British Airways - CC Industrial Relations Mk VI

[chrisbl]

LM is an idiot for sure and rewriting history to save his backside.

[SlideBustle]

I've volunteered to work on the strike and have been OK up 'til now but I must admit for some reason I now feel really about it all! I don't want to see the airline fall apart because of Unite and the militants so that's why I volunteered. But at the same time, I value my sanity and wellbeing.
I know I have as much a right to NOT strike as Unite members have a right to strike. No one has to strike, it is just the union (not our employer) has called a strike because of their stubborness.

I have read up all the support that BA has planned for us, which is very good. But I can't help thinking that BASSA will find out who strike somehow. Or some Unite thugs will be at where the bus/taxis/trains drop off and will see us! Or am I being paranoid?

Of course I am worried about the future and just really want an agreement to be reached soon. That protects us. This has been going on a whole year and now this. The public hate us because of Unite. And BA has spent thousands of pounds because of this strike. It is worrying that will we have to repay the cost of a strike.

Oh well, I suppose no use worrying just have to support BA and hopefully everything will turn out OK!

[Ten West]

Oh well, I suppose no use worrying just have to support BA and hopefully everything will turn out OK!

Sounds like the best plan. It's BA that pays your wages after all. BASSA will have no hesitation in selling you out if it suits their own purposes as was pointed out in a post far more eloquent than mine a page or two back.

Good luck to all of you who are making your own decisions and not following the herd.

[STS]

Odd that someone posted the Dusseldorf schedule for the 20th - I happen to be on the Transavia flight. Trouble is, my return sector is canceled - and I'm guessing that's where it might get tricky for some pax. You can get out to where you want to go but when can you get back when you need to, and with rebooking how disruptive will it be and how many will just choose to cancel? Personally, I'm going to see if I can still make the trip because a-I need to go and b-I'd quite like to support the airline and the staff who really want to make sure they keep flying. I don't know what I'm going to get when I call them tomorrow to see what options there are, but from the perspective of a passenger, it's at least possible to see already if there's going to be disruption to your schedule and it gives us time to figure something out. Have to say, I just flew in from Frankfurt this evening and the staff I spoke to seemed to be in almost determined mood about this and proud of their company - definitely not a bunch of militants who want anyone to walk out on strike.

But, yes, as a passenger...looking through how organised the schedule is shaping up to be, I can't believe anyone would think WW isn't planning on toughing this out.

(On a tangent, I also heard the RMT is planning possible Easter strike action...I guess it's welcome to the pre-General Election ballgame.)

[Wheezyjet]

Working through the strike.

Don't worry Slidebustle. I and very many others will be working too. Be proud that you're standing up for our customers, our colleagues, our airline and ultimately ourselves. It's vital to stand up for what you think is right and I'll be honoured to see you there.

[HiFlyer14]

Slidebustle - it is perfectly normal to feel like that - this is a very scary situation that we have been put (absolutely unnecessarily) in.

But you don't need to worry. As you say, BA have put lots in place for us - so use it. The PCCC founder members are reporting for duty and we hope that lots of other crew will follow our lead.

As I understand it there will be lots of BA people around - probably to meet us off the buses/taxis/etc - just like when we moved into T5. At the PCCC we are working very hard behind the scenes (in between full-time flying) to try and find out exactly where the picket lines will be etc. Keep an eye on our website over the coming days www.professionalcrewcouncil.com. Our focus right now is supporting those crew, like us, who want to work.

I know it's is scary for some people and lots of crew are very, very frightened and confused. But if you want to work, then you absolutely must not let that fear deter you from doing so. Or else they have won. I will pm you and if you want I will meet you on Saturday and we can go in together.

This has all been totally avoidable and totally unnecessary. I hope that the Unite reps are hanging their head in shame. Unfortunately, they will probably be drafting another despicable letter like the one they have sent to the LGW crew. I feel a blame game coming on - "It's not our fault the strike didn't work - it was down to LGW crew".

