British Airways - CC Industrial Relations Mk VI
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Diplome, your comments regarding news are spot on. I’m very much a news junkie and would certainly agree that BASSA, in particular, need to learn some hard lessons about the way information is managed for their future. (Assuming they have one)
The fact that they use terms such as “private Facebook” speaks volumes as to their ignorance. Did they also not hang themselves with a single post from Malone on their “private” web forum?
Malone’s amazing Foxtrot Oscar communications to BALPA are now a matter of historical record and will remain forever. Gone are the days of writing a snotty letter that would have travelled no further that a few offices in distance at most. She thought it in LA, pressed send, and we were all reading it before she even had time to reconsider what she had written even if she had wanted to....
I’m far from convinced that the Unite and BASSA web page would have carried the details of the BA (now withdrawn) proposal were it not for the fact that it was out there anyway? –perhaps-
There are many, many lessons for all TU’s to learn from this affair, new communications rules are just one of them, let’s hope they learn them.
The fact that they use terms such as “private Facebook” speaks volumes as to their ignorance. Did they also not hang themselves with a single post from Malone on their “private” web forum?
Malone’s amazing Foxtrot Oscar communications to BALPA are now a matter of historical record and will remain forever. Gone are the days of writing a snotty letter that would have travelled no further that a few offices in distance at most. She thought it in LA, pressed send, and we were all reading it before she even had time to reconsider what she had written even if she had wanted to....
I’m far from convinced that the Unite and BASSA web page would have carried the details of the BA (now withdrawn) proposal were it not for the fact that it was out there anyway? –perhaps-
There are many, many lessons for all TU’s to learn from this affair, new communications rules are just one of them, let’s hope they learn them.
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Ssk #3093
The ITF’s Civil Aviation Section today reported rising support for the British Airways cabin crew industrial action from their colleagues around the world.
Gabriel Mocho, ITF Civil Aviation Section Secretary stated: “The ITF supports the cabin crew and Bassa/Unite in this dispute. In particular we commend the efforts they have made to find a solution to a conflict which began with the company’s apparent imposition of new working conditions while negotiations were still open.”
“Unfortunately BA management demonstrated their seeming indifference to the deteriorating situation on Friday when they withdrew an offer that might have solved the dispute.”
He continued: “Several unions have already contacted us with messages of support for the cabin crew, together with pledges to provide practical lawful assistance where possible. Unite members have been quick to show solidarity with their colleagues around the world in the past, and they now want to return the favour.”
262 aviation worker trade unions in 123 countries are members of the ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation).
Gabriel Mocho, ITF Civil Aviation Section Secretary stated: “The ITF supports the cabin crew and Bassa/Unite in this dispute. In particular we commend the efforts they have made to find a solution to a conflict which began with the company’s apparent imposition of new working conditions while negotiations were still open.”
“Unfortunately BA management demonstrated their seeming indifference to the deteriorating situation on Friday when they withdrew an offer that might have solved the dispute.”
He continued: “Several unions have already contacted us with messages of support for the cabin crew, together with pledges to provide practical lawful assistance where possible. Unite members have been quick to show solidarity with their colleagues around the world in the past, and they now want to return the favour.”
262 aviation worker trade unions in 123 countries are members of the ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation).
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Tiramisu and the others - Please stop appending this to your posts: It is meaningless on an anonymous internet forum, and therefore irritating
Tightslot,
Apologies if you do find it irritating, I realise it has been mentioned by the mods previously.
As BA CC we are only doing what we've been advised to by BA in an email to all of us.
Sadly, it's not as anonymous as it is, some posters know who we are and in posting on a public forum, caution has to be exercised.
However point taken and will edit accordingly.
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This is how...
...you transport 60% of passengers whilst only operating 43% of flights.
BA Goes High-Density on Seating, Scraps Hot Food to Beat Strike - Bloomberg.com
I'm not sure if you can just extrapolate, and say 100% of passengers can be moved on ~65% of flights, but that's the implication at least.
BA Goes High-Density on Seating, Scraps Hot Food to Beat Strike - Bloomberg.com
I'm not sure if you can just extrapolate, and say 100% of passengers can be moved on ~65% of flights, but that's the implication at least.
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Hung out to dry?
Privately senior Labour sources are distancing themselves from the strike, claiming that it is being driven by the British Airlines Stewards and Stewardesses Association rather than the Unite leadership.
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Willy pulls it off
The Guardian reports:
An anonymous group of BA cabin crew has written to Willie Walsh, BA's chief executive, and the prime minister and his transport secretary to protest at misconception about the strike. Here's the full text of the letter
Dear Mr. Walsh, Mr. Brown and Lord Adonis.
