BA and Project Columbus III

[zebedeee]

... there is still something completely wrong with the airline. I believe that to be management. Have a walk around Waterworld, it is crammed with them still !!! I remember Ayling and co took on around 15,000 managers, that will not be affected by having a few hundred take redundancy. A mass cull is needed, and fast.

ECC, not everyone in Waterworld is a manager! Do you think that anyone not wearing a uniform is a manager and/ or not adding value to the company? There's only around 45,000 employees in the whole of BA now so no way could Ayling have taken on 15,000 new managers in his time! When I left a few months ago I was told that there were less than 2,000 managers (SM and MG grade, these were the only 2 management grades below Director level, I think the names of the grades have changed now), about 450 of these managers took voluntary severance.

[HZ123]

There will be no SM and MG soon as all grades in management encompassing these grades plus some APPG's and A7 are to become Bands 1-3 with ! being senior. All pay will be performance related.

[Da Dog]

£400,000,000 loss announced,pre tax(operating loss,£220,000,000), just wait and see the pressure notch up now...............

(edited for clarification)

[wobble2plank]

Welcome to the real world boys and girls. I think the thumbscrews will be coming out and it will be a time for 'put up or ship out'.

16 Hulls grounded and a vastly over inflated wage bill are going to run through negotiations like a steamroller. ALL other departments realise the financial threat to the company. Even more so after WW announcement TO THE CITY this morning, not the board, not through the unions but directly, on BBC News, to the world.

So, pull your heads out of the sand. Look at the stark reality and realise that if reform doesn't go through then you will have notice given on contracts. The rest of the company will not support a petulant BASSA fight, even less so given the current circumstances.

Now is the time to ensure that BA survives the coming financial year. If it doesn't then you will be staring at a corporate, hostile take over that will re-write your cushy contract into something akin to Ryan Air.

At least this way you have a little choice. Once through this then we can all, at least, attempt to regain some ground. Slim pickings I know but at least we will still be standing.

(edited due to missed commas!)

[Dezso]

I doubt you're looking at a takeover. The opposition will be looking to see you fail and they can step in and take over the slots. Who wants that pension deficit and all the issues with the unions. Easier to grow another airline through obtaining the slots at London Heathrow.

[TopBunk]

Well crunch time is now upon us.

WW has given a firm deadline for the conclusion of all savings talks to be completed by end of June. That means all areas have to find a way to deliver the prescribed savings in full by that date.

I'm think that any balloting required on the changes can take place in July.

[Rescue3]

takeover??????

who by ?. EK being bailed out by AUH family. LH asking for discount on BMI. Banks not lending for purchase of LGW.

[wobble2plank]

Now, as companies with global connections hit rock bottom prices, is when asset stripping companies such as the Blackstone Group start circling.

Who said anything about an 'Airline' buyout?

[imastweardsothere]

I fear we are going to be right royally shafted shortly. The Unions inaction is mind boggling. They should represent ALL their members, not just the overpaid underworked CSD's and old Pursers.

[wobble2plank]

I fear we are going to be right royally shafted shortly. The Unions inaction is mind boggling. They should represent ALL their members, not just the overpaid underworked CSD's and old Pursers.

Bizarrely enough, what all the other work groups at BA have been saying for years and years.

[Virginia]

It's deffo time to start dusting off the old CV and job-hunting!

[overstress]

Pilots in BA are currently discussing voluntary redundancy to avoid the spectre of compulsory redundancy. Virginia is obviously a realist but I don't think she was on my crew yesterday who were still trotting out old-style BASSA rantings

[Re-Heat]

Now, as companies with global connections hit rock bottom prices, is when asset stripping companies such as the Blackstone Group start circling.

As a US-based and raised fund, they are unable to takeover EU-based airlines. There are few that could raise the money for something of the size of BA.

[imastweardsothere]

Has anyone heard anything?

[wobble2plank]

Unfortunately the intricacies of EU ownership have never really been a barrier for large corporations. It is fairly easy and quick to compound a few interested/tied foreign investors into such a scheme.

Look at Alitalia, that was effectively a Government buyout run by Berlusconi with a few of his mates whilst hiding the debts of Alitalia and passing it on to the Italian tax payer. Hardly legal under EU law but went ahead never the less.

[nuigini]

I haven't heard anything except that the company is offering PT (part-time) to all grades. Out of the blue!

[stormin norman]

With everybody sitting on the fence waiting for someone else to make the first move it gives WW the perfect excuse to make the changes he wants.Timing is everything, BASSA need to get a move on.

[wiggy]

nuigini

"I haven't heard anything except that the company is offering PT (part-time) to all grades"

Given the fact that a significant number of aircraft are going to be laid up this winter, and the fact that the Company are making pilots redundant ( hopefully only voluntary but...) I suspect it will be more than an offer if there aren't enough volunteers from the Cabin Crew community.....

[wobble2plank]

The problem is that the announcement of appalling figures coupled with the downgrade of stock added to the obvious downturn in the aviation sector (bolstered by the huge losses from AF/KLM) have somewhat taken the bluster from the BASSA sails.

Even those die hards who believe that all is pink and fluffy in the BA financial world and that the push for optimisation is merely a scary bully boy tactic from managers swimming in piles of gold cannot fail to see the prognosis.

Hence, now the whole situation needs to be re-addressed and evaluated sensibly. That takes a little time. Suffice to say though that we should all hear some news soon as the company CANNOT AFFORD to let this drag on for the sake of the customers, investors or staff.

Time to put up or ship out.

[Channex101]

As crew why should I "put up" with that we have been offered?
What we are all concerned about it that when the airline returns to profit, no matter when that is, we are thn left with what we had "put up" with.
If it was a temp measure im sure a lot of us would be more than happy to help out, we are already doing do by taking months off unpaid, signing up for part time working either temp or perm.

I dont agree with the put up or shut up statement, I am willing to do as much as poss for BA to ensure I have a job in teh future, but at the same time i need to make sure that what I "put up" with in the mean time I am able to live on, I dont just want to be working to pay to get to work!

I would also like to point out, my head is well above the sand, having worked for two airlines that are no defunct. And, I would also like to state on the "overinflated wage bill".... as a very jnr memeber of BA, I can assure you, my wage bill is FAAAAARRR from inflated.
Other departments of the airline may not be willing to support crew and BASSA, but thats BA all over isnt it, everyone for themself in this company, one thing people forget is that us uniform wearing customer facing staff are the front line of the airline, i admit everyone else has their part to play and is just as important, sometimes maybe more, but the crew are the ones who spend most time with our passengers, so they have to bear in mind, if they want premium service they need to pay premium money, if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys!