Strike threat at BA this Summer
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Strike threat at BA this Summer
In todays Mail on Sunday
BRITISH AIRWAYS could face a wave of strikes this summer after it was revealed it may create a subsidiary firm to employ its 12,000 cabin crew on worse pay and conditions.
As one of a series of costcutting measures being considered because of the failing economy and the spiralling price of aviation fuel – which has leapt by 84 per cent in the past year – the plan would scrap pay structures and see staff transferred to the new firm on reduced rates.
Last night, senior officials of the Unite union – representing cabin crew – threatened strike action unless the plan was withdrawn.
A senior union source said: ‘BA wants to pay us less and wreck our working conditions. There will be big trouble over this.’
However, Simon Talling-Smith, BA’s head of Inflight Services, said: ‘ BA, like all airlines, needs to make plans to survive the economic downturn. Inflight Services has been asked to explore options to address costs and managers have been spending time on this.
‘As always, we explore different options, many of which we never pursue. At this point, the evaluations are not finished and any proposals are not complete.’
BRITISH AIRWAYS could face a wave of strikes this summer after it was revealed it may create a subsidiary firm to employ its 12,000 cabin crew on worse pay and conditions.
As one of a series of costcutting measures being considered because of the failing economy and the spiralling price of aviation fuel – which has leapt by 84 per cent in the past year – the plan would scrap pay structures and see staff transferred to the new firm on reduced rates.
Last night, senior officials of the Unite union – representing cabin crew – threatened strike action unless the plan was withdrawn.
A senior union source said: ‘BA wants to pay us less and wreck our working conditions. There will be big trouble over this.’
However, Simon Talling-Smith, BA’s head of Inflight Services, said: ‘ BA, like all airlines, needs to make plans to survive the economic downturn. Inflight Services has been asked to explore options to address costs and managers have been spending time on this.
‘As always, we explore different options, many of which we never pursue. At this point, the evaluations are not finished and any proposals are not complete.’
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Byalphaindia, your response 
I would contend the pace with which employers (in the aviation industry and those outside) will be looking at all the options to reduce costs will continue to accelarate rapidly.
I have seen the results of staff cost reduction in the maritime industry and still find it disturbing that employees (of any industry) who have made plans might suddenly find that the future turns out very different with not so many alternative options to try.
I would contend the pace with which employers (in the aviation industry and those outside) will be looking at all the options to reduce costs will continue to accelarate rapidly.
I have seen the results of staff cost reduction in the maritime industry and still find it disturbing that employees (of any industry) who have made plans might suddenly find that the future turns out very different with not so many alternative options to try.
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BYAI - That is a sad and disappointing response. Yes, BA CC are paid top money in comparison to other CC and their T&C's likewise, but in the end it's unsettling and demoralising to hear that the carpet is being prepared in order to pull under the feet of thousands of people, many who live in the most expensive part of the UK.
I know that CC may well be asked to pay for their parking at their respective bases from next April and that the allowance system is also under a 'shock and awe' review but the thought of being outside the 'BA Umbrella' and working for another company is awful.
BA can TUPE any department as those who worked in BA security and MT found out to their personal and financial cost.
I've said before that CC sickness has been seen as a huge thorn in BA's side and Ascot 2008 saw unparalled levels of sickness, particulary on Ladies Day
but any 'crew supplier company' would in future have to bear the cost of such selfish actions. Sadly, a large minority have brought this part of BA's microscope upon the excellent majority.
Any threat of strike action will simply play into BA's hands.
I know that CC may well be asked to pay for their parking at their respective bases from next April and that the allowance system is also under a 'shock and awe' review but the thought of being outside the 'BA Umbrella' and working for another company is awful.
BA can TUPE any department as those who worked in BA security and MT found out to their personal and financial cost.
I've said before that CC sickness has been seen as a huge thorn in BA's side and Ascot 2008 saw unparalled levels of sickness, particulary on Ladies Day
but any 'crew supplier company' would in future have to bear the cost of such selfish actions. Sadly, a large minority have brought this part of BA's microscope upon the excellent majority.Any threat of strike action will simply play into BA's hands.
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Who Cares?
