British Airways - CC Industrial Relations & Negotiations
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We were mistaken, British Airways wanted to commence proceedings off with a financial slideshow presentation on future revenue yields by a junior financial clerk from Waterside. Basically just more time wasting and another attempt to brainwash us into accepting the changes they want to impose.
WE HAVE SEEN AND HEARD EVERY TYPE OF PRESENTATION you could imagine, IT’S TIME FOR ACTION not slideshows,
WE HAVE SEEN AND HEARD EVERY TYPE OF PRESENTATION you could imagine, IT’S TIME FOR ACTION not slideshows,
Genius, good luck with that. When are the majority of crew going to wake up?
And to add insult to injury Business Traveller magazine has published this years airline awards.
Best Cabin Staff
1. Singapore Airlines
2. Virgin Atlantic
3. British Airways
4. Cathay Pacific
1. Singapore Airlines
2. Virgin Atlantic
3. British Airways
4. Cathay Pacific
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hotel mode,where is the insult and injury in business travellers airline awards ??
the results are not based on cabin crew alone are they.
website,punctuality,in flight entertainment,business lounges,frequent flyer reward programme,catering,seating and onboard facilities,the list goes on and on.
despite this,third place on the world stage in a very good result,considering the very high standards of competition,
i am surprised that emirates and etihad did not do better.
very disappointed that ba management walked out of todays talks,yet now decide to reconveen in a weeks time.
does not seem much urgency on their part to make savings as soon as possible,considering the original deadline for conclusion of the proposed changes was june !!
thats because the airline is or was,fighting for survival !
the results are not based on cabin crew alone are they.
website,punctuality,in flight entertainment,business lounges,frequent flyer reward programme,catering,seating and onboard facilities,the list goes on and on.
despite this,third place on the world stage in a very good result,considering the very high standards of competition,
i am surprised that emirates and etihad did not do better.
very disappointed that ba management walked out of todays talks,yet now decide to reconveen in a weeks time.
does not seem much urgency on their part to make savings as soon as possible,considering the original deadline for conclusion of the proposed changes was june !!
thats because the airline is or was,fighting for survival !
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Stop Press - theres more from Bassa!!
A few hours after walking out BA had a change of heart and now requested we reconvene meetings on Wednesday week.
So much for urgency, but at least they have now recognised that talking is better than walking!
So much for urgency, but at least they have now recognised that talking is better than walking!
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hotel mode,where is the insult and injury in business travellers airline awards ??
BA won overall best airline as a result of the other parts of the product you mention.
Full results here Business Traveller Awards 2009 - Business Traveller
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Not that I place much emphasis on self congratulatory wards, (conde nast awarded BA best business cabin, despite the fact that it doesn't work and rarely has the product promised to passengers, no washbags, no first or even second meals choice, only half the stated wines available..... i could go on) but, are you suprised that BA cabin crew are not no1. We've had a two years of demotivation from the company and todays events are no better. We are fed up, we want an agreement which suites both sides and we want the matter settled soon. I once enjoyed going to work, but the shine has been removed. It seems that everytime I set foot into the CRC there is another BA induced drama.
Look, I'm affected by the talks but I'm not involved. My message to BA would be to make the first move to compromise. Instead we have a senior director behaving like a spoilt child and storming out of meeting, in front of ACAS, because the unions do not wish to view his slides before talks commence. Here is how I see it. If the company really want this matter resolved now then McCarthy should have let out a small sigh and commenced talks but refered to his slides throughout to illustrate his points. As I see it the scenario was utter pathetic. This site is ultra quick to call the unions immature, and I agree at times their public behaviour has left something to be desired, but BA are no better. It leads me to believe that there is a great deal of truth in the argument that BA's actions against it's cabin crew are not about saving money in a crisis
per se. It seems that BA are stalling because they know that no matter what they will be imposing 100% what they want, and they know the most likely result will be industrial action. January is a quiet month. How about stalling until the begining of December, imposing their new requirements thus allowing any industrial action to occur in January.
Bassa's proposals may not have been acceptable to BA. To the vast majority of cabin crew BA's proposals are also unacceptable. No compromise will ever be reached whilst the senior partner behaves like the junior. Somebody has to take the lead or we will fly headfirst into a strike, which no matter how much cold analysis states will be cost effective in the long run, will have a detremental effect on BA's reputation. We need to strike a balance here. The vast majority of our passengers care not a jot about the longtime cost effectiveness of BA, only that they do what they say the will for the right price.
