trollytom

virgin have 28 volunteers so far to work ....thats direct from the union
they are talking sh!! DONT BE SCARED dont turn up for work. Pass it on

The above msg was txt to me from a few colleagues tonight
Who starts these and where does any of the information come from!!


As much as i would love the number of volunteers be only enough to crwe 2 flights i doubt there is any truth in this and therefore have not sent the message on.

Surely we deserve to see some more communication from the Union regarding matters

I dont agree that a bonus should be paid to those operating flights on strike days - it is just another sign of the companies sneaky tactics and i know when your monthly wage is circa £900 for cabin crew every little helps but in the long run a one off payment of 100 quid and more if you are crew down is pathetic and in the long term means nothing
yes it will help cover the cost of that confirmed J seat you used last month but thats all.
Please think about it before you succumb to agreeing to work for this minimal payment - a payment that is in effect costing VS zero as the monies they deduct from strikers pay will cover this. Dont be greedy and think that its good offer especially if you voted yes to strike please dont be brought by bribery and quite frankly minimal amounts of money.

vs_lhr

Not passing it on, yet you posted it on here. That's rather a contradiction, isn't it. Because of the ridiculously low number, I highly doubt the contents too. There have been more people already stating they are volunteering on internet forums.

In the open letter to Brian Boyd, Steve stated the company is allowed to protect its business; and that is absolutely what they will do. Virgin have every right to minimise disruption to the passengers as much as possible.

That's probably true. However the strike itself is costing VS far more.

castin

As the day for the strike becomes closer, more and more cabin crew are going to panic because you are not united.
When the Pilots wanted more money they neg a good deal over a period of time plus they had the skills to back up there claim, this was the same for the engineers.
Unfortunetly for cabin crew you really don't have any of it, your officials and reps don't know what there doing, the cabin crew are panicing because reality is finally settling in and you all know that a fresh batch of recruits takes 6 weeks in training.
Also do any of the union officials, cc reps or even crew know what deal they would be happy to except, because through all the replies on this topic not one person has said what the crew want except for "we want more money"

What makes me really laugh is the thought of the crew on a picket line in the middle of january...................
Its time to think seriously all crew, where you have been lead and who will help you get out of this mess because the union wont

Right Way Up

That F/d deal was not done because of years of working at it. We rolled over a few times because of lack of solidarity. However a certain clever individual put up a very good claim for a pay deal which included some hometruths about VS accounting. The rest is history...

016FSM

I also received a text message tonight in which I was told that they only had 5 FSM's available to fly, which I doubt as most of the CPM's are FSM's so that's more than 5 just amongst them!! The message also said that we need to contact the union reps so they can update us and we should call them. However I know from talking to Brian Boyd and a rep, that there is currently no news or change in plans and tomorrow (Friday) our reps are meeting him to discuss the matter.

I texted back to the number asking where the information was from and correcting them with regard to contacting the reps before tomorrow and surprise surprise, I haven't heard anything back!! If I'm feeling really devious tomorrow, I may call the number and see who answers!!

I also asked if there was any truth in the rumour that one of our union reps had stepped down, nobody will give me a straight answer so I assume that's a yes!

dorisday

Have heard that one too, apparently its PP the ex-chairman.

016FSM

Oh really!!! I like him, he's always been on our side and not scared to stand up to those who didn't like his views!! It's a shame, he was a real fighter!!

VCCM

Your union correspondance said there would be an update 4th Jan (today, Friday)

Vs_lhr, do you never tire of defending the company, for an office based person you are very very dedicated. I wish the company had put as much effort into this from the off as you do.

Castin, No advice from union yet about picket line, so far the thought of watching movies in bed is far more appealing and gets the job done by not arriving at work supporting the strike. What makes me laugh is the company phoning crew to ask if they will strike, they must have so so many people offering their services (sic)

As for text messages being forwarded, the fact they are being forwarded says it all, logically a non striker would not fwd such a message.

Vs_lhr, your message that the strike is costing the company far more, so why not return to the table for talks, is it a case of not chopping off nose spite face ? dont want to be seen as backing down ? For all concerned they would be seen in a better light if they did return to tables, would help get that message across that they tried to with letters last time "we respect you and have learnt a lot this time".

vs_lhr

Maybe it's because I'm still passionate about VS (surely you felt that way at least once?). Or maybe it's because I'm a complete insomniac and there's nowt on telly. I mean, it's 1.30am and I'm still on the internet.

I don't think it's quite as simple as that. Salaries are like compound interest, and will be a bill that grows every year. The cost of the strike will be damaging, but a potentially recoverable one-off cost. Depending on how hard the knock-on effects of the strike bites, that recovery could range from minor cutbacks to large-scale redundancies. The most important number in a company finances are its ongoing operating costs - the one-off hits obviously need to be taken into account, but they will swallow them if they know their going into a year where projected turnover outstrips projected costs.

VCCM

So when the company says it has no more money to fund further rises, you dont think finances are as tight as the company is saying either then ?

varga girl

Well, I've finally got round to posting after lurking for a little while. Just to make things clear, I'm a CSS, worked for Virgin for 7 years and was still undecided about what to do with regards to the strike until I got that letter from SRB. I thought it was incredibly patronising thoughtless and lazy. His argument that we should not compare ourselves with BA because we are "a smaller, friendlier company" is ridiculous. Yes, 5 years ago I would have completely agreed and accepted the pay wasn't that high because I was made to feel like I was part of something special but the company is so much bigger now. Who can honestly say that their CSM/CPM could pick them out of a line up? Where was the Christmas card, let alone party or present one would get working for a "small, friendly company"-come to think of it, did anyone even say thank you for working Christmas????

I did know the salary when I joined but I also expected it to increase at at least the same rate of cost of living! My mortgage payments have increase significantly more than my salary- if, when Dickie says that " more pay... may be critical for your lifestyle", was he aware that in this instance " lifestyle" constitutes food, heat and petrol-not that glamorous!

The fact is Virgin is not the company it once was, a lot of the fun and uniquness has gone and we are now a big business, our salary should reflect this. Just to pre empt any "if you don't like it, leave" comments, I absolutely adore my job, I have devoted seven years of my life to it and I have shown the company a lot of loyalty, I shouldn't HAVE to leave.

The problem is, if we back down now and do not follow through with our threats to strike, we will never be taken seriously again. I'm sure all crew are already aware of how they are stereotyped by management etc (anyone else heard the term "nodding dogs")? We have to stay firm now. We are not asking for much, just a fairer distribution of monies at Virgin. Crew make up 55% of the workforce but recieve just 3% of the pay.

By the way, this is just gossip so no one sue, I heard that two of our directors may have worked for Ansett and were partly responsible for their crew striking and the company's ultimate demise! Can anyone confirm/deny this?

NWT

Castin said
'When the Pilots wanted more money they neg a good deal over a period of time plus they had the skills to back up there claim, this was the same for the engineers.'

not sure when you think the engineers stuck together and got a good deal? They are as disorganised in terms of Unions etc as the CC. The engineers pay rise each year is the same as the rest of the non-unionized staff.

trollytom

well said varga girl i completely agree

vs_lhr

Ok, I should clarify that. Every business likes to make sure the ongoing costs - ie, the fixed bills likes premises costs and salaries are lower than the ongoing projected turnover. That way it can make a profit. Occasionally businesses will encounter one-off costs, like those often referred to as 'restructuring charges', that mean the business loses money in a financial year. An example is if a business is in trouble, and spending more on fixed costs than it is earning, it is sensible to take the hit on redundancy costs to make future years profitable. There are many ways that any business will fund those costs - including dipping into past profits, or cutbacks on planned projects, or funded through the bank. The last company I work for had a £30m overdraft facility with the bank to cover such eventualities, but the bank only provided that if the business could show they were keeping fixed costs below turnover. I don't know it VS has a similar facility, but I wouldn't be surprised.

interpreter

VARGA GIRL
Both LYALL STRAMBI and MATTHEW LEE who are listed on the Virgin website as directors worked for ANSETT. STRAMBI for 26 years and LEE for 11 years so the website says.

016FSM

VARGAGIRL, you said it really well.

The one thing this threat of industrial action has shown, is how many crew are SO loyal and faithful to VA. How many will readily admit that they still love their jobs and that's why so many have taken such offence to RB's disgusting comment. Many who were not planning to support the action, have now reconsidered as a result of that. Well done RB, you really know how to make your staff feel valued!!!!

Virgin staff give 100% to the Co and they're paid rubbish money, what would you get out of them if you paid them well? Maybe minimal sickness throughout the year, crew who are prepared to help at any time they're needed should a major problem arise and maybe less leaving so you would have a larger wealth of experience and more dedication.

Those who have been in the company for a good few years, will remember how it was when they started, a fun company, everyone knew everyone, we were allowed to take a few drinks off the aircraft, room parties EVERY trip even if it was just a wee nightcap, having lots of fun downroute, great discounts at the megastore, two requests a month etc etc. As a result Virgin had a great reputation as being 'the' airline to work for. The money was pants , but what a lifestyle and company to work for!!

RB and others at the top don't realise those days are long gone, many of the perks that he talks about in his letter have now long gone, we have the same benefits more or less as all other airline employees worldwide, discounted travel and upgrades when we fly, it's an airline industry perk. We face losing our job if we take a packet of nuts off the aircraft and the way the crew behave has also changed as a result of the growth of the company. VA always wanted to become a 'real' airline' which rivalled others worldwide and now that they do just that, the company think they can still get away with paying the salaries that they did when it was a tiny company.

The quicker RB and others realise that its not the funloving party airline that it used to be and that people still really enjoy their jobs but expect to be paid decently for doing them, the more likely it is that we can all get on with doing a great job and move forward

016FSM

People, pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese DON'T GO SICK!!!

As it is, not everyone used their ballot paper to cast a vote, we live in a democracy yet so many couldn't or wouldn't make a decision and vote in either direction.

Going sick doesn't support industrial action or the company, it's a coward's way out. Be an adult and make the decision that YOU feel is right, if you support the action then so be it, if you don't then fly but once again,

pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese DON'T GO SICK!!

G-UNIT

Shouldn't there be an 'a' in please?

VCCM

nice message varga

as 016fsm says, sickness not cool if a union member. If however anyone is not a union member there is a limited number of ways they can show their support for their colleagues and the cause short of joining the union now.

red_eye_rat

Wouldn't someone who supported the cause already be part of the union?

Whilst I don't agree with the action, I have to agree with the sentiment about the going sick.

If you've got an opinon then let it be heard. If that means striking or if it means turning up for work then so be it. But DONT cast a 'dont know' vote by blaming the vomit bug. This refusal to stand up and be counted is kinda of why we are ALL in this mess in the first place, regardless of your side of the fence.