever shows that there is a naivety from some of the militants that leaves most of us with a bit more worldly experience totally breathless. Lambs to the slaughter doesn't begin to describe what the outcome would be.
No doubt by now, the militants are battling to contain their wrath and angst at what I, simple line pilot, have to say about the current situation. Well, before they all jump on here and make their usual claims of management infiltration or whatever, they have to realise that I and many of my pilot colleagues agree that your terms and conditions need improving. What we are offering is support and advice without the rhetoric that appears to accompany some of the missives that some militants post on here.
I am fairly sure that the company will not improve their offer. All the claims by the innocents who have no real understanding of real world economics with childish rants about how the company has pledged X number of millions for climate change or invested in new aircraft orders or improvements in company infrastructure which in turn, somehow is meant to suggest that the pot is still very full and they should be compared to cabin crew from BA or wherever, are little more than pitiful examples of a childs tantrum and foot stomping in anger.
The only advice I can offer is that you think very carefully what would happen if you managed to stop the flying program for one or two days. The cost to the company would indeed run into the hundreds of millions of pounds. It still would not get your offer increased and more than likely would lead to a downsizing with all the ramifications that entails.
You have a two year offer on the table. It is not perfect but it will now give you two years in which to organise yourselves properly for the next round of negotiation when the current offer eventually expires. If you, the cabin crew, are not able to learn from this experience that you need to have overwhelming support from your members, not just a simple majority and that you need to have one, professional and well trained representative union to negotiate on your behalf, not a combination of less organised unions battling with each other for your union dues, then you will be doomed to failure in the future too.
My advice, for what it is worth, is take the offer and use the next two years to plan your next round of negotiations. Use everything you have learnt and make sure that you organise yourselves properly.
We pilots work closely with you and see and hear the complaints about your terms and conditions. We know that we are much better off that you but that does not mean that we do not care about how you feel. We know that a happy crew reflects on our customers and it is how they perceive our company that generates the money that we all have a fair claim on for providing our services to the company in the first place.
Good luck with the decisions you have to make and remember to visit us and have a chat on those long flights. We appreciate the company and want you to get the best possible deal you can. It's not rocket science but neither is it beyond the realms of possibility to get yourselves organised properly to get your fair share of the pie if you do a good job and keep our passengers coming back for more.
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The interesting thing is that once the cabin crew pay deal has been accepted it is then time for the flight crew pay talks to commence.
I can almost guarantee you that the flight crew will get a bigger increase than the cabin crew and this will cost the company a lot more money -but thats ok isnt! We are after all just cabin crew! Its funny because with the last pay deal a few years ago the reps said 'hey dont worry when the next pay talks come round we will be in better position'. I know virgin I have seen this game played for the 12 years that I have been with the company and in two years time when the next pay talks are due to take place there will be other financial commitments like the 787 dreamliners for example and we will be fobbed off with the same old story!
I can almost guarantee you that the flight crew will get a bigger increase than the cabin crew and this will cost the company a lot more money -but thats ok isnt! We are after all just cabin crew! Its funny because with the last pay deal a few years ago the reps said 'hey dont worry when the next pay talks come round we will be in better position'. I know virgin I have seen this game played for the 12 years that I have been with the company and in two years time when the next pay talks are due to take place there will be other financial commitments like the 787 dreamliners for example and we will be fobbed off with the same old story!
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s3483
I am also a VS pilot. I agree with what Kasual Observer says and am disappointed in your belief that somehow, we pilots want you to accept an offer in order that our pay round goes better.
You have a 2 year deal including back pay. By the time you accept, 2007 will nearly be over and taking into account that this is a 2 year deal backdated to April, your reps will soon be renegotiating the NEW NEW pay deal for you.
In 6 to 9 months time your reps will be going back to the company to restart negotiations again for the next deal. Then is the time to give them a strong mandate for action, not now.
Vote No at all our perils, but do what you think is right. You do deserve more money. We all agree that.
If you threaten strikes, you had better be sure to do it. Otherwise you lose forever.........
My personal view is that not enough of you want a strike and not enough of you are united behind the money aspect of the deal. Such as many people who still live at home that I have spoken to..... sad, but true.
I am also a VS pilot. I agree with what Kasual Observer says and am disappointed in your belief that somehow, we pilots want you to accept an offer in order that our pay round goes better.
You have a 2 year deal including back pay. By the time you accept, 2007 will nearly be over and taking into account that this is a 2 year deal backdated to April, your reps will soon be renegotiating the NEW NEW pay deal for you.
In 6 to 9 months time your reps will be going back to the company to restart negotiations again for the next deal. Then is the time to give them a strong mandate for action, not now.
