British Airways - CC Industrial Relations Mk VI
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Unite and Teamsters
It almost looks as this battle has just come down to Unite and possibly, Teamsters and other international unions v BA. It is almost as if the CC are irrelevant now.
What is going on. I do not believe that the CC really expected this to go as it has gone.
By the way, when Unite announced that strike action was to be taken they also said that there would be an electronic ballot of the CC and the results would be announced on Tuesday 16th. Well, what was the result - seems to have been overtaken by events.
What is going on. I do not believe that the CC really expected this to go as it has gone.
By the way, when Unite announced that strike action was to be taken they also said that there would be an electronic ballot of the CC and the results would be announced on Tuesday 16th. Well, what was the result - seems to have been overtaken by events.
I suspect BA have known this for some while, but have chosen to manage expectations carefully. By drip feeding progressively better news, they'll sow further doubts in the minds of uncertain CC as to whether there's any point in striking. I wouldn't be surprised if, over the next few days, they announce a further increase in flights operating.
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Seeking to undermine the confidence of an enemy, which is how WW now sees his cabin crew, is a classic tactic to win a battle. However just look at the thread in rumours where Cathy Pacific has now been chartered to provide a 744 over 3 days. This charter alone will provide 2400 extra seats, I suspect that the extra capacity which BA is now spinning is coming from this and other charters, not from an increase in CC numbers.
What interests me is how is the airline is going to get back on its feet after Monday. Is WW going to lock out strikers,? if that is the case then I fear this strike will get very bitter.
What interests me is how is the airline is going to get back on its feet after Monday. Is WW going to lock out strikers,? if that is the case then I fear this strike will get very bitter.
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I don't know where (links please!) it has been stated by the Teamsters that they are going to try and stop planes from landing.
As others have posted, Teamsters don't control Air Traffic Control, they're not going to be standing out on the runway when the aircraft tries to land.
All Teamsters can do is a 'slow down' from their members involved with servicing the aircraft which could cause delays.
Too much unfounded conjecture out there.
As others have posted, Teamsters don't control Air Traffic Control, they're not going to be standing out on the runway when the aircraft tries to land.
All Teamsters can do is a 'slow down' from their members involved with servicing the aircraft which could cause delays.
Too much unfounded conjecture out there.
Junior trash
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This charter alone will provide 2400 extra seats, I suspect that the extra capacity which BA is now spinning is coming from this and other charters, not from an increase in CC numbers.
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Oh, please, people, stop using the "war" analogy. 
BA is the company, the management and the shareholders.
BASSA is the representative of something like 50% of cabin crew.
Society has moved on from those days of "Wicked Bosses at 't Mill". If people don't like their job, or T&Cs, or the shirt the CEO wears, then move on. NOBODY in GB has an absolute employment right to 'self' over 'company', let alone rights over other employees, customers or indeed the Nation.
BA is the company, the management and the shareholders.
BASSA is the representative of something like 50% of cabin crew.
Society has moved on from those days of "Wicked Bosses at 't Mill". If people don't like their job, or T&Cs, or the shirt the CEO wears, then move on. NOBODY in GB has an absolute employment right to 'self' over 'company', let alone rights over other employees, customers or indeed the Nation.
The increased capacity (press release now stating 65%) is not just due to any extra wet lease. The first iteration of the plan called for just 777 and some airbus. They now have enough cabin crew willing to fulfil their contractual obligations that they are introducing 747 into the programme.
Last edited by Flap62; 17th Mar 2010 at 17:28. Reason: Tooping
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I don't think the CC community as a whole/majority are happy with the way things have turned in the last 4 days. Time will tell how this will impact membership, union representation, trust with union etc etc.
I do believe that crew are (justifiably) concerned about 'being starved off their contracts' if they want to change fleets, change to part time or full time, look at promotion. I do believe that most (emphasis on most, I agree not all - but most) crew are willing to look at pay cuts and/or pay freezes if there can be some headway on NewFleet concerns.
I also believe that many (most?) crew are highly frustrated that their union representatives did not consult fully on the 'final proposal' - it sounds like it may even have been approved.
To all my former cabin crew colleagues at BA - it's tough times indeed. Be careful guys on your decisions this weekend. The best "win win" would be to push hard on your union reps to call off the strike giving time for a ballot to be made on the final offer (and for that offer to be adjusted / ratified allowing both sides to claim a victory).