Indeed so, except perhaps the overpaid/underworked present BA senior cabin staff.
The gravy train has to end at some point, and as cabin staff are a dime a dozen, perhaps a wholesale mass resignation will be in order.
New faces, on lower pay = better service.
You see, the new ones are glad to have a job, so BA should make the most of it.
Now, before FD crew get in a snit, this won't work for these folks...they are highly trained and very expensive to replace.
IF I were BA management, I would start advertising for replacment cabin staff right away...none too soon to get cracking.
Indeed so, except perhaps the overpaid/underworked present BA senior cabin staff.
The gravy train has to end at some point, and as cabin staff are a dime a dozen, perhaps a wholesale mass resignation will be in order.
New faces, on lower pay = better service.
You see, the new ones are glad to have a job, so BA should make the most of it.
Now, before FD crew get in a snit, this won't work for these folks...they are highly trained and very expensive to replace.
IF I were BA management, I would start advertising for replacment cabin staff right away...none too soon to get cracking.
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Oh Dear Oh Dear 411a, you really have no idea of the concept of loyalty do you? Time and time again, the salvation of BA has been its Cabin Crew. They go the extra mile and are truly proud of what they do. The passenger feedback from every flight via survey forms spells that out loud and clear. To even begin to think that a new hire programme could even BEGIN to scratch the surface of what currently exists is cloud cuckoo land thinking. Not sure if you are in the industry or not, probably not, but this scenario is frightening for EVERY carrier out there not just BA.
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411a.. oh once again guess what? Have ago at BA cabin crew.. you are so pre_dick_able. I said it before and I`ll say it now to any cabin crew whether BA or any other... DO NOT RISE TO THIS PERSON. Ignore.
Right said my piece 411a Have a good day and hope the weather is good where you are.
Right said my piece 411a Have a good day and hope the weather is good where you are.
Last edited by Tiger; 22nd Jun 2008 at 20:07.
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I'm BA flight crew and i must say we have excellent cabin crew. In a previous life I was cabin crew for a charter airline and I must say the money and agreements enjoyed by the crew are from another planet compared to the rest of the industry, and maybe something has to give. It s tough to defend waaay above average money and waaay below average productivity (along with some other anti competitive practice ie long day payment, one down payment etc.)
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I expect certain elements of the project may reach the proposal stage ... at the moment nothing has been ruled in or out but BASSA (the union most BA crew belong to) and the Daily Mail newspaper are obviously intent (and stand to benefit) from whipping up a storm in the press and amongst BA employees ...
I think we need to calm down boys and girls ... knee-jerk reactions won't help anyone.
It is certainly true that some senior BA crew earn relatively high salaries and sometimes work very little compared to their peers ... a 4 hour trip on a Jumbo (15 crew) down to Cairo, 1 service (dinner), land and 2 local nights in a 5-star hotel in Egypt ... yes, an absolute dream if you are BA crew but no other airline is doing this ..... with conditions and work patterns like these I am not in the least bit surprised that BA crew are reacting in a negative way ... most people would.
BA cabin crew was regarded as a career in the past (as well it might) ... it is slowly becoming just another job ... that obviously hurts.
I think we need to calm down boys and girls ... knee-jerk reactions won't help anyone.
It is certainly true that some senior BA crew earn relatively high salaries and sometimes work very little compared to their peers ... a 4 hour trip on a Jumbo (15 crew) down to Cairo, 1 service (dinner), land and 2 local nights in a 5-star hotel in Egypt ... yes, an absolute dream if you are BA crew but no other airline is doing this ..... with conditions and work patterns like these I am not in the least bit surprised that BA crew are reacting in a negative way ... most people would.
BA cabin crew was regarded as a career in the past (as well it might) ... it is slowly becoming just another job ... that obviously hurts.
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Let me reinterate. Those BA crew on big salaries are in the minority and due to their ages this is a growing minority. BA, and when it suits the press, role out example figures of crew on 45-50k per annum. Yes there are some - but not many - and they earn so much because they have worked for BA for 34-40 years. The masses who are following do not and will not earn this type of money. Our LGW cabin crew have colleagues leaving for employment with charter and low cost carriers to earn more.
