British Airways - CC Industrial Relations Mk V

[TheTiresome1]

Human Factor posted a question yester' eve, number 3240 -

What's the question on the latest ballot?

Does anyone know the answer to that yet?

[Desertia]

What's the question on the latest ballot?
Does anyone know the answer to that yet?

Does it matter to this lot? No. Does it matter to BA's legal department? Definitely

"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"

[Rover90]

BASSA...election of officers

Desertia

I quote from Unite "Final Draft Rules" 24th April 2008 Rule 17.7 "Branches"

The election shall take place and be completed not later that December 31 in each alternate year, and the elected candidates shall take office the following January for two years. Casual vacancies may be filled at an ordinary Branch meeting, but notice of the impending election must be given to the members of the branch on the notice convening the meeting

In principle the term is for 2 years which means that perhaps 20 of the 40 being up for re-election every year. Casual vacancies are a bit more subtle as ordinary Branch meetings are perhaps more shadowy affairs being relatively poorly attended and the scope for preferred candidates being elected is greater allegedly.

So yes...as a group the PCC could invade BASSA on mass if the workforce who are BASSA members could be persuaded to vote that way.

Any the wiser?

[Ten West]

Originally Posted by Desertia

I wonder if I am the only person (apart from a few voyeuristic hacks) that is actually waiting for a strike call before deciding whether or not to purchase a ticket.

Probably not the only one. I've still been putting BA flights on the roster for my crews. I think we've seen how committed other Cabin Crew, volunteers and BA managers are about keeping their airline from going to the wall. I for one intend to support them by continuing to book their flights.

[Desertia]

So yes...as a group the PCC could invade BASSA on mass if the workforce who are BASSA members could be persuaded to vote that way.

Any the wiser?

So BASSA are a branch? Do they hold regular communications meetings for their members? (I've asked before if they have a constitution, a management structure, accounts, etc., but the silence in response is usually deafening).

I for one intend to support them by continuing to book their flights.

Rock on, Ten West!

[MrBunker]

Ten West,

Thanks for that. Without continued support, our efforts will be for nothing. That means everything to me. Thanks again.

MrB

[Ten West]

My impression from reading this thread every day fom the beginning is that the noise that BASSA are making is out of all proportion to their ability to bring the airline down.

The damage they are inflicting however is in destroying public confidence in BA and so affecting forward bookings. It surprises me that BA aren't doing more of a publicity campaign to inform people of the plans they have in place to protect their airline.

BA after all have more money to throw around than BASSA. How about a series of full-page ads drawing on the history and dependability of BA? John Simpson (of the BBC) for example stated in his autobiography that when he sees a BA jet on the ramp at a war zone is the only time he can relax because he know's he'll soon be home safe.

If the gloves are off, and BA is set to destroy BASSA anyway, why not spend some money to limit the damage now rather than pick up the pieces at the end?

[Rover90]

Indeed BASSA is a branch of the T&GWU (UNITE)

Hi again Desertia

BASSA is indeed a branch of the T&GWU now better known as UNITE

I know that some posters on this forum will challenge that night follows day so from the opening page of the BASSA website:
•*BASSA•*About us

The British Airlines Stewards and Stewardesses Association (BASSA) is a branch of the Transport & General Worker's Union (T&GWU) exclusively for British Airways cabin crew. Our membership currently stands at 10524 which makes us the largest branch of the T&GWU.

That should clear that one up.

[Desertia]

Pfft, Rover. You almost had me believing it until I read:

BASSA is an active and progressive union...

At which point a small porcine creature performed a number of aerobatic manoeuvres outside my office window.

[Rover90]

Perhaps joining BASSA is the way forward

In conclusion, I do wish the PCC well in whatever form they decide to take in moving forward.

As an intelligent and thinking group, is it perhaps counter-productive to leave BASSA and let them have a free run virtually unchallenged. If the PCC gets a power base, would it not be better to use that to field and support a candidate who is a BASSA member when the next casual vacancy comes up and is voted on at the BASSA local Branch meeting at the "Argy Bargee" or wherever they hold it. Moving on to the annual elections before December 31st 2010, you could field and support some more candidates and slowly build a power base within the BASSA camp.

The aim must be for more realistic and sensible representation in these diffucult times but that will never happen under the current BASSA regime. Indeed, I would go so far as to say that a stated aim should be to re-unite BASSA and CC89 back into one negotiating voice. Surely a possibility with a more moderate and reasonable BASSA leadership but lets say that is some way down the line but nonetheless a target.

Going it alone or go for the jugular and get in amongst the current BASSA hierachy. I know which one I would choose.

