British Airways - CC Industrial Relations Mk VI
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Hants
Age: 49
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It's clear!
The reasons for the strike are all laid out clearly and logically by a member of BA CC on the BBC website:
BBC News - BA strike blame 'lies with those at the top'
They even manage to squeeze in a reference to OpenSkies.
BBC News - BA strike blame 'lies with those at the top'
They even manage to squeeze in a reference to OpenSkies.
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: London
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In a statement sent to press, BA said:
Presumably this is to protect those who wish to work against the 'advice' of their union.
There will be no media permits issued by the owners of Heathrow Airport for media to broadcast, film or take photographs in the terminal buildings and their surrounds. Any media in the terminals will be asked to leave the premises.
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This is (part of?) the letter from Walsh to Woodley:
"As you are aware, on a number of previous occasions we have agreed to work together to develop a different approach to industrial relations. Unfortunately local representatives have been unwilling to fully engage with us on this.
"It is clear that the company will only be able to afford this agreement if there is a stable industrial environment, without any further revenue loss or reputational change.
"We believe the best way of guaranteeing this is through fundamentally changing the industrial relations environment. This needs to begin with a radical, far-reaching review of our current ways of working."
"For the sake of our customers, our people and our business, it is time to move on and end this damaging dispute. You will see that the proposal is simple, clear and positive and as such I would like you to offer this to our people with your recommendation of acceptance.
"This is our best and final offer and will be withdrawn once industrial action commences. Following this our focus will then be on delivering for our customers during the strike."
"It is clear that the company will only be able to afford this agreement if there is a stable industrial environment, without any further revenue loss or reputational change.
"We believe the best way of guaranteeing this is through fundamentally changing the industrial relations environment. This needs to begin with a radical, far-reaching review of our current ways of working."
"For the sake of our customers, our people and our business, it is time to move on and end this damaging dispute. You will see that the proposal is simple, clear and positive and as such I would like you to offer this to our people with your recommendation of acceptance.
"This is our best and final offer and will be withdrawn once industrial action commences. Following this our focus will then be on delivering for our customers during the strike."
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Outside the EU on a small Island
Age: 79
Posts: 529
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ladies and Gentlemen, regular readers of this thread will know I'm SLF. The Mods know that very well.
I simply wish all of you, whichever group you belong to, the very best for the next few days. It will be uncomfortable and unpleasant, but you are ALL now where you are for a complex variety of reasons. No going back, the decisions have been made by organisations and [more significantly] by individuals.
I would wish you a "good weekend", but I fear for many of you that will not be the case.
Regards,
TTB
I simply wish all of you, whichever group you belong to, the very best for the next few days. It will be uncomfortable and unpleasant, but you are ALL now where you are for a complex variety of reasons. No going back, the decisions have been made by organisations and [more significantly] by individuals.
I would wish you a "good weekend", but I fear for many of you that will not be the case.
Regards,
TTB
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
Posts: 644
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by DeepBreath
Yes, my wife is a WW Purser & she's livid that she wasn't given the chance to see (and vote on) the deal...
An offer was put on the table and, whether Bassa is telling the truth and Walsh didn't include the "don't announce dates" caveat or whether it's BA being honest and Walsh did attach the caveat, strike dates shouldn't have been announced.
We were sitting on a knife edge back then. A knife edge whereby we still held a strong hand of cards and managed to extract a good offer from Mr. Walsh - an offer it's said Unite was going to encourage its members to accept. But by the same token we were in a position whereby there was every opportunity to avoid calling a strike to allow more time for negotiation and to discuss the offer that was put infront of us.
I believe it's because we were running out of time to announce dates before having to re-ballot, but dates were announced and this fairly positive offer was removed.
Personally, I'd ballot until the cows come home if it gets us the best deal without impacting our customers. And I feel we missed a trick here. We should have delayed the announcement of strike dates to facilitate proper, detailed discussion about the deal on the table. If that meant having to re-ballot, so be it.
But alas, that's in the past. We've got tomorrow to 'look forward' to.
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: The 3 Valleys
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Eddy
You seem to have missed the numerous statements that WW agreed to a three-week extension for balloting as long as no strike dates were announced.
You've got to look it in the face and accept that the current situation is 100% down to McCluskey and BAASA,
All they had to do was not announce the dates and there would be continuing discussions/ you would be balloting and people wouldn't be tearing their hair out.
Is this not really the final proof that Unite/BASSA have their own agendas and the welfare of CC isn't on there until it's mouth-music time in front of a camera or a meeting ?
You seem to have missed the numerous statements that WW agreed to a three-week extension for balloting as long as no strike dates were announced.
You've got to look it in the face and accept that the current situation is 100% down to McCluskey and BAASA,
All they had to do was not announce the dates and there would be continuing discussions/ you would be balloting and people wouldn't be tearing their hair out.