Look, I'm affected by the talks but I'm not involved. My message to BA would be to make the first move to compromise. Instead we have a senior director behaving like a spoilt child and storming out of meeting, in front of ACAS, because the unions do not wish to view his slides before talks commence. Here is how I see it. If the company really want this matter resolved now then McCarthy should have let out a small sigh and commenced talks but refered to his slides throughout to illustrate his points. As I see it the scenario was utter pathetic. This site is ultra quick to call the unions immature, and I agree at times their public behaviour has left something to be desired, but BA are no better. It leads me to believe that there is a great deal of truth in the argument that BA's actions against it's cabin crew are not about saving money in a crisis
per se. It seems that BA are stalling because they know that no matter what they will be imposing 100% what they want, and they know the most likely result will be industrial action. January is a quiet month. How about stalling until the begining of December, imposing their new requirements thus allowing any industrial action to occur in January.
Bassa's proposals may not have been acceptable to BA. To the vast majority of cabin crew BA's proposals are also unacceptable. No compromise will ever be reached whilst the senior partner behaves like the junior. Somebody has to take the lead or we will fly headfirst into a strike, which no matter how much cold analysis states will be cost effective in the long run, will have a detremental effect on BA's reputation. We need to strike a balance here. The vast majority of our passengers care not a jot about the longtime cost effectiveness of BA, only that they do what they say the will for the right price.
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So, from Lala land:
After the previous from fortress BASSA:
and:
plus:
Which never, ever totalled even what BASSA though they were worth!
And BASSA wonders why BA wants to give them a financial presentation?
So the world turns.
Ho Hum.
We were mistaken, British Airways wanted to commence proceedings off with a financial slideshow presentation on future revenue yields by a junior financial clerk from Waterside. Basically just more time wasting and another attempt to brainwash us into accepting the changes they want to impose.
We now have a moribund company caught frozen between the tail lights of a rapidly disappearing recession and the morally bankrupt headlights that have got stuck on full beam.
Make no mistake it is not BA that is in financial crisis
Over the last 12 months BASSA have shown that we are prepared to make sacrifices and contribute to help BA combat the global downturn but all our offers have been thrown back in our faces because it did not quite match the sums envisaged by the greedy mandarins at the top - who not only saw their chance to “save a few bob” but who were intent on finally dismantling union power too.
And BASSA wonders why BA wants to give them a financial presentation?
So the world turns.
Ho Hum.
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After months of mounting and unsettling uncertainty for the cabin crew community, British Airways finally agreed to resume further talks. These were scheduled to be held today Monday 21st September at the ACAS offices in central London.
This was agreed at the meeting between Willie Walsh and UNITE general secretary Tony Woodley. BASSA was to work along side National Secretary Steve Turner and British Airways would be led by Director of people, Tony McCarthy.
Despite British Airways repeatedly stating the urgency of these talks, they did not actually take place.
BASSA was ready to do business and to give one final attempt to see if an agreement could be reached, our belief is that this would involve serious negotiation.
We were mistaken, British Airways wanted to commence proceedings off with a financial slideshow presentation on future revenue yields by a junior financial clerk from Waterside. Basically just more time wasting and another attempt to brainwash us into accepting the changes they want to impose.
WE HAVE SEEN AND HEARD EVERY TYPE OF PRESENTATION you could imagine, IT’S TIME FOR ACTION not slideshows, this uncertainty has gone on long enough, . Tony McCarthy disagreed and had what could only be described as a “fit of pique “ and flounced out of the talks and registered, ironically another “failure to agree“. Frankly BA’s behaviour is, under the serious circumstances, reprehensible and irresponsible.
BASSA remains available for serious negotiation, if British Airways wish to talk and not walk. We are here to represent your views and concerns .If they do not, so be it, we stand ready to defend our members against any imposition.
This was agreed at the meeting between Willie Walsh and UNITE general secretary Tony Woodley. BASSA was to work along side National Secretary Steve Turner and British Airways would be led by Director of people, Tony McCarthy.
Despite British Airways repeatedly stating the urgency of these talks, they did not actually take place.
BASSA was ready to do business and to give one final attempt to see if an agreement could be reached, our belief is that this would involve serious negotiation.
We were mistaken, British Airways wanted to commence proceedings off with a financial slideshow presentation on future revenue yields by a junior financial clerk from Waterside. Basically just more time wasting and another attempt to brainwash us into accepting the changes they want to impose.