Vote No at all our perils, but do what you think is right. You do deserve more money. We all agree that.
If you threaten strikes, you had better be sure to do it. Otherwise you lose forever.........
My personal view is that not enough of you want a strike and not enough of you are united behind the money aspect of the deal. Such as many people who still live at home that I have spoken to..... sad, but true.
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I just want to thank kasual observer for his/her comments. Whilst i know many others may not, I agree entirely. I am also a little tired of reading comments including those on the wdmm site that anyone who is not against this pay deal or has any other positive outlook must therefore be undercover virgin management stirring things up.
This isnt a brilliant deal but so much better than where we started from and after all will we ever get what we really want? I have heard some ridiculous suggestions such as 10% rise in basic ..... never gonna happen! We also have quite a low membership of our union, while i dont know the exact figures, but I believe that majority of membership is made up of css and fsm which may be why they get a little favoured in the pay deal, that and the fact there is much more responsibilty in the job role.
This isnt a brilliant deal but so much better than where we started from and after all will we ever get what we really want? I have heard some ridiculous suggestions such as 10% rise in basic ..... never gonna happen! We also have quite a low membership of our union, while i dont know the exact figures, but I believe that majority of membership is made up of css and fsm which may be why they get a little favoured in the pay deal, that and the fact there is much more responsibilty in the job role.
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Stansdead
I agree with what you are saying. Believe me I do not want to strike and I think is it sad that the company have let it get this far. The crew have never stood together like this and this is a strong indication that a high proportion of the crew are not happy, not just with pay but the way virgin management have little repect for us the cabin crew in general.
With regards to the pilots I know that the majority of you guys are behind us but all Im saying is that you will be shortly commencing your own pay deal, what will be your views then?
I agree with what you are saying. Believe me I do not want to strike and I think is it sad that the company have let it get this far. The crew have never stood together like this and this is a strong indication that a high proportion of the crew are not happy, not just with pay but the way virgin management have little repect for us the cabin crew in general.
With regards to the pilots I know that the majority of you guys are behind us but all Im saying is that you will be shortly commencing your own pay deal, what will be your views then?
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K.O.
That made a nice rational read, I agree with most of your points but would question learning lessons and being ready next time. We have done this so many times,the same role play e.g. 2 years ago and here we are again in exactly the same place.
Now is the strongest the cabin crew have ever been in terms of their demonstration % wise towards the votes. The thought of strike whilst the iron is hot springs to mind (in more ways than one - just to TELL the company, "enough is enough"). For a junior and senior to have come so far against such disgusting results for £39 and £45 Extra a month seems a waste.
Brian Boys is shameful in his recommendation of the last vote, what ounce of respect he has lost and now he can "strongly recommend" the current vote !!?? - the mind boggles.
People must be wondering, "well, he said that last time, he just wants this over with". I would very much hope that someone further up T&G or Amicus/Unite would move him sideways and take the reigns in these negotiations because at the moment it feels like the guy driving the Amicus/Unite horse carriage is doing so without a head !
Thanks for taking the time to write your reply and post it. The feeling at the moment is one of - the company just will not listen to what we want or offer it - what was the straw that broke the camels back in your talks that resulted in a Yes strike ballot, because tight now I and others are starting to feel this will be the only way to get our message across.
That made a nice rational read, I agree with most of your points but would question learning lessons and being ready next time. We have done this so many times,the same role play e.g. 2 years ago and here we are again in exactly the same place.
Now is the strongest the cabin crew have ever been in terms of their demonstration % wise towards the votes. The thought of strike whilst the iron is hot springs to mind (in more ways than one - just to TELL the company, "enough is enough"). For a junior and senior to have come so far against such disgusting results for £39 and £45 Extra a month seems a waste.
Brian Boys is shameful in his recommendation of the last vote, what ounce of respect he has lost and now he can "strongly recommend" the current vote !!?? - the mind boggles.
People must be wondering, "well, he said that last time, he just wants this over with". I would very much hope that someone further up T&G or Amicus/Unite would move him sideways and take the reigns in these negotiations because at the moment it feels like the guy driving the Amicus/Unite horse carriage is doing so without a head !
Thanks for taking the time to write your reply and post it. The feeling at the moment is one of - the company just will not listen to what we want or offer it - what was the straw that broke the camels back in your talks that resulted in a Yes strike ballot, because tight now I and others are starting to feel this will be the only way to get our message across.
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Thanks Kasual Observer for constructive comments.
I wish that crew saw the bigger picture. Crew are so confused online about what happens next if they strike or if they say no.
It will be a total mess and I think they will end up shooting themselves in the foot.
We have been offered now a good deal and I think it's a good idea to take the money and run, for a few months!!
Fingers crossed for a positive outcome.