Is this not really the final proof that Unite/BASSA have their own agendas and the welfare of CC isn't on there until it's mouth-music time in front of a camera or a meeting ?
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: England
Posts: 343
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I assume that during the strike BA will be working staff to CAA limits rather than industrial in order to maximise the efficiency of the aircraft and crew and that this would also include sweeping aside the Spanish practices.
I suspect that this may come as a bit of a shock for those crew who voted to strike but change their mind and came to work. They will have to decide what they are going to do when the situation arises rather than running off and phoning BASSA for a decision.
With all the volunteers on board you might actually have a bit of a laugh down route. Good luck to all.
I suspect that this may come as a bit of a shock for those crew who voted to strike but change their mind and came to work. They will have to decide what they are going to do when the situation arises rather than running off and phoning BASSA for a decision.
With all the volunteers on board you might actually have a bit of a laugh down route. Good luck to all.
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Sunny East Sussex
Age: 49
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Eddy, I'm not sure the specific clause "Dont announce strike dates" would have been added, more that the offer was conditional upon no industrial action, which due to the costs involved would have invalidated the offer.
I believe somebody in BASSA/Unite thought they could be clever with whether announcing dates counted as industrial action, missing the point of costs mounting as soon as dates were announced.
Lets also be clear, time was not running out, as Derek Simpson and WW had agreed to extend the ballot mandate by 28 days, to give Unite time to poll its members.
BASSA wanted to have its cake (strike dates) and eat it(original offer) without realising the two were mutually exclusive.
I believe somebody in BASSA/Unite thought they could be clever with whether announcing dates counted as industrial action, missing the point of costs mounting as soon as dates were announced.
Lets also be clear, time was not running out, as Derek Simpson and WW had agreed to extend the ballot mandate by 28 days, to give Unite time to poll its members.
BASSA wanted to have its cake (strike dates) and eat it(original offer) without realising the two were mutually exclusive.
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 553
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We've had instructions from on high that we're not to book any BA flights for crew positioning on any of the affected strike days, and to check before booking on any other days. We're using other carriers or surface transport for the moment.
'Bye for now. See you when the dust settles. Good luck to everyone!
'Bye for now. See you when the dust settles. Good luck to everyone!
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 752
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Contingency plans will be in place for all eventualities, however I am sure that current planning is assuming that the second bout of strikes will not occur. This will be why these dates are currently unaffected on BA.com.
I am just wondering how long it is going to take Unite/BASSA to realise that the longer this goes on, the worse the company offers are going to get? Willie is not bluffing at any point in these proceedings. They really need to wake up and recognise this. The cabin crew are going to suffer unnecessarily if they do not.
Good luck to all.
I am just wondering how long it is going to take Unite/BASSA to realise that the longer this goes on, the worse the company offers are going to get? Willie is not bluffing at any point in these proceedings. They really need to wake up and recognise this. The cabin crew are going to suffer unnecessarily if they do not.
Good luck to all.
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: usa
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
when do the sackings occur then?
So Unite goes on strike. ok then, It is funny to note that every time the strike seems to be confirmed BA shares jump up. Today they have closed at one of the highest figures for a very long time. Is it because analysts realise that the strike will force many employees to sign much cheaper contracts on their obvious return to work within a week of striking, or is it because BA will sack them on the spot and use this as an opportunity to pay the minimal unfair dismissal fees but building up a leaner future for the company?
Anyone know how BA are organising things tomorrow?
They must anticipate that at least some rostered crew will fail to report at 5am tomorrow. So have they rostered "standby" volunteers &/or crew they know will work ready to fill the gaps at short notice?
They must anticipate that at least some rostered crew will fail to report at 5am tomorrow. So have they rostered "standby" volunteers &/or crew they know will work ready to fill the gaps at short notice?
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: London
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've just listened to the following:
BBC News - British Airways cabin crew: 'I will cross strike picket line'
In this interview, a senior CC who voted NO and is going into work says "I'm more scared of my colleagues than of losing my job"
What a terrible, terrible state of affairs. I feel extremely sorry for all CC whichever side of this dispute they find themselves.
BBC News - British Airways cabin crew: 'I will cross strike picket line'
In this interview, a senior CC who voted NO and is going into work says "I'm more scared of my colleagues than of losing my job"
What a terrible, terrible state of affairs. I feel extremely sorry for all CC whichever side of this dispute they find themselves.
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: UK
Age: 54
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
i have this txt sent to me from freind:
i heard most reps wont be in trouble with staff travell as some ar on holiday/leave days and some are on long term sicky. they should be ashamed becose they are not leading from front.
i quit the union after reading here so im working the weekend!