WE HAVE SEEN AND HEARD EVERY TYPE OF PRESENTATION you could imagine, IT’S TIME FOR ACTION not slideshows, this uncertainty has gone on long enough, . Tony McCarthy disagreed and had what could only be described as a “fit of pique “ and flounced out of the talks and registered, ironically another “failure to agree“. Frankly BA’s behaviour is, under the serious circumstances, reprehensible and irresponsible.
BASSA remains available for serious negotiation, if British Airways wish to talk and not walk. We are here to represent your views and concerns .If they do not, so be it, we stand ready to defend our members against any imposition.
Given the choice of language ("a junior financial clerk from Waterside"), I would take BASSA's account of Tony McCarthy's "fit of pique" with a pinch of salt.
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"The bit quoted was (as I made clear) for Best Cabin Staff - the position lower than VS being the key point here -"
It could possibley be down to the fact that most business travellers are males and are voting on the Virgin dollies image rather than on the delivery of the service !
It could possibley be down to the fact that most business travellers are males and are voting on the Virgin dollies image rather than on the delivery of the service !
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Ahh, once again, here is the level of representation being shown by those to whom BA Cabin Crew are paying a tithe of their salary every month. It rather speaks for itself...
Certainly getting your money's worth in representation there.
The Talented Mr. Francis? Sep 20th, 2009 by admin
If you’re already familiar with the 1995 Antony Minghela film - wherein Matt Damon plays a charmingly plausible, yet at the same time, ruthless and deadly character, who unleashes murder and betrayal amongst the “beautiful people” of an ex-pat community on the Italian Riviera - then perhaps comparisons with the current leader of cabin services may initially appear to be somewhat harsh.
Yes, of course Mr. Francis is highly unlikely to commit murder any time soon - unless the death of our community, career prospects and a once great airline counts - yet his modus operandi, backed by a ruthless ambition, is strikingly similar.
The cabin crew community, on the whole, is a warm and welcoming environment in which to work. It is a strange phenomenon but no matter how experience has proven otherwise, each new head of cabin crew is welcomed with open arms and with an almost deferential respect. Crew want to believe in them and hope that each new manager will be the one that recognises the good job that they do, treat them with respect and provide them the tools with which to do it.
Obvious really.
Cabin crew simply want to come to work and be allowed to get on with doing the job that they enjoy doing. They don’t require armies of managers to make this happen. Left alone, most crew will simply get on with doing what they do best; providing the top quality service that our passengers expect to receive from British Airways.
When he first took over the job from Simon Talling-Smith, it was in many ways, a welcome change from the personality fuelled PR machine that had gone before him. Gone were the life-size photographs and crew TV guest spots, and in was the low key, straight talking “I’m one of the good guys and I’m listening” approach.
Whether circumstance, or instruction from above has dictated otherwise, this has proven to be somewhat baseless. The words may be reassuringly fluffy and inclusive, but they barely sugar coat a very bitter pill. He has tried to win people’s trust but to what end? To protect current crew? Or to deliver what no other head of cabin crew could achieve; low cost cabin crew. Five years from now, will history cast him as hero or villain? You will not have the luxury of hindsight and must make up your own mind - now.
We believe that people’s trust, including ours, has been abused. Substance has been replaced by sound bites; “minimize the impact upon current crew” and “ we will all just work a little bit harder”. The guiding principle of “putting the customer first” all spring easily to mind, yet over time have been proven to be little more than empty catch phrases, designed to lull a community into sleepwalking towards their own demise.
In reality, Mr. Francis’s ethos is somewhat harder to swallow; his style is to portray the relaxed “nice guy” image - and he may very well be exactly that - but the changes that he intends to introduce for you are not, and it would be a far more honest approach if he admitted exactly that. Either he knows this and is simply conning you into believing otherwise to further his own agenda, or he simply doesn’t realise the implications of the changes he intends to introduce.
He plans to try and reduce the crewing levels on all long haul and most short haul flights; it would not be unreasonable to think he would also have spent a great deal of time and thought on how to reduce crews work load accordingly. Far from it. Only this week, he has announced plans to cut the catering for our second club world meal to 70%. This is the most financially important premium cabin.