I am BA cabin crew and this is my own viewpoint and not that of BA.

[DP.]

I know I have as much a right to NOT strike as Unite members have a right to strike.

SlideBustle, completely understandable you're worried, but think of it this way - judging from the post you are no longer a member of Unite, and therefore cannot take part in strike action anyway, without being in serious hot water.

As I say though, entirely understandable that you're concerned.

[Snas]

Sidlebustle

"Everybody has a right to choose."

So says the BASSA web site my friend. Enjoy your flight, pax will be very appreciative along with many of your co-workers.

Source You may have to hunt for it, and I may be quoting slightly out of context, but it is there

[Tiramisu]

What Willie Walsh said at today's employee forum

( your post #3048)

Carribean Boy,
A good summary of what Willie Walsh said at Waterside today.
I attended the forum and would like to add that he praised CC on more than one occasion. He said that BA had excellent CC and not to forget that, and many of them would be coming to work during the Strike days.
He also praised all BA employees in every department who have come together to support the airline.

Willie Walsh was on top form. He came across as passionate, determined, sincere and witty. One thing's for sure, 'this man's not for turning.'

I take it you were there too, and if I remember rightly you asked a question.
If it was you, you bought the house down and stole the show for a few moments!
You were very funny and if I may add, a very snappy dresser too!

I'm BA cabin crew and the above are my personal views and not those of my employer's.

[Tiramisu]

The PCCC really needs to get their proverbial in gear NOW

Re-Heat,
Thank you.
Please be assured we are trying our best between attending the forum at Waterside, coming to work, backing BA, and doing household chores!
Multi tasking at it's best, all in the day of a PCCC member!

[hellsbrink]

Or some Unite thugs will be at where the bus/taxis/trains drop off and will see us! Or am I being paranoid?

The way I see it is there will be no issue like that. BAA can have any "thugs" moved on or removed from LHR quite easily if they are outside the designated picket zones and I reckon there might just be more police around to make sure no "incidents" happen. Also, I doubt that even Bassa people are stupid enough to try anything like that because of the (further) negative publicity it would generate.

I wouldn't be too worried

[er340790]

You can't eat the cake and eat it too

Actually, I think you'll find you can.

[Vld1977]

Hiflyer14,

VLD1977 - thank you very much for your excellent contributions. I have two questions for you, please.

1. Where were you when we needed you?
2. Would you like to join the Professional Cabin Crew Council as an Associate Advisor? You can learn more about us here www.professionalcrewcouncil.com



Unfortunately, I am not Cabin Crew. I also (with all due respect) don't agree with in-house sectorial unions who represent a department within a company. I believe in class unions who represent the employees in general. In my experience, this departamental associations end up fighting for their members' privileges, instead of their member's rights.

I said I didn't believe I was going to be very popular due to the aparent freedom of the anti-union sector, who are allowed to use words such as lefty morons, stupid, etc, and some of them even seem to have erotic dreams about cabin crew massive sackings and anti-union laws designed to allow companies to sack and publicly flog strikers. That's why I said it.

The hardcore anti-union sector should realise that unions are there to fight for employees' rights to fair T&Cs, not to exterminate management or to lead companies to bankrupcy. People like Winch-Control should not have this cravings for unlimited market rates for T&Cs, especially in a pilots' forum, as there are hordes of thousands of surplus and unemployed student pilots ready to work for free and even pay for work. If total market freedom existed, the pilots' rate would be extremely affected.

Just don't follow any union "leader" if they are not working for your benefit, but for theirs, but unions are necessary in this society. Otherwise it would be a slow and gradual shift to half slavery.

[HasFlyed]

Vld1977

Thank you for your far sighted posts. They, (slightly), restore some missing balance here.

[ChicoG]

Unite joint general secretary Tony Woodley said (last night) that if BA reinstated last week’s offer “there would be no reason why the strikes could not be suspended”.

