vs_lhr

Scooby, are you also eyesnears? If not, I'd get onto your lawyer for copyright theft.

scoobydooo

VSLHR you are on here nearly as much as me, we must both make a new years resolution to not spend hours on internet.

I am totally demoralised by all this now, think I will sink my head into a VAT of booze tonight and just see where the wind takes me.

So as I have tried many times before, but tonight my resolution is, "scoobydoo will RIP and stop posting on prune for Good, even though its like a drug habbit".

I stand by all my comments and wish everyone a happy New Year and hope that our respective leaders can just sit down and offer a deal that is not a million miles of the last one and develop a plan for moving forward in the years to try and address all the concerns that have been raised.

If there is an opening for a "crew -> management -> union " communications officer my hand is in the air. Our union needs to establish clear channels for crew to be able to offer constructive ideas, these must be allowed to be shared with the management (de-identified) similar to chirp. It is only through a process similar to this that enhancements which benefit everyone (crew, management and passengers) can a happier productive workplace be re-established.

We all learn that without communication there is no CRM, some communication came, but late in the day, too late.

Goodnight and farewell.

JB1888

SRB should be ashamed of himself, He sits in one of his many plush houses throughout the world, saying that if we are unhappy we should work elsewhere. Many many things have been said and it has taken a long long time to get to this stage, but lets not lose sight of the facts.

Do you think it is unreasonable to ask for more money when the cost of living is rocketing, somecabin crew are expected to live (survive) on £900 a month whilst living within 1hr 45 mins of LGW and LHR? That is the basis of the arguement. Too much has been said of Ba etc........

SRB was hailed as a champion of the people David Vs Goliath when he took on BA, well he has shown his true colours he is no champion. The only thing he cares about is how much profit he makes just like every other Fat Cat.

I can honestly say that I dont know what will be the outcome of this situation will be, but if for instance if we do not get a decent payrise and there is no backdated pay then the airline will have a more poisonous and dangerous atmosphere than there is now, and that is a fact.

I am an FSM who is scheduled to fly over the strike period and I can assure you that I will NOT be flying unless the union tell me otherwise.

Do I want to strike ...No Do I feel as if I have an option NO! There is deal to speak of any longer, the only chance we have is to voice our feelings.

Take care everyone and ahem...HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

SpannersatVS

Just heard what's being offered to fly during the strike. Can non CC within VS apply, sure sounds good to me & a better rate than working in the hangar

If you don't like it leave I thought that was a comment only taught to BA management (and i was glad to leave that behind)

Nov71

Richard Branson has allegedly said that Virgin airline employees, dissatisfied with current pay & conditions, should resign (rather than take industrial action.)
The market is tough so is employment law on coercion
Has he become a MOL clone or just insensitive?
Could Virgin Atlantic survive if flight/cabin crew resigned en masse?

I would suggest an informed negotiation

MAN330-300

I have just been reading a few of the posts regarding pay and can I just ask do you not even benefit from yearly cost of living wage increases? As quoted above £ 900 seems very low for a London salary. I don't live in London however I would imagine one would need at least to be earning £ 25/30 k per year to live in the capital.

back2front

£900 in a good month. Last month I had less than £850 into my bank account. I did get allowances downroute of approx £400 but most of that is spent on food/living costs of being away from home.

Its an appalling salary especially having to live so close to London.

Shame on Richard Branson for even suggesting we should leave. Doesn't he realise there are many of us doing just that?

BYALPHAINDIA

I think that this attitude by Sir Richard is a tad outdated, And the totally wrong approach to his staff.

Sir Richard seems to be living 20 years behind everybody

Happy New Year 2008.

interpreter

BYAPJAINDIA. As a businessman I cannot stand SRB BUT like it or not it is his airline to run. It has great potential provided that the "carbon footprint" fiasco doesn't bite hard on all airline when he will probably suffer more than others. With 2008 upon us I would say to all VCC if you wish to strike then so be it but whatever you do don't pretend you are sick. You are cheating yourelf and your colleagues and those passengers like my self and my wife, who think VCC are great.

My advice? Get REAL UNION NEGOTIATORS who understand the airline business,who know the stengths and weaknesses of Virgin in today's airline industry and who are not driven by a political agenda but simply to work WITH the employers to do the best for all staff. Altruistic? Yes - but certainly not impossible. Good luck in 2008 and please keep being as good at your job as you are. You put BACC into the shade.

BEagle

Sir Richard Branson is in severe danger of totally alienating his premier asset.....

You, the workforce who are the only 'face' of Virgin which the travelling public gets to see these days.

Branson seems hell bent on self-destruction these days, with his eco-freak envirofundamentalist global carbon nonsense. But he seems to turn a blind eye to the 'greenness' of his loony spaceship plans...

Whilst Virgin still has an excellent intangible asset in the public's view of the brand image, that alone is insufficient to pay the bills. Sadly, long time colleagues working in Virgin these days tell me that the company "Isn't what it once was"....

Hopefully sense will prevail and Branson will clarify the comment he made - which even O'Leary and whoever runs ba these days would be embarrassed to make, if it is actually what he said.