He also expects to bulk-load all of the components that make up the tray and catering and expects cabin crew to lay up each individual tray. A massive increase in workload with current crewing levels, yet at the same time he intends to remove a Purser from the club world galley on all aircraft types. Why do this? Simple, British Airways no longer will have to pay Gate Gourmet or Alpha to set up each tray; you will be doing it and they will pocket the money saved. Oh yes, it also will not be counted towards cabin crews’ cost saving target - but caterings.
How did he come to this belief? He “trialled” it. Not on an aircraft. Not with real crew in a real working aircraft environment, but in 4 chairs in a classroom at Waterside, carried out by three managers and a grounded Mexican ICC crew member. On the strength of that, he decided it worked just fine and all his so called “principles” remained intact. You can count on some reassuring words of spin to that effect very shortly
Have no doubt, this is the way our management wants to work in the future; they may make the mistakes but you will be picking up the tab. They do not value knowledge or experience; in fact they resent managers with an understanding of cabin crew, those that speak up are quickly sidelined and replaced with those that share this “new vision”.
It may shock you to learn that British Airways entire management team that worked on the current round of proposed changes, have barely ever set foot upon a British Airways aircraft, let alone bothered to understand the role of crew. They don’t understand your job and they don’t want to. They simply believe that you have had it too good for too long - and the reason for that? Your union and your agreements; hence you will no longer see the words “Agreement” or “Negotiate” in their communications, only “principles” and “consultation”. Don’t believe us? Then take a look back at every word they have written since February this year and you will find the proof you need.
This is their vision of the future; they are stealing our airline from under our noses and nobody has noticed. Everything that British Airways stands for, its traditions, its history, its ways of working, is on the verge of being torn down. Families worked for this airline from generation to generation; they won’t in the future. Why? Because it suits the egotistical and selfish agenda of the new regime that runs this airline.
Everything that was done before is worthless and “we know best” is the new mantra of the day.
The jury is out on whether Bill Francis is the puppeteer or the puppet - Tony McCarthy - Director of People - and his assistant, James Farren, now call the shots. They may have made a mess of the Post Office - simply look at the headlines this week to see their legacy - but they are also arrogant enough to continue to think that they always know best. Supported by a chief executive who urges staff to work for free at the same time as accepting a deferred bonus of Ł30,000.
They demand flexibility and yet are in turn both dogmatic and inflexible.
Their approach is not one of harmony or partnership but of “doing as you’re told” and feeling lucky to have a job. They don’t believe in knowing or understanding the job as their people do, but of simply telling them what to do and when. No worldwide rosters being published or crew cleaning the aircraft in Shannon on the London City -New York are just the beginning, it’s all part of the game plan. We will tell you what to do and when to do it and if you don’t like it? Then leave, we will simply get somebody in on a cheaper contract, who won’t know any better.
As for Bill Francis? Well, he is either a part of that and believes in it wholeheartedly, or he does not have the principles he claims to have by defending his people against it. Either way, the end result is the same.
We are now in the middle of September and after months of uncertainty we are no further ahead; had British Airways accepted the BASSA cost saving proposal when they were first offered, this would have been money in the bank to aid the self titled “fight for survival”.
Instead, as the green shoots of recovery are beginning to be noted in many areas of the economy, it is increasingly being seen as more an opportunistic determination to end union involvement, and with it, reasonable terms and conditions for the people who work hard for this airline, than mere cost cutting.
A Times article on 17th September, (CLICK HERE) also appears to confirms this.
Each week, the news surrounding our company supports this view; mergers with various airlines ebb and flow, new price fixing scandals have come to light (this time with cargo) and rumoured cash offers to buy other airlines all alongside an increasing share price would all appear to support the view that the only true “crisis” our airline faces, is a moral one by the people who purport to lead us.
British Airways will only commit to a single day of meetings; this is planned for Monday September 21st, read into that what you will. Rest assured we have given our final position, it has been rejected, nonetheless it remains our final position. We believe in all of us having the right to a decent future and if that involves having to fight for that right, so be it.
We will hope for the best outcome but will also be prepared for the worst
‘Let the poor drink their milk, while the rich eat their honey, let the bums count their blessings while we count the money”
Matt Johnson - The The 1986
If you’re already familiar with the 1995 Antony Minghela film - wherein Matt Damon plays a charmingly plausible, yet at the same time, ruthless and deadly character, who unleashes murder and betrayal amongst the “beautiful people” of an ex-pat community on the Italian Riviera - then perhaps comparisons with the current leader of cabin services may initially appear to be somewhat harsh.