I hear sweeping statements about the amount of work we do on-board. On long haul we do what our customers tell our company they want from us. And our company makes the decsion about what is prepared to offer. I've work for Britannia Airways and now BA and we have very different passenger profiles. Generally Britannia passengers were in an excited holiday mode and were easy fodder for scratch card and bar rounds where, at BA we have a majority of business and personal travel which is just another chore and the majority prefer to rest and be left alone after being fed. I can assure you that on a 10-12 hour flight if I left the blinds up and lights on and kept a constant noisy presence in the cabin I would have some very gruppy customers.
And as for cost items such as working one down payments, well these are not in place for crew to financially benefit from (and in 3years on long haul I've never had one), they are there to ensure that BA retains the correct crew level for an efficient service to be carried out on-board, which they have deemed important. I've no axe to grind with low cost carriers but you get what you pay for service wise. Our top fares are £7500-£8000 return. Our Atlantic business fares are £4000 return and our ecomomy fares often top a £1000. This sort of money creates expectations about service from our passengers. I know there are people who don't like our service or crew but their opinion is subjective and entitled and a vocal minority. We have a massive base of satisfied customers who are loyal. When they complain, which they will do, it is about the lack of product, broken IFE, state of the aircraft interior, lost or late baggage, late departure and arrivals, everything except the value of the flight and cabin crew who do what ever they can to mitigate problems. I often read thats the only reason passengers come back to us, which makes me feel proud and valued. Unlike the contempt from within BA management. BA take your experienced crew away, reduce your crew compliments, demoralize those who stay, work new crew into the ground until they only care about getting home and leaving. There is a fine line between us and our competitors and I believe it would be foolhardy to deliberately damage the only consitently achieving area of our service.
Finally if cutting employee costs is your ultimate goal then why are cabin services recruiting a further 18 managers this month and why has our managerhead count more than doubled. Maybe some management out-sourcing is required.
I hear sweeping statements about the amount of work we do on-board. On long haul we do what our customers tell our company they want from us. And our company makes the decsion about what is prepared to offer. I've work for Britannia Airways and now BA and we have very different passenger profiles. Generally Britannia passengers were in an excited holiday mode and were easy fodder for scratch card and bar rounds where, at BA we have a majority of business and personal travel which is just another chore and the majority prefer to rest and be left alone after being fed. I can assure you that on a 10-12 hour flight if I left the blinds up and lights on and kept a constant noisy presence in the cabin I would have some very gruppy customers.
And as for cost items such as working one down payments, well these are not in place for crew to financially benefit from (and in 3years on long haul I've never had one), they are there to ensure that BA retains the correct crew level for an efficient service to be carried out on-board, which they have deemed important. I've no axe to grind with low cost carriers but you get what you pay for service wise. Our top fares are £7500-£8000 return. Our Atlantic business fares are £4000 return and our ecomomy fares often top a £1000. This sort of money creates expectations about service from our passengers. I know there are people who don't like our service or crew but their opinion is subjective and entitled and a vocal minority. We have a massive base of satisfied customers who are loyal. When they complain, which they will do, it is about the lack of product, broken IFE, state of the aircraft interior, lost or late baggage, late departure and arrivals, everything except the value of the flight and cabin crew who do what ever they can to mitigate problems. I often read thats the only reason passengers come back to us, which makes me feel proud and valued. Unlike the contempt from within BA management. BA take your experienced crew away, reduce your crew compliments, demoralize those who stay, work new crew into the ground until they only care about getting home and leaving. There is a fine line between us and our competitors and I believe it would be foolhardy to deliberately damage the only consitently achieving area of our service.
Finally if cutting employee costs is your ultimate goal then why are cabin services recruiting a further 18 managers this month and why has our managerhead count more than doubled. Maybe some management out-sourcing is required.
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What I don't understand, and it's not just BA, it's companies all over Britain, is that we made a record profit this year, so how are we doing that if the cost of everything seems to be rising and we're meant to be facing harder times than after 9/11??? Something isn't ringing true here. All I can say is that I really hope this operation Columbus doesn't come in, or we'll all be looking for a new job...Thanks very much BA, very kind of you.
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Thread already running - please continue your discussions on BA BASSA Message - TUPE