[midman]

Unfortunately, Rover, Bassa are a spent force in BA. They have lost credibility in the eyes of many of its members, the company, fellow employees, and the wider public. Their culture is so ingrained that it would be very hard to dislodge them from within, especially as there won't be a new election for 2 years. The momentum is now running with the PCC(C) and they have the confidence of a growing number of cabin crew. To wait until the next election in Dec 2011 would lose that momentum and allow the die-hards to regroup and turn in on its internal opposition.

BA and the rest of the workforce are doing a great job of bringing Bassa to heel - supporting that effort will cause Bassa to wither on the vine, becoming increasingly irrelevant and sidelined by all. Meanwhile, a fresh group of representatives who can engage with the company and and achieve meaningful results will provide cabin crew with a real alternative - a way to keep a good set of Ts and Cs whilst allowing the company to move forward and compete in this vastly changed industry.

Bassa are growing old and tired and irrelevant - no point in trying to drag them along with us. Let them fall by the wayside, and pass the baton to the new guys.

[IYCSWICSWICW]

..indeed midman; however, Steve Turner continues to belch out anachronistic rhetoric to whip up those that want to be whipped up.

You couldn't make this stuff up.

[midman]

And Unite/Bassa still can't tell the truth, or admit that they don't know the facts.

They claim there are only 216 people being trained up as cabin crew, in that case why are they shouting so loudly that they will compromise safety? I know that there are many times that number.

They claim the last course starts on 6 Feb. Wrong again. Mine starts after that date.

Can they get anything right? Do Bassa supporters have any confidence that what they are told is the truth?

[IYCSWICSWICW]

..I've just realised that I posted that you couldn't make this stuff up....bassa do make a lot of stuff up, as does ST.

I suspect we are now embarking on a quiet period. BA is moving ahead with strike-breaking training and bassa continues to 'Lord Haw Haw' their stuff (well they do like their association with war campaigns, don't they?). The next 'moment' is the 1st Feb full court hearing. Does anybody know how long that will take before a ruling? Then it will be 'ding ding' Round 7 (or is it 8). Meanwhile BA's customers ABBA with gusto, and forward bookings (cash) continues to hemorrhage, whilst the lemmings are galvanised by the chosen few.

GF

[Basil]

Desertia,
'progressive' is a term much favoured by the left and means 'getting our way'.
'regressive' is also a term much favoured by the left and means 'getting our Communist butts kicked'.

Remember, you do not have to pay the political levy to the TGWU.
(that, btw, would be seen as 'regressive' and they would 'not be enamoured')

[SlideBustle]

If only!

I can see what you guys are saying about changing BASSA from the inside. However you have more chance of winning the lottery than being able to do that me sadly thinks. I have heard stories of rational thinking reps being elected that had witch-hunts or were thrown out the union. I sadly fear that is what will happen if PCC were just to become reps for BASSA - Lala and co would just launch a campaign to throw them out!That is why I think PCC has been set up as a standalone group. Of course for it to gain any form of worthy power it will need a majority support from the crew community - however whilst there are many Yes voters, there are also very many No voters this time round and many who are not in the union or are undecided. When word gets round about PCC through the community I think alot of crew might be interested in supporting it.

I speak as a BASSA member but I actually feel sorry for CC89/Amicus members (whether you are still in CC89 or have left) as they seem to have had many great forward thinking and proactive ideas, were largely rational about things and seem rather solution based rather than all this power-struggle, scaremongering ''This is the end of our careers as we know it make no mistakes about it'' propaganda BASSA spin out at any given oppurtunity!

Anyway, they haven't got any voice anymore realy (CC89/Amicus) You can't deny that BASSA has the majority membership so has the loudest voice. Sad thing is BASSA doesn't actually take into account all of it's members views into account (from the most junior to the most senior, Main Crew to CSDs) instead focusing on those at the top especially the ones on LH. They don't fairly represent us members, they are in it for their own gain, however many BASSA members don't realise this as the BASSA propaganda machine actually does a lot of good in brainwashing people. Believe it or not but at the start of the talks I was nearly sucked in!

I thought when BASSA and CC89 merged we were supposed to ''Unite''?? I think BASSA would have benefited by taking onboard the attitude of CC89 in many areas. However that wasn't to happen obviously! Don't be daft!

Hopefully alot are seeing it for what it is now so that maybe a new form of representation will be able to have a voice this time. I personally wouldn't be surprised if there was a lot of support for PCC which will allow them to have a voice, unlike CC89.

[Looking Up]

Meanwhile...

The Independent has this:

BA cabin crew video sets out strike case - Business News, Business - The Independent

No link to the video in question, but here it is:

YouTube - The Truth - BA cabin crew put their case

LU

[bizdev]

Sorry - but what does "ABBA" mean?

[Looking Up]

Anyone
But
British
Airways

[midman]

That must have taken 25 minutes to produce. And it would take about 25 seconds to refute the spurious, emotive claims made on it.

Don't argue with facts, just emote.

Is that all Bassa have left?