Yes, of course Mr. Francis is highly unlikely to commit murder any time soon - unless the death of our community, career prospects and a once great airline counts - yet his modus operandi, backed by a ruthless ambition, is strikingly similar.
The cabin crew community, on the whole, is a warm and welcoming environment in which to work. It is a strange phenomenon but no matter how experience has proven otherwise, each new head of cabin crew is welcomed with open arms and with an almost deferential respect. Crew want to believe in them and hope that each new manager will be the one that recognises the good job that they do, treat them with respect and provide them the tools with which to do it.
Obvious really.
Cabin crew simply want to come to work and be allowed to get on with doing the job that they enjoy doing. They don’t require armies of managers to make this happen. Left alone, most crew will simply get on with doing what they do best; providing the top quality service that our passengers expect to receive from British Airways.
When he first took over the job from Simon Talling-Smith, it was in many ways, a welcome change from the personality fuelled PR machine that had gone before him. Gone were the life-size photographs and crew TV guest spots, and in was the low key, straight talking “I’m one of the good guys and I’m listening” approach.
Whether circumstance, or instruction from above has dictated otherwise, this has proven to be somewhat baseless. The words may be reassuringly fluffy and inclusive, but they barely sugar coat a very bitter pill. He has tried to win people’s trust but to what end? To protect current crew? Or to deliver what no other head of cabin crew could achieve; low cost cabin crew. Five years from now, will history cast him as hero or villain? You will not have the luxury of hindsight and must make up your own mind - now.
We believe that people’s trust, including ours, has been abused. Substance has been replaced by sound bites; “minimize the impact upon current crew” and “ we will all just work a little bit harder”. The guiding principle of “putting the customer first” all spring easily to mind, yet over time have been proven to be little more than empty catch phrases, designed to lull a community into sleepwalking towards their own demise.
In reality, Mr. Francis’s ethos is somewhat harder to swallow; his style is to portray the relaxed “nice guy” image - and he may very well be exactly that - but the changes that he intends to introduce for you are not, and it would be a far more honest approach if he admitted exactly that. Either he knows this and is simply conning you into believing otherwise to further his own agenda, or he simply doesn’t realise the implications of the changes he intends to introduce.
He plans to try and reduce the crewing levels on all long haul and most short haul flights; it would not be unreasonable to think he would also have spent a great deal of time and thought on how to reduce crews work load accordingly. Far from it. Only this week, he has announced plans to cut the catering for our second club world meal to 70%. This is the most financially important premium cabin.
He also expects to bulk-load all of the components that make up the tray and catering and expects cabin crew to lay up each individual tray. A massive increase in workload with current crewing levels, yet at the same time he intends to remove a Purser from the club world galley on all aircraft types. Why do this? Simple, British Airways no longer will have to pay Gate Gourmet or Alpha to set up each tray; you will be doing it and they will pocket the money saved. Oh yes, it also will not be counted towards cabin crews’ cost saving target - but caterings.
How did he come to this belief? He “trialled” it. Not on an aircraft. Not with real crew in a real working aircraft environment, but in 4 chairs in a classroom at Waterside, carried out by three managers and a grounded Mexican ICC crew member. On the strength of that, he decided it worked just fine and all his so called “principles” remained intact. You can count on some reassuring words of spin to that effect very shortly
Have no doubt, this is the way our management wants to work in the future; they may make the mistakes but you will be picking up the tab. They do not value knowledge or experience; in fact they resent managers with an understanding of cabin crew, those that speak up are quickly sidelined and replaced with those that share this “new vision”.
It may shock you to learn that British Airways entire management team that worked on the current round of proposed changes, have barely ever set foot upon a British Airways aircraft, let alone bothered to understand the role of crew. They don’t understand your job and they don’t want to. They simply believe that you have had it too good for too long - and the reason for that? Your union and your agreements; hence you will no longer see the words “Agreement” or “Negotiate” in their communications, only “principles” and “consultation”. Don’t believe us? Then take a look back at every word they have written since February this year and you will find the proof you need.
This is their vision of the future; they are stealing our airline from under our noses and nobody has noticed. Everything that British Airways stands for, its traditions, its history, its ways of working, is on the verge of being torn down. Families worked for this airline from generation to generation; they won’t in the future. Why? Because it suits the egotistical and selfish agenda of the new regime that runs this airline.
Everything that was done before is worthless and “we know best” is the new mantra of the day.