Firstly, our congratulations, you have almost pulled it off - for different reasons of course but essentially, when it comes down to it, the same reason - self aggrandisement.
Mr. Walsh, you have successfully hijacked the spirit of British Airways and made it all about you and you alone, whilst Mr. Brown and Lord Adonis to your shame, you have unquestioningly gone along with it. There can be no other way than Mr. Walsh's.
Forget the fact that many cabin crew have worked proudly for this airline for ten, twenty, thirty or even forty years; that whole families have followed in this profession of serving passengers though generations.
We were here before you came Mr. Walsh and we will be here when you have moved on.
You may have been CEO through the worst headlines that BA has ever endured - numerous price fixing scandals and T5 disasters, but it is the almost clandestine move of charging British Airways' customers a premium price whilst delivering a low cost service that will be your lasting legacy.
Far from keeping the flag flying, under your stewardship Mr. Walsh, our airline has become a faded and tattered version of itself.
The media that cheer your iron fisted, jingoistic approach to staff relations will perhaps discover your real motives; as the high standards of service that British Airways prides itself on are allowed to dwindle away in the pursuit of lower costs.
Again, shame on you Mr. Brown and Lord Adonis for choosing to be so ill-informed regarding the real reasons for our dispute, and equally for buying into that same myth for your own political ends. The general election is due to be called on one of our strike dates and in a moral panic, without even bothering to look beyond the headlines and find out what really this is all about, you both leapt enthusiastically and cynically on the bandwagon of criticism.
After thirteen years in power you both finally choose to face down and condemn "union power". Except you got it wrong; this is not a hotbed of irresponsible left- wing militants trying to bring down an airline, but a predominantly female, professional and loyal, family orientated, middle England and middle class workforce, desperately trying to save it.
So bravo chaps.
And the worse thing? You all know this, but it suits your different aims to allow decent, hard working, caring people to be falsely demonized in this way.
We know the good job that we do for our airline, and our customers appreciate the way we look after them; we don't want to strike nor do we want to inconvenience a single customer, but we feel that we have been left with no other way to get our voices heard.
The campaign against cabin crew is helping British Airways to adopt a service style synonymous with our current cheerless CEO. We don't want that; we want to be proud to do the job that we love. We want to be able to say, "yes we can" and "hope you enjoyed your flight", not spend the whole flight apologising for ill thought through cost cutting measures. We want to come to work without fear and with pride once again.
We firmly believe that it is cabin crew who truly fly the flag for our airline - and yes, with a smile, not a sneer.
Sincerely,
British Airways Cabin Crew
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This has got to be a wind up. Over 40,000 people " truly fly the flag for our airline " and of those 40,000 most have accepted changes to their working practices, pay cuts etc in order that 40,000 people will STILL be employed in years to come. The reason staff have backed BA over this is because most of us need and want to have a job.
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Edited to add "He who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day"
Last edited by PaddyMiguel; 16th Mar 2010 at 15:25. Reason: Added note
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There are indeed big divisions within UNITE. The strike is being driven by BASSA, and BASSA alone, with the help of one high profile UNITE official who still believes he can make a name for himself out of all this mess............... whilst everyone else in UNITE is ducking for cover, or as we have seen in the last couple of days doing everything in their power to undermine BASSA.
Perhaps BASSA can answer this question...... where exactly are you going to picket/ bully/ intimidate on Saturday????
Perhaps BASSA can answer this question...... where exactly are you going to picket/ bully/ intimidate on Saturday????
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where exactly are you going to picket
Disclaimer -- I read this yesterday but buggered if I can remember where - I could have dreamt it even...!
Late edit - apparently I was dreaming - ignore me, I do
Last edited by Snas; 16th Mar 2010 at 17:26. Reason: Post a couple down adds info
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BASSA picket
Pornpants1 (love the name!)
There is some kind of gathering at the Bedfont Football club on day one of the strike. It seems there are a lot of people making arrangements to meet up there on Saturday (on BF).
A rather unusual location, IMHO. I thought that something may have been organised at the Unite HQ on that Bath road. But I may have missed something.
Anyone else know anything?
There is some kind of gathering at the Bedfont Football club on day one of the strike. It seems there are a lot of people making arrangements to meet up there on Saturday (on BF).
A rather unusual location, IMHO. I thought that something may have been organised at the Unite HQ on that Bath road. But I may have missed something.
Anyone else know anything?