I wish that crew saw the bigger picture. Crew are so confused online about what happens next if they strike or if they say no.
It will be a total mess and I think they will end up shooting themselves in the foot.
We have been offered now a good deal and I think it's a good idea to take the money and run, for a few months!!
Fingers crossed for a positive outcome.
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just read this on WWDM;
Just look on PPRUNE and cabincrew.com and you will see the company have entered the forums with some very poor attempts to take control. For those of you without the time to look through, look at the threads from Virginfun, Virgin Bull and always do your best. Pathetic
I AM NOT A MANAGER I AM CREW!!!!!!
Just look on PPRUNE and cabincrew.com and you will see the company have entered the forums with some very poor attempts to take control. For those of you without the time to look through, look at the threads from Virginfun, Virgin Bull and always do your best. Pathetic
I AM NOT A MANAGER I AM CREW!!!!!!
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First let me say I'm a 'lurker' who has followed this with interest, having a sister who is senior cabin crew.
I am no way connected with Virgin, apart of course from my sister. If you want to flame me please go ahead.
My sister thought it might be a good idea to see, from a passenger point of view, what I feel towards the current situation.
Firstly, I support my sister, and therefore crew, I always will, as I know how hard she and all you guys work.
However, from a passenger point of view we passengers are a fickle lot.
It's easy to say Virgin has lots of money, yes I'm sure it has (whether it's tucked away out of sight or not!), but that money has come from it's passengers, the life blood of the airline. An airline like Virgin is there, after all, to provide transport for passengers to their destinations. Without those passengers there is no airline, simple.
I regularly fly B&S routes (the routes you guys just love to fly lol) and there is increasing competition, some of it attractive, on those routes. I was very tempted to fly with a competitor for my latest trip but my sister talked me round lol.
Now, admittedly, UC is the best in it's field (OK, I'm biased but I really do think that), but the charters are now offering very attractive PE and economy, especially on the B&S routes, more and more previous Virgin customers are trying these new alternatives. What happens if there is a strike? Passengers will remember having their long awaited holidays disrupted or even ruined, and believe me they will switch to the competitor(s) for their next trips.
Where does that leave Virgin? Cutting back of routes and crew? Who knows, but realistically if passengers leave Virgin I'm sure we can all guess what happens to an airline with reduced passenger capacity.
Insurance does not always cover passengers in the event of strikes, a fair number of policies have clauses in them that state they will not cover in the event of strike action. Business passengers are fine, most of them are not paying out of their own pocket, but holiday passengers are the ones who will be hit hardest.
It's easy to take a selfish view, on both sides of the fence, but the thing everyone needs to be careful of is if you do strike, you must be prepared to take the consequences and those consequences might not be what you think you'll achieve at the outset.
I wish you all the best of luck and hope you do get what you want but please don't take it out on the passengers if you don't get it.
Sam
I am no way connected with Virgin, apart of course from my sister. If you want to flame me please go ahead.
My sister thought it might be a good idea to see, from a passenger point of view, what I feel towards the current situation.
Firstly, I support my sister, and therefore crew, I always will, as I know how hard she and all you guys work.
However, from a passenger point of view we passengers are a fickle lot.
It's easy to say Virgin has lots of money, yes I'm sure it has (whether it's tucked away out of sight or not!), but that money has come from it's passengers, the life blood of the airline. An airline like Virgin is there, after all, to provide transport for passengers to their destinations. Without those passengers there is no airline, simple.
I regularly fly B&S routes (the routes you guys just love to fly lol) and there is increasing competition, some of it attractive, on those routes. I was very tempted to fly with a competitor for my latest trip but my sister talked me round lol.
Now, admittedly, UC is the best in it's field (OK, I'm biased but I really do think that), but the charters are now offering very attractive PE and economy, especially on the B&S routes, more and more previous Virgin customers are trying these new alternatives. What happens if there is a strike? Passengers will remember having their long awaited holidays disrupted or even ruined, and believe me they will switch to the competitor(s) for their next trips.
Where does that leave Virgin? Cutting back of routes and crew? Who knows, but realistically if passengers leave Virgin I'm sure we can all guess what happens to an airline with reduced passenger capacity.
Insurance does not always cover passengers in the event of strikes, a fair number of policies have clauses in them that state they will not cover in the event of strike action. Business passengers are fine, most of them are not paying out of their own pocket, but holiday passengers are the ones who will be hit hardest.
It's easy to take a selfish view, on both sides of the fence, but the thing everyone needs to be careful of is if you do strike, you must be prepared to take the consequences and those consequences might not be what you think you'll achieve at the outset.
I wish you all the best of luck and hope you do get what you want but please don't take it out on the passengers if you don't get it.
Sam