The jury is out on whether Bill Francis is the puppeteer or the puppet - Tony McCarthy - Director of People - and his assistant, James Farren, now call the shots. They may have made a mess of the Post Office - simply look at the headlines this week to see their legacy - but they are also arrogant enough to continue to think that they always know best. Supported by a chief executive who urges staff to work for free at the same time as accepting a deferred bonus of Ł30,000.
They demand flexibility and yet are in turn both dogmatic and inflexible.
Their approach is not one of harmony or partnership but of “doing as you’re told” and feeling lucky to have a job. They don’t believe in knowing or understanding the job as their people do, but of simply telling them what to do and when. No worldwide rosters being published or crew cleaning the aircraft in Shannon on the London City -New York are just the beginning, it’s all part of the game plan. We will tell you what to do and when to do it and if you don’t like it? Then leave, we will simply get somebody in on a cheaper contract, who won’t know any better.
As for Bill Francis? Well, he is either a part of that and believes in it wholeheartedly, or he does not have the principles he claims to have by defending his people against it. Either way, the end result is the same.
We are now in the middle of September and after months of uncertainty we are no further ahead; had British Airways accepted the BASSA cost saving proposal when they were first offered, this would have been money in the bank to aid the self titled “fight for survival”.
Instead, as the green shoots of recovery are beginning to be noted in many areas of the economy, it is increasingly being seen as more an opportunistic determination to end union involvement, and with it, reasonable terms and conditions for the people who work hard for this airline, than mere cost cutting.
A Times article on 17th September, (CLICK HERE) also appears to confirms this.
Each week, the news surrounding our company supports this view; mergers with various airlines ebb and flow, new price fixing scandals have come to light (this time with cargo) and rumoured cash offers to buy other airlines all alongside an increasing share price would all appear to support the view that the only true “crisis” our airline faces, is a moral one by the people who purport to lead us.
British Airways will only commit to a single day of meetings; this is planned for Monday September 21st, read into that what you will. Rest assured we have given our final position, it has been rejected, nonetheless it remains our final position. We believe in all of us having the right to a decent future and if that involves having to fight for that right, so be it.
We will hope for the best outcome but will also be prepared for the worst
‘Let the poor drink their milk, while the rich eat their honey, let the bums count their blessings while we count the money”
Matt Johnson - The The 1986
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Good to see BASSA remaining focussed on the fundamental issues at hand, and not being distracted by engaging in personal attacks on management.
Well done everybody!
Note how BASSA refer to BA as "our airline". Sorry it isn't. It is owned by its shareholders. And this may be a radical idea to BASSA, but management should have the right to run the company without interference from BASSA.
Well done everybody!
Note how BASSA refer to BA as "our airline". Sorry it isn't. It is owned by its shareholders. And this may be a radical idea to BASSA, but management should have the right to run the company without interference from BASSA.
Last edited by LD12986; 22nd Sep 2009 at 06:24.
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Mmmmm.....after all these months of continual anti CC/Union rhetoric from the 'experts' on this site, do I sense a weakening of your shallow arguements re CC negotiations?
Tony McCarthy - Director of People, BA, storming out of meeting in front of ACAS representatives says a lot about the style and type of management we have had to put up with for the last several months.
Either BA have'nt got a clue (similar to many on here) or they are just stalling to get Xmas out of the way - but was'nt that the excuse for the delayed talks in the summertime.
This whole shambles gets more pathetic by the day.
Over to the 'experts'......
Tony McCarthy - Director of People, BA, storming out of meeting in front of ACAS representatives says a lot about the style and type of management we have had to put up with for the last several months.
Either BA have'nt got a clue (similar to many on here) or they are just stalling to get Xmas out of the way - but was'nt that the excuse for the delayed talks in the summertime.
This whole shambles gets more pathetic by the day.
Over to the 'experts'......
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Despite my contempt for everything BASSA, my insider tells me that Mr McCarthy did indeed have a "hissy fit". In fact they went further and suggested that just as with the post office he does not have a clue on how to handle the unions, despite being employed for just that "union busting" reason.
Talk to anyone at Royal Mail, and ask them what happened to long serving very loyal workers, ask them about temp contracts, and flexible working. The Royal Mail should have been fit for privatization, instead it has been left a complete shambles, and it appears that the unions have far from been busted by McCathyism...................
Talk to anyone at Royal Mail, and ask them what happened to long serving very loyal workers, ask them about temp contracts, and flexible working. The Royal Mail should have been fit for privatization, instead it has been left a complete shambles, and it appears that the unions have far from been busted by McCathyism...................