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Landroger - in your last post you express concern at how many of the CC might be ignorant of the facts relating to this dispute. You are right to be concerned. I still hear CC going on about the way they ( as a working group within BA) are being 'picked on ' and 'victimised' . It's quite ludicrous really the misconception that many seem to be under........The look on their faces when you (as a BA FO)explain that you're 250 quid worse off per mth for the last 3mths!!!!!!!!!
You also refer to some of the CC posters on here being very 'erudite'. Well that doesn't preclude them from being completely misguided on certain issues - i.e. their self-worth. Remember, Ottergirl believes it is totally correct that senior cabin crew can be worth more than junior First Officers!!!!!! I won't revisit the obvious reasons why this is ludicrous, but suffice it to say that this is the sort of mindset the company are up against.
And Mods - I'm sorry but I think this is relevant because these sorts of attitudes (I'm worth far more than I actually am) lead to a distorted perception of the stark reality and are therefore, bound to be a huge hindrance to change.
The good times for the senior crew on the old contracts are OVER. They know it and are finding it very, very difficult to accept. SIMPLES
You also refer to some of the CC posters on here being very 'erudite'. Well that doesn't preclude them from being completely misguided on certain issues - i.e. their self-worth. Remember, Ottergirl believes it is totally correct that senior cabin crew can be worth more than junior First Officers!!!!!! I won't revisit the obvious reasons why this is ludicrous, but suffice it to say that this is the sort of mindset the company are up against.
And Mods - I'm sorry but I think this is relevant because these sorts of attitudes (I'm worth far more than I actually am) lead to a distorted perception of the stark reality and are therefore, bound to be a huge hindrance to change.
The good times for the senior crew on the old contracts are OVER. They know it and are finding it very, very difficult to accept. SIMPLES
Last edited by sidtheesexist; 16th Mar 2010 at 17:13.
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Sorry snas and Atlasdraw.
I know where the picket lines are going to be, and its not going to be in any areas that are important, I was just wondering why BASSA had not told their members that they were not going to marching up and down T5 chanting disparaging slogans at those crew electing to work
I imagine some may feel very disappointed .
I know where the picket lines are going to be, and its not going to be in any areas that are important, I was just wondering why BASSA had not told their members that they were not going to marching up and down T5 chanting disparaging slogans at those crew electing to work
I imagine some may feel very disappointed .
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Sidtheesexist
I’m sorry Sid, but I’m not clear on the meaning of the final sentence of your first paragraph. Certainly there have been plenty of posts that, if true, demonstrate that many crew really are unaware of what appear to be the facts. BASSA and even Unite are relentlessly pursuing the line; ‘there is no financial crisis at BA – they are well in profit, just hiding it.’
The erudition of those mentioned is entirely based on the way they appear to assemble their facts and report findings in a clear, concise manner. I know there are ‘anomalies’ in relative pay, to put it at its mildest. However, arriving at any firm figures, one way or another, is a technicality way above my pay grade and I'm mostly exercised by the ‘Spanish Practices’ I understand are Willie Walsh’s primary target? Situations as where BA no longer fly the Prime Minister and entourage, because it takes a Pilot, a First Officer and thirty crew in three groups to cover the various sectors.
I still think that much of the animosity, confusion and utter waste of time and money, is because BASSA have been entirely successful in getting the greater body of crew to believe exactly what BASSA want them to believe.
Roger.
The erudition of those mentioned is entirely based on the way they appear to assemble their facts and report findings in a clear, concise manner. I know there are ‘anomalies’ in relative pay, to put it at its mildest. However, arriving at any firm figures, one way or another, is a technicality way above my pay grade and I'm mostly exercised by the ‘Spanish Practices’ I understand are Willie Walsh’s primary target? Situations as where BA no longer fly the Prime Minister and entourage, because it takes a Pilot, a First Officer and thirty crew in three groups to cover the various sectors.
I still think that much of the animosity, confusion and utter waste of time and money, is because BASSA have been entirely successful in getting the greater body of crew to believe exactly what BASSA want them to believe.
Roger.
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pornpants1
I know where the picket lines are going to be, and its not going to be in any areas that are important, I was just wondering why BASSA had not told their members that they were not going to marching up and down T5 chanting disparaging slogans at those crew electing to work
I imagine some may feel very disappointed
I imagine some may feel very disappointed
I have noted that BASSA is not exactly advertising the fact that they will not be allowed to picket inside T5. One of the reasons could be that crew are scared to cross a picket line and so may stay away from work and go on strike. Because, for me, one of the major concerns I have is people being able to go into work if they wish to.
What does everyone else think?
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I just read the latest posting on Unites site regarding the meeting that was supposed to have happened at ACAS 's request on Sunday!
They deny it completely!!!
Who tells the truth???
They deny it completely!!!
Who tells the truth???