British Airways - CC Industrial Relations Mk V
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SPOOF "Press Release"
Erm, Guys/Gals,
The "Press Release" was a SPOOF posting, made very much tongue in cheek, on the BALPA forum, suggesting, in the nicest possible way, how BASSA/UNITE might win back a little positive publicity after the press drubbing they have had in recent weeks.
Sadly they did not think of it themselves, and fell back on the "just say "no"" routine, which, I am VERY pleased to say, BA chose to ignore.
We are now in the novel position, during disruption, of BA actually running the airline in the best interests of the passengers. A good start to the New Year methinks!
The "Press Release" was a SPOOF posting, made very much tongue in cheek, on the BALPA forum, suggesting, in the nicest possible way, how BASSA/UNITE might win back a little positive publicity after the press drubbing they have had in recent weeks.
Sadly they did not think of it themselves, and fell back on the "just say "no"" routine, which, I am VERY pleased to say, BA chose to ignore.
We are now in the novel position, during disruption, of BA actually running the airline in the best interests of the passengers. A good start to the New Year methinks!
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I think this is the end for BASSA now. With reps suspended (and more going on behind the scenes) and BA imposing the disruption agreement it is interesting to see on CF that people are advising each other to work normally. This implies they are actually worried about losing their jobs.
In turn, it shows that BASSA's support for a strike will be close to nil on any day of action, as, presumably, the fear of job loss is too great.
UNITE is going over the heads of BASSA to talk to BA, they (UNITE) cannot risk claims on their coffers with comrade Brown to support in the General Election.
Bye-bye BASSA, I'm sure the new crew council will be level-headed and sensible.
In turn, it shows that BASSA's support for a strike will be close to nil on any day of action, as, presumably, the fear of job loss is too great.
UNITE is going over the heads of BASSA to talk to BA, they (UNITE) cannot risk claims on their coffers with comrade Brown to support in the General Election.
Bye-bye BASSA, I'm sure the new crew council will be level-headed and sensible.
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Overstress
I agree, Bassa are now very close to destroying themselves.
The company regards them as a direct threat to the business!
Even this latest poll has only had a 30% member response.
Reps getting suspended , and numerous crew on disciplinaries, Unite sidestepping Bassa, several and various legal discrepancies.
Their lies are gradually being exposed.
I admired crew for their loyalty to each other and their union; but no longer.
They have to find some courage to speak up , some intelligence to discover the truth and some realism about the state of the economy, the company, and their future .
There are some truly great crew in BA.
It's time to speak up guys, to save your job and your reputation.
I agree, Bassa are now very close to destroying themselves.
The company regards them as a direct threat to the business!
Even this latest poll has only had a 30% member response.
Reps getting suspended , and numerous crew on disciplinaries, Unite sidestepping Bassa, several and various legal discrepancies.
Their lies are gradually being exposed.
I admired crew for their loyalty to each other and their union; but no longer.
They have to find some courage to speak up , some intelligence to discover the truth and some realism about the state of the economy, the company, and their future .
There are some truly great crew in BA.
It's time to speak up guys, to save your job and your reputation.
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Well, HF, it seems to me that UNITE have, ahem, "smelt the coffee" and realised that the diehard BASSA leadership are hell-bent on an unwinnable confrontation with BA. The financial consequences for UNITE are potentially very serious.
Therefore they have decided to go over the heads of BASSA's "leaders" and talk directly to WW. (remember BASSA had a "show of hands" to decide on no further negotiation until imposition had been removed?) The resulting deal will be sold to BASSA members as a "best deal under the circumstances" after some back-room strong arming of La-la et al by the UNITE leadership.
After the catastrophic misjudgement of public mood in December, and with a General Election to fight on behalf of GB, the last thing UNITE want is a bunch of numpties making them look like an out-of-touch, 70s throwback, class warriors. They have to persuade the middle classes that they are the face of moderate, sensible unionism.
All IMHO, of course.
Therefore they have decided to go over the heads of BASSA's "leaders" and talk directly to WW. (remember BASSA had a "show of hands" to decide on no further negotiation until imposition had been removed?) The resulting deal will be sold to BASSA members as a "best deal under the circumstances" after some back-room strong arming of La-la et al by the UNITE leadership.
After the catastrophic misjudgement of public mood in December, and with a General Election to fight on behalf of GB, the last thing UNITE want is a bunch of numpties making them look like an out-of-touch, 70s throwback, class warriors. They have to persuade the middle classes that they are the face of moderate, sensible unionism.
All IMHO, of course.