Good luck to you all for whatever 2008 may bring!!

interpreter

I am sure all of you have seen this clip but this is how it was when I was a young guy and still had not met my Airline Stewardess wife - 36 years now and still wonderful. Have a look and contemlate how things have changed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHnqnyzegfc#
Good luck for 2008

vs_lhr

What a depressingly sexiest view of cabin crew. It's taken years (and still an uphill struggle with some) to break the stereotype of a leggy bimbo blonde whose only function is to serve drinks and giggle flirtingly with the passengers - thank god that isn't how it is now.

stormin norman

From the beeb

Sir Richard admitted that rival airlines often offered better basic wages but said that they did not offer the perks that came with working for a "smaller ,more friendly" company.

friendly ? sounds like it

016FSM

Richard's a bit outta touch these days!! He thinks we all still work for Virgin because it so much fun and the money is irrelevant!!

We used to be a small fun company up to about 10 - 12 years ago where everyone knew everyone, virtually. Now it's really no longer like that, the days of RB turning up to present the crew with their wings soon after they finish training has long gone and it's rare to fly with anyone anymore that you actually know! There's loads of back stabbing amongst some crew and many wouldn't think twice about reporting you to the office if it meant a browny point for them, so no, the company is no longer as small and friendly as it once was!

If the company can't afford to pay their existing crew a decent wage, then maybe they should stop expanding like crazy like they have done for the past 5 years and recruiting hundreds of new cabin crew! Look after the ones that already work for you instead of just replacing them because they're not happy!!!! He says we have such wonderful perks and benefits, we have the same benefits as all other personnel who work for airlines worldwide, both on the ground and as crew, but that's part of the package which comes with working for an airline. Most companies offer their staff perks or benefits of some kind but they don't compromise their salaries in return for these!!!

We do have an excellent package of discounts available to fly worldwide, but unfortunately, because most of us are struggling so much to live on the salaries that we earn, the last thing we can afford to do is take advantage of all these perks. Most of us take one holiday a year if that and when we go, it's stand by, so if the plane is full as it so oten is, we don't go anywhere! Try planning a holiday not knowing whether you'll get on the flight or not and likewise getting home as well, especially when you only have 7 days leave! Many crew end up booking a confirmed holiday elsewhere as opposed to going through the stress of trying to go on holiday and get home on stand by! It's meants to be a holiday to relax not worrying about whether you'll get on the aircraft and whether you'll be able to get home!!

vs_lhr

That's pretty much the deal anywhere, and regardless of if you're crew or not. Staff travel is what it is, and after a while you learn which flights and when are the ones to pick. Let's face it, for those who have been around a while, you're juggling flight options around to get the best chance at J rather than just getting onto the aircraft.

stowaway

Dear JB 1888,
I am not surprised by your comments on RB's letter. Those of you who have been in VS for sometime have helped him create an airline where the in flight service is second to none. Having helped him build it to what it is today (and helping him pocket $600 million from Singapore Airlines, he now tells you to "go forth" if you don't like the pathetic pay. No wonder his letter has upset so many people.
I see now that he is trying to bribe people to come into work on the stirke days. That just about sums up his ethics!!
To those who keep mentioning BA terms and conditions. It is not necessary. VS cabin crew (CAA figures) are paid on average £2,000 less per annum than ANY other U.K. airline!

Best of luck to you all next week.!! (Expect to to RB next week crying on T.V. as per usual when he doesn't get his own way!

JB1888

Staff travel perks are secondary, they dont cost the company much money(if any), the question at hand is the DISGUSTING! £900 a month for our cabin crew.

Now this is what is at the core of the problem, every year we get a sob story from the company about rising costs, you know what, WE HAVE RISING COSTS ASWELL!.

Try living in london area, renting a flat, paying your council tax bills etc on £900. That is what the problem is, we are not trying to bring the company to its knees the way some ill informed people seem to think, we are trying to get a wage which is we can cover the increased cost of living.


I ask Mr Spanner do you think its a fair wage? And dont bother saying go elsewhere coz thats not what i'm asking.

The prob we have is that our senior management have seriously mismanaged our company for years. For example we should have more fuel efficient aircrafts but someone made the wrong decision with what aircrafts to get and now we are paying the price. This is just one example of wrong decisions being made by the management team, they are at fault for this current situation NOT THE CABIN CREW!

Just a thought we know SRB is wanting to buy back his share in Virgin Atlantic from Singapore, he would probably get it at a discount if these troubles continue for much longer, he wouldn't would he??

greigok

I suggest you move somewhere a little cheaper that falls in line with your current salary....whether your being paid enough or not. The main thing here is do not live beyond your means. People living just by gatwick...who have a bus laid on can fully afford accomodation. You are choosing to the live in the 3rd most expensive city in the world.

vs_lhr

greigok, whilst you won't win many friends on here for saying that, I have to agree with you. Everyone has to live within their means, whether cabin crew or shop assistant; and their are plenty of people earning less than crew who seem to be able to manage.

Perhaps it's because their is an attitude that a glamourous job ought to come with a glamourous social life?

greigok

I have friends that earn 800 and no allowance as an extra to bring home if thats what some crew choose to do and they seem to manage. Im not here to make friends just to prove that you need to look at your earnings and then decide what you can afford.

Also unfortunately for them they do not get to travel the world either.

I know everyone works hard...but least you get to chill out down route and spend your allowances in a&f. Im not saying all either..just for the most that i have seen taking loads of shopping home with them.