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The Talented Mr. Francis? Sep 20th, 2009 by admin
Instead of understanding that the role of the manager is to run the operation they are in charge of to budget or under, delivering savings and cost targets on time with the lowest overheads possible to the board and the shareholders, BASSA believes that the managers should be there in a harmonic duet to make the lives of the staff easier.
It has never been so in business. Never ever. No company would make money if the collective were allowed to dictate working conditions, triggers and staffing levels. Hence the role of management is to achieve these aims. They are NOT there to molly coddle staff. The senior mangers are briefed by junior managers who themselves interface with the staff. The senior managers have a responsibility not to the staff but to the board and the shareholders. That is not to say that protecting your workforce should not be a primary business aim, it should be but when drastic action is required these people are paid to take it.
Cabin crew simply want to come to work and be allowed to get on with doing the job that they enjoy doing. They don’t require armies of managers to make this happen. Left alone, most crew will simply get on with doing what they do best; providing the top quality service that our passengers expect to receive from British Airways.
The vast majority of managers for the CC are there to sort out the tortuous agreements, time off, disruption allowances/agreements and sickness procedures that BASSA hold so proud. If we all turned up correctly and did our jobs to the letter of the roster then there would need to be far fewer airport standbys as they would only be needed to cover the predicted delay disruption.
It may shock you to learn that British Airways entire management team that worked on the current round of proposed changes, have barely ever set foot upon a British Airways aircraft, let alone bothered to understand the role of crew. They don’t understand your job and they don’t want to. They simply believe that you have had it too good for too long - and the reason for that? Your union and your agreements; hence you will no longer see the words “Agreement” or “Negotiate” in their communications, only “principles” and “consultation”. Don’t believe us? Then take a look back at every word they have written since February this year and you will find the proof you need.
Instead, as the green shoots of recovery are beginning to be noted in many areas of the economy, it is increasingly being seen as more an opportunistic determination to end union involvement, and with it, reasonable terms and conditions for the people who work hard for this airline, than mere cost cutting.
Aviation is lagging the recession by at least 18-24 months and the UK economy is forecast to lag growth in Europe by at least 12 months. Future rosy? Not for a long time to come.
BASSA had its chance to negotiate with BA before the 30th deadline. BA has ticked all its legal requirement boxes for it to impose contract change if it wishes. BASSA have, once again, squandered to right to make meaningful negotiation and is now embarking on a weak smear campaign.
Now, over to the BASSA experts to defend their unions rhetoric.
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I didn't. Report me to BASSA!
That is when BASSA has deigned to turn up for meetings, which is pretty infrequently. The reps are well ahead of management in the walk-out stakes.
Originally Posted by CFC
says a lot about the style and type of management we have had to put up with for the last several months.
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Just out of interest did you guys obtain BASSA's permission before copying the article onto this site?
As their arguments are so sage and cogent BASSA will be grateful that their message is now reaching a wider audience and the power and obvious veracity of their message will be convince BA to change its approach.
Or maybe they just believe in Orewellian control.
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Just like any communication whether it be from BASSA or BA there is always a line at the end stating the article should not be copied without express permission.
I will call BASSA's lawyers now - will keep you all posted.
Have a nice day.
I will call BASSA's lawyers now - will keep you all posted.
Have a nice day.
I will call BASSA's lawyers now - will keep you all posted.
While you're at it, you might wish to inform the lawyers about the physical threats of violence made by BASSA militants against other far more level-headed BASSA members, all in public forums. Go on, tell that to your lawyers and then keep us informed.
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Ahhhh, poor old mandyconn thinks that just because BASSA ask that you don't copy something you can't. A bit like when kids draw a little copyright logo on their designs I suppose. Similar infantile mentalities I suppose, but then BASSAs members have been brainwashed into thinking BASSA are the law.
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I have just seen a couple of postings on pprune that need to be bought to the attention of the mods.
There is a topic running on the site about BA cabin crew and someone has posted BASSA's email communications on there.
Can the mods look into this as copying BASSA articles without permission is not allowed so I thought. Someone on the site has already pointed this out but has received the usual smart comments.
There is a topic running on the site about BA cabin crew and someone has posted BASSA's email communications on there.
Can the mods look into this as copying BASSA articles without permission is not allowed so I thought. Someone on the site has already pointed this out but has received the usual smart comments.