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To all the well intentioned optimists here
I'm afraid I don't share your optimism. Remember the maths from December. What makes you think 10,000 lemmings are about to do a volte face! IA runs deep in the DNA of this Union, (BASSA & Unite) so what has changed since the court decree? Also, are they displaying a new found realism in respect to the Disruption Agreement given the current weather conditions. Dream on!!!
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Yesterday evening, the chaos in T5 was a mirror of its shambolic opening.
Why? Because since the imposition, the majority of crew have seen how the ill thought out changes have impacted on ALL of them. Those that may have voted 'NO' before, would vote 'YES' this time.
Seems to me that not only are BASSA leaders only interested in themselves, but some BASSA members are the same. There really is no hope.
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personal grudge against BASSA/UNITE
Fume Event wrote:
Mr Willie Walsh also seems to get his fair share of adverse comment. I have to say that it is time to acknowledge that Mr Walsh is the CEO of British Airways, he does not own it. Mr Walsh was appointed by a presumably capable board of directors to run British Airways on a daily basis.
My point? British Airways is a group of shareholders including many employees who would like to see the company succeed and trade profitably, provide secure employment, fund pension deficits, re-equip with more fuel efficient aircraft and maybe pay a dividend one day.
So if you are a shareholder or employee and you see a group of workers acting in a manner that is clearly threatening the viability of British Airways then there is going to be some resentment from shareholders and some employees not to mention the travelling public.
Despite the dedication and hard work of the vast majority of cabin crew, the group has an image in the rest of the company as being “the precious ones” .
It is unfair, totally uncalled for but right now the vocal element of BASSA seem to be confirming that myth by pursuing this matter with strike threats that are surely damaging the interests of the remaining employees and shareholders and arguably inappropriate in the current financial climate.
Simples....this is not rocket surgery?!
I try an (sic) understand the minds of people writing here who seem to have a personal grudge against BASSA/UNITE
My point? British Airways is a group of shareholders including many employees who would like to see the company succeed and trade profitably, provide secure employment, fund pension deficits, re-equip with more fuel efficient aircraft and maybe pay a dividend one day.
So if you are a shareholder or employee and you see a group of workers acting in a manner that is clearly threatening the viability of British Airways then there is going to be some resentment from shareholders and some employees not to mention the travelling public.
Despite the dedication and hard work of the vast majority of cabin crew, the group has an image in the rest of the company as being “the precious ones” .
It is unfair, totally uncalled for but right now the vocal element of BASSA seem to be confirming that myth by pursuing this matter with strike threats that are surely damaging the interests of the remaining employees and shareholders and arguably inappropriate in the current financial climate.
Simples....this is not rocket surgery?!
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Rover90
The problem that BA faces with BASSA is purely and simply that BASSA do not have a credible argument to put forward to their membership as to why the BASSA negotiating team wasted 9 months of negotiating time. Negotiating time that all other Unions used to get their houses in order and to take their membership through these uncertain times with a modicum of job security.
When the covers were lifted on the BASSA 'temporary' solutions for 'temporary' problems the vast can of worms came to the surface and even independent auditors found it difficult to attribute any more than half of the proposed savings into realistic savings.
As such BASSA have embarked upon a campaign of slander and personal attacks blaming Willie Walsh for everything that has happened to BA since privatisation. Much of it ground less, much of it bordering on libelous and the vast majority totally fact less.
Is this indicative of a Union out to protect its membership? You know those at the bottom as well as those on the top? Nope.
The illegal ballot that gave no credible indication as to the reason why IA was being threatened in order to perpetuate the rumour that it was about 'New Fleet' when it wasn't? Fair? Nope.
The automatic granting of a full court hearing after BASSA failed to gain an injunction against imposition be heralded as a resounding victory for BASSA? Truthful? Nope.
This is a Union who are on the ropes. Even now the big guns of Unite are having to go in over the heads of the BASSA council as they know that defeat in the courts in February could, potentially, bankrupt Unite and they will not allow it to happen.
BA are implementing what they need to protect the customer and the operation and BASSA are having to acquiesce.
The end game is playing out.
The problem that BA faces with BASSA is purely and simply that BASSA do not have a credible argument to put forward to their membership as to why the BASSA negotiating team wasted 9 months of negotiating time. Negotiating time that all other Unions used to get their houses in order and to take their membership through these uncertain times with a modicum of job security.
When the covers were lifted on the BASSA 'temporary' solutions for 'temporary' problems the vast can of worms came to the surface and even independent auditors found it difficult to attribute any more than half of the proposed savings into realistic savings.
As such BASSA have embarked upon a campaign of slander and personal attacks blaming Willie Walsh for everything that has happened to BA since privatisation. Much of it ground less, much of it bordering on libelous and the vast majority totally fact less.