Plse do not break strike, please do not let yr colleagues/reps down. Yr future is at stake, its time to stand tall. Be brave you are not alone!BASSAx
i quit the union after reading here so im working the weekend!
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
Posts: 644
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
BASSA were livid last week when UNITE agreed to table BAs proposal in return for 21 days extension for potential strike action, hence the strike dates were announced to undermine those within UNITE and put the BA proposal off the table thus denying Cabin Crew a say.
There does seem to be a sense of urgency withn Bassa at times when it comes to going on strike. It's no secret, however, that a small pocket of Bassa members are intent on a strike going ahead, even if Walsh offered them a black cheque, almost.
Nevertheless, the union's leaders (I'm talking Bassa now) have been elected by their peers to lead the union and make these difficult decisions - they can't get it right all the time, but they normally do.
Originally Posted by Alpine Skiier
You seem to have missed the numerous statements that WW agreed to a three-week extension for balloting as long as no strike dates were announced.
You've got to look it in the face and accept that the current situation is 100% down to McCluskey and BAASA.
You've got to look it in the face and accept that the current situation is 100% down to McCluskey and BAASA.
BA claim the caveat was presented WITH the deal, Bassa claim to have known nothing of the caveat and that Walsh withdrew the offer in a red-faced rage at the end of a TV interview.
Who to believe??!
So don't underestimate what I have or haven't read - I'm just keeping a very, very open mind.
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: brighton
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
great
Eddy
Great posts and information thanks.
quote you
``Nevertheless, the union's leaders (I'm talking Bassa now) have been elected by their peers to lead the union and make these difficult decisions - they can't get it right all the time, but they normally do. ``
My opinion is that I can`t honestly remember the last time BASSA got anything right going back to 1989 and the resulting formation of a breakaway union to present day.
It seems now that as the strike progresses that the future will bring even worse offers and contracts for all crew.
BASSA could have avoided all this!
Great posts and information thanks.
quote you
``Nevertheless, the union's leaders (I'm talking Bassa now) have been elected by their peers to lead the union and make these difficult decisions - they can't get it right all the time, but they normally do. ``
My opinion is that I can`t honestly remember the last time BASSA got anything right going back to 1989 and the resulting formation of a breakaway union to present day.
It seems now that as the strike progresses that the future will bring even worse offers and contracts for all crew.
BASSA could have avoided all this!
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: on the golf course (Covid permitting)
Posts: 2,131
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From recollection, the first longhaul departure has a report time of about 0630. There are many shorthaul 'first wave' reports before 0700, probably in the ratio of 15:1 SH:LH.
If you extend the analysis to 1200 hrs local, this ratio probably increases to about 20:1.
Add to this the number of early inbound flights from Europe linking to outbounds and the ratio of SH:LH probably increases further.
So, what does this mean? Well, I interpret this as putting SH (Eurofleet) as putting their necks on the line for their (better paid) LH colleagues.
A further rough analysis:
Lets say 11,000 LHR cabin crew; 9,000 LH and 2,000 EF. 3 days of strikes.
Over the 3 days of the initial strike, probably 1500 EF will either report or be scheduled to transit LHR - and therefore be expected to strike - so about 75% exposure rate.
Over the same 3 days, probably 1500 LH crew will report - so about 17% exposure rate.
Whichever way you look at this: BASSA are feeding the Eurofleet fodder into the flames to protect Worldwide T's&C's.
Why didn't they call the dispute to start from 1800 local time? Why, because that affects the lucrative LH departures to SIN, BKK, HKG, GRU, JNB, CPT etc.
It really is about time some people did 'wake up and smell the coffee' - to coin an oft (mis)used BASSA phrase.
If you extend the analysis to 1200 hrs local, this ratio probably increases to about 20:1.
Add to this the number of early inbound flights from Europe linking to outbounds and the ratio of SH:LH probably increases further.
So, what does this mean? Well, I interpret this as putting SH (Eurofleet) as putting their necks on the line for their (better paid) LH colleagues.
A further rough analysis:
Lets say 11,000 LHR cabin crew; 9,000 LH and 2,000 EF. 3 days of strikes.
Over the 3 days of the initial strike, probably 1500 EF will either report or be scheduled to transit LHR - and therefore be expected to strike - so about 75% exposure rate.
Over the same 3 days, probably 1500 LH crew will report - so about 17% exposure rate.
Whichever way you look at this: BASSA are feeding the Eurofleet fodder into the flames to protect Worldwide T's&C's.
Why didn't they call the dispute to start from 1800 local time? Why, because that affects the lucrative LH departures to SIN, BKK, HKG, GRU, JNB, CPT etc.
It really is about time some people did 'wake up and smell the coffee' - to coin an oft (mis)used BASSA phrase.