Sadly though, I don't know if this is even an option now. Things have gone too fare and WW seems to be set on seeing out the strike now at all costs.
I do believe that crew are (justifiably) concerned about 'being starved off their contracts' if they want to change fleets, change to part time or full time, look at promotion. I do believe that most (emphasis on most, I agree not all - but most) crew are willing to look at pay cuts and/or pay freezes if there can be some headway on NewFleet concerns.
I also believe that many (most?) crew are highly frustrated that their union representatives did not consult fully on the 'final proposal' - it sounds like it may even have been approved.
To all my former cabin crew colleagues at BA - it's tough times indeed. Be careful guys on your decisions this weekend. The best "win win" would be to push hard on your union reps to call off the strike giving time for a ballot to be made on the final offer (and for that offer to be adjusted / ratified allowing both sides to claim a victory).
Sadly though, I don't know if this is even an option now. Things have gone too fare and WW seems to be set on seeing out the strike now at all costs.
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The best "win win" would be to push hard on your union reps to call off the strike giving time for a ballot to be made on the final offer (and for that offer to be adjusted / ratified allowing both sides to claim a victory).
Sadly though, I don't know if this is even an option now. Things have gone too fare and WW seems to be set on seeing out the strike now at all costs.
Sadly though, I don't know if this is even an option now. Things have gone too fare and WW seems to be set on seeing out the strike now at all costs.
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From the BA website, timestamped 1735 today, 17 March ...
After publishing our flying schedules for 20, 21 and 22 March, an increasing volume of cabin crew have offered to work in support of our contingency plans.
This has enabled us to reinstate some previously cancelled flights and provide extra capacity for both longhaul and shorthaul destinations on 20, 21 and 22 March.
These will be loaded back into our systems over the coming hours.
This has enabled us to reinstate some previously cancelled flights and provide extra capacity for both longhaul and shorthaul destinations on 20, 21 and 22 March.
These will be loaded back into our systems over the coming hours.
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wot happens
nurjio
`` Any striker, I suspect will not be locked out, but will want to report to work to discover that their roster has been significantly interfered with.``
What actually happens if/when a crew member fails to arrive for their flight?
Lets say they have a 3 day trip followed by 3 days MBT then another duty.
Do BA phone the crew member and ask them if they are on strike?
As the first action lasts for 3 days is the crew member then eligible to work on day 4?
I presume as in sickness the crew members whole roster will be wiped/flexied and they are eligible for 12 hours notice of duty from midnight day 4.
What else WW has up his sleeve for the strikers?
Does he offer all non-strikers a 90 day SOSR or vote to accept based on the last BA offer rejected by the unions and all strikers a 90 day SOSR on the `new fleet ` contracts? Can he do this?
If he can then that will be one way to get rid of the militants.
`` Any striker, I suspect will not be locked out, but will want to report to work to discover that their roster has been significantly interfered with.``
What actually happens if/when a crew member fails to arrive for their flight?
Lets say they have a 3 day trip followed by 3 days MBT then another duty.
Do BA phone the crew member and ask them if they are on strike?
As the first action lasts for 3 days is the crew member then eligible to work on day 4?
I presume as in sickness the crew members whole roster will be wiped/flexied and they are eligible for 12 hours notice of duty from midnight day 4.
What else WW has up his sleeve for the strikers?
Does he offer all non-strikers a 90 day SOSR or vote to accept based on the last BA offer rejected by the unions and all strikers a 90 day SOSR on the `new fleet ` contracts? Can he do this?
If he can then that will be one way to get rid of the militants.
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There's an article on the PCCC on FT.com
FT.com / UK / Society - Alternative group flies in face of Unite
FT.com / UK / Society - Alternative group flies in face of Unite
One is a 44-year-old mother of three who lives near Heathrow.
Another is 36, lives close to Gatwick, and likes to sketch landscapes in her spare time.
Together, they have almost 32 years of experience as British Airways cabin crew employees.
And this Saturday, when most of their 12,000 colleagues have voted to walk out in the first BA strike in almost 13 years, both women are planning to cross the picket lines and head into work.
They have brought their BA staff identity cards to an interview with the FT to verify their credentials, but neither is willing to allow her real name to be published.