Is this indicative of a Union out to protect its membership? You know those at the bottom as well as those on the top? Nope.
The illegal ballot that gave no credible indication as to the reason why IA was being threatened in order to perpetuate the rumour that it was about 'New Fleet' when it wasn't? Fair? Nope.
The automatic granting of a full court hearing after BASSA failed to gain an injunction against imposition be heralded as a resounding victory for BASSA? Truthful? Nope.
This is a Union who are on the ropes. Even now the big guns of Unite are having to go in over the heads of the BASSA council as they know that defeat in the courts in February could, potentially, bankrupt Unite and they will not allow it to happen.
BA are implementing what they need to protect the customer and the operation and BASSA are having to acquiesce.
The end game is playing out.
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Tiptoeing carefully after flaps40's comments ...
Hmmm ... so how many pax per annum? 25 million, factored for frequent flyers, maybe 10 million of us? How can we vote? Ahhh ... of course, we use another carrier. Which does NOT help BA.
I'm delighted to read here that UNITE appear to be taking over the lead role from BASSA. As Rover90 said, "there is going to be some resentment from shareholders and some employees not to mention the travelling public."
Whilst completely accepting that this is a CC Thread, I do feel a small justification in chipping in occasionally on behalf of the [?] 10 million individual pax. Like it or not, we are a significant part of the equation. And this is a public forum, unlike BASSA's.
I'm really hoping that things work out for BA, and the saner members of CC
Originally Posted by The Financial Times
The number of BA passengers worldwide fell to 2.4m in December, a slide of 4.4 per cent compared with the same month in 2008, with the UK and Europe recording a slightly higher fall of 4.7 per cent.
I'm delighted to read here that UNITE appear to be taking over the lead role from BASSA. As Rover90 said, "there is going to be some resentment from shareholders and some employees not to mention the travelling public."
Whilst completely accepting that this is a CC Thread, I do feel a small justification in chipping in occasionally on behalf of the [?] 10 million individual pax. Like it or not, we are a significant part of the equation. And this is a public forum, unlike BASSA's.
I'm really hoping that things work out for BA, and the saner members of CC
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It would be hard to dispute the eloquent summary of events over the last 12 months regarding cost savings in IFCE as laid out by wobble2plank.
From the outside it would appear that the members of BASSA should ask themselves if they feel that their subscription has been well spent.
Just a thought, can a BASSA member confirm that 30% of their subscription is deducted and goes directly to Labour Central Office unless they have indicated that it should not or that it should go to charity.
From the outside it would appear that the members of BASSA should ask themselves if they feel that their subscription has been well spent.
Just a thought, can a BASSA member confirm that 30% of their subscription is deducted and goes directly to Labour Central Office unless they have indicated that it should not or that it should go to charity.
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Tony Woodley is representing UNITE at the BA talks. Wasn't he the guy that sold BASSA down the river last time?
Déjà vu anyone?
La La and NIBS getting nervous?
They should be.
It can't happen soon enough.
Déjà vu anyone?
La La and NIBS getting nervous?
They should be.
It can't happen soon enough.
Last edited by Nutjob; 7th Jan 2010 at 18:08.
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Tony Woodley
The last appearance that I remember was Tony Woodley at the Peugeot car plant in Coventry.
Peugeot had allegedly suggested that it was planning to cease operations there and the plant was being closed with the loss of all jobs.
Tony Woodley and Derek Simpson allegedly entered a period of consultation with the local union representatives as to the way forward and industrial action to prevent the closure was on the agenda?
No...me neither. It has never been explained to me but I am probably missing something.
Peugeot had allegedly suggested that it was planning to cease operations there and the plant was being closed with the loss of all jobs.
Tony Woodley and Derek Simpson allegedly entered a period of consultation with the local union representatives as to the way forward and industrial action to prevent the closure was on the agenda?
No...me neither. It has never been explained to me but I am probably missing something.
Last edited by Rover90; 7th Jan 2010 at 19:48.
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Rover90
Just a thought, can a BASSA member confirm that 30% of their subscription is deducted and goes directly to Labour Central Office unless they have indicated that it should not or that it should go to charity.
Last edited by AtlasDrawer; 7th Jan 2010 at 23:04. Reason: sums are wrong
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First time agreement with Lurker!
2-tone blue: Lurker is correct, you haven't allowed for the capacity reduction. Also, on the traffic front, club class traffic was up 1.6% which shows some slight glimmer for BA's traditional target market. Should keep the CSDs busy out there, eh, Lurker?
Oh, and our freight was up quite a bit as well, good revenue there.
Oh, and our freight was up quite a bit as well, good revenue there.