Which begs the question, given that the option to call a strike was always available, why do it when you knew it would result in the offer being removed, when you had three weeks to make a decision?

It would have been reasonable and, dare I say, sensible to ask the members to vote on the BA offer before deciding to call them out.

Which I'm afraid simply convinces me that BASSA and UNITE did not want their members to see this offer.

They probably know it would have been accepted.

And a large portion of their membership would probably ask, given that the deal looks much the same as a year ago, (in fact, is it actually slightly worse than what BA initially offered?) what the hell are they actually getting for their 15 quid a month?

Get the truth out there; why would anyone want to strike when they are being used in such a deceitful and disgusting manner?

[circuitbreaker13]

VLD 1977


Just don't follow any union "leader" if they are not working for your benefit, but for theirs, but unions are necessary in this society. Otherwise it would be a slow and gradual shift to half slavery.

Dear VLD1977,

I agree with you but how do you see the fact that the more the unions fight for t&c's for BA crew the more people will have to work t&c's with company's not having unions to represent them.

So the more Unite fight for BA crew the more Easyjet and Ryanair will gain pax and have cabin crew work at far worse conditions.

I would say if the unions really have cabin crew stakes at heart they would try to get a foothold at those companys that forbid their crew to be represented by a union.

But then again maybe you can share your opinion about that with me?

[Juan Tugoh]

I think the reason that the strike was called was just poor judgment. Unite were trying to find a way out of this mess. Derek Simpson asked Willie Walsh for an extension to the strike mandate to allow the members to ballot on BA's final offer. WW agreed contingent on a no strike deal.

Len McClusky, seeing an opportunity to position himself as a union strong man prior to the election of General Secretary of Unite decided to announce strikes anyway. He also announced the BA offer would be put to crew, though not recommended.

Knowing that crew would probably accept the offer, McClusky gambled that Willie Walsh would let the process continue as the result of the consultative ballot "by electronic" means would be in prior to the strikes and so Mr McClusky could announce that the offer had been accepted. He would then have appeared to be both a Union strong man and also a reasonable negotiator. Unite walk away head held high as a union with BASSA intact and Len gets his boost for General Secretary.

Oops Len Misjudged horribly!

[From Tunbridge Wells]

Lenin said "A lie told often enough becomes the truth" and I suspect this has happened over the last year.
Has it has got to the point where a sort of mass brain-washing has taken place where it doesn't seem to matter what anyone says and the truth is rather inconvenient?

[Max Tow]

BA would be mad to accept a mere suspension - the strike threat has been playing havoc with the Company's business since late 2009 and in the few days since strike dates were declared the expense has increased massively with the loss of bookings, flight cancellations/refund of fares, and subcharter contracts. Unite is headed for disaster and it knows it - if indeed BA were willing to re-table the offer without deducting the costs since initial rejection, it should be on the basis of Unite recommending acceptance. These people have had their clodhoppers on BA's jugular for far too long and with or without the union calling off the strike, I suspect the matter will be over by this time next week.
Like many, I have been greatly impressed by WW's leadership in recent weeks. This bodes well - it is no coincidence that BA's stature was highest and its staff proudest during the strong governance last experienced under King & Marshall. Unfortunately since then we have had weak CEOs who have been more inclined to tinker or attempt to bottle up fundamental problems during their tenures, and the Company has sunk into a degree of mediocrity as a result, along with staff pride. Hopefully BA is about to enter the 21st century, albeit a decade late.

[BlueUpGood]

BA putting an offer back on the table is not going to happen I'm afraid.

Option 1: BA do nothing and the strike is over by Sat pm. BASSA destroyed.

Option 2: BASSA (UNITE) make a total and catastrophic climb down and call off the strike with no offer from BA. BASSA destroyed.

For BA this is largely nothing to do with T&C's now. BASSA must be taken out, and never allowed to hijack BA again. Period. And so it will be...