"For our own protection and for our families' safety, that's what we have to do at the moment," says "Frieda", who has been with BA for 12 years, based at Gatwick.
She and "Suzy", a BA veteran of almost 20 years who works from Heathrow, were both longstanding union members at the airline.
But in the middle of last year, as the Unite union was discussing BA's controversial move to cut the number of cabin crew on most long-distance flights by at least one, they say they grew unhappy with the union's handling of the dispute.
By December, when the union won overwhelming support in a ballot for industrial action and threatened a 12-day strike over Christmas - eventually thwarted by BA legal action - they and four others got together to set up the Professional Cabin Crew Council, a group which claims to offer a more moderate alternative to Unite.
"We thought Unite was leading us down the path to ruin," says Suzy. "People didn't vote to go off work for 12 days."
There was also, the women claim, an intimidating level of aggression from colleagues directed towards anyone opposing the union, which subsequently won another ballot authorising this week's planned walk-out, prompting BA to train pilots and other volunteers to replace striking workers.
"There have been threats on cabin crew chat rooms warning pilots who had volunteered to be careful of the food they were served on board flights once they went back to flying," says Frieda. "People are scared."
Another is 36, lives close to Gatwick, and likes to sketch landscapes in her spare time.
Together, they have almost 32 years of experience as British Airways cabin crew employees.
And this Saturday, when most of their 12,000 colleagues have voted to walk out in the first BA strike in almost 13 years, both women are planning to cross the picket lines and head into work.
They have brought their BA staff identity cards to an interview with the FT to verify their credentials, but neither is willing to allow her real name to be published.
"For our own protection and for our families' safety, that's what we have to do at the moment," says "Frieda", who has been with BA for 12 years, based at Gatwick.
She and "Suzy", a BA veteran of almost 20 years who works from Heathrow, were both longstanding union members at the airline.
But in the middle of last year, as the Unite union was discussing BA's controversial move to cut the number of cabin crew on most long-distance flights by at least one, they say they grew unhappy with the union's handling of the dispute.
By December, when the union won overwhelming support in a ballot for industrial action and threatened a 12-day strike over Christmas - eventually thwarted by BA legal action - they and four others got together to set up the Professional Cabin Crew Council, a group which claims to offer a more moderate alternative to Unite.
"We thought Unite was leading us down the path to ruin," says Suzy. "People didn't vote to go off work for 12 days."
There was also, the women claim, an intimidating level of aggression from colleagues directed towards anyone opposing the union, which subsequently won another ballot authorising this week's planned walk-out, prompting BA to train pilots and other volunteers to replace striking workers.
"There have been threats on cabin crew chat rooms warning pilots who had volunteered to be careful of the food they were served on board flights once they went back to flying," says Frieda. "People are scared."
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I don't think the CC community as a whole/majority are happy with the way things have turned in the last 4 days. Time will tell how this will impact membership, union representation, trust with union etc etc.
The best "win win" would be to push hard on your union reps to call off the strike giving time for a ballot to be made on the final offer (and for that offer to be adjusted / ratified allowing both sides to claim a victory).
BASSA: Belligerent, Antagonistic, Soon (to be) Swept Away
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BA cabin crew look certain to strike after airline refuses to rule out sackings | Business | guardian.co.uk
A strike by British Airways cabin crew looks certain to go ahead, after the airline refused to guarantee it would not sack union officials at the heart of the industrial action.
In a move that dramatically raises the stakes over an increasingly fraught dispute, BA is now on a path that could see a clearout of senior shop stewards at Bassa, the Unite trade union cabin crew branch. Seven members of Bassa's committee are still facing disciplinary proceedings that were launched after talks between Unite and BA began last year.
In a move that dramatically raises the stakes over an increasingly fraught dispute, BA is now on a path that could see a clearout of senior shop stewards at Bassa, the Unite trade union cabin crew branch. Seven members of Bassa's committee are still facing disciplinary proceedings that were launched after talks between Unite and BA began last year.
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Originally Posted by traveller5
The pages tell me that there is little evidence of team work in BA. Would you want to be in the hands of staff who are at war with one another? Nasty.
Or just the ones determined to cause disruption as a hobby?
There are MANY page to read, Sir/Madam. Please do that.
