British Airways - CC Industrial Relations Mk VI
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Fact or Fiction
Interesting commentary on Unite's claims on the Guardian website at The British Airways Strike : Separating Unite The Union’s Fiction From Fact - Flying With Fish
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Well yesterday was an interesting day.
Pitched up at the CRC to do my long-haul flight as a volunteer.
Place was buzzing with crew. Great atmosphere without the BASSA dinosaurs lurking about.
Only problem was that 11 crew showed up for our flight and therefore our services weren't needed.
Expected to get a hotel standby for next few days but instead all the volunteers sent home because more crew showed up than they were expecting.
And to think i spent so much time practising the 'demo'.
Pitched up at the CRC to do my long-haul flight as a volunteer.
Place was buzzing with crew. Great atmosphere without the BASSA dinosaurs lurking about.
Only problem was that 11 crew showed up for our flight and therefore our services weren't needed.
Expected to get a hotel standby for next few days but instead all the volunteers sent home because more crew showed up than they were expecting.
And to think i spent so much time practising the 'demo'.
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Litebulbs
There comes a point when the pressure will switch from the employee to the employer.
Also your maths may well be correct but sets no time limit to recoup those losses. I haven't bothered to check your maths I will assume you are correct. If you can drop the average spend on CC by 10,000 a year - still more than Virgin spends on its' crew (29.9k-14.4k) then the £600 million can be recouped in fairly short order. Less than 5 years in fact. Remember that these would be ongoing savings and would make a significant difference in each of the next 5 years allowing the company a chance to get back into profitability. There would be no great need to refill the Fighting Fund as it would have done its job.
The Fat Lady has not yet sung, lets see what happens between then and now.
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Latest text message from the Big Bad Company
BA message:
BA s press office countering Unite claims in the media. No LHR or LGW aircraft are parked at remote airports, inc. Cardiff and Shannon. Flying schedule operating as planned and continues to grow due to increasing numbers of cabin crew reporting for work - so far today 55 per cent of LHR crew and 97 per cent of LGW crew. No action at downroute stations. Standing down some voluntary flight crew due to number of cabin crew reporting. Customer feedback is overwhelmingly positive towards BA.
Ends
..Litebulbs, the pressure is very much on the Union, as evidenced by them begging BA to re-open talks and having to (continue) to lie to the media/public/and of course their own members.
When a strike has full public backing, and full backing of the union membership, maybe your argument would hold water, but in this situation, where clearly less than half union members support the strike, and the public 'deplore' it and the union, they have no chance. It's all over for Unite....
WatersideWonker, good to see you back old chum....new name (universe1) not as catchy as the last one though! Could do better, 4 out of 10
BA s press office countering Unite claims in the media. No LHR or LGW aircraft are parked at remote airports, inc. Cardiff and Shannon. Flying schedule operating as planned and continues to grow due to increasing numbers of cabin crew reporting for work - so far today 55 per cent of LHR crew and 97 per cent of LGW crew. No action at downroute stations. Standing down some voluntary flight crew due to number of cabin crew reporting. Customer feedback is overwhelmingly positive towards BA.
Ends
..Litebulbs, the pressure is very much on the Union, as evidenced by them begging BA to re-open talks and having to (continue) to lie to the media/public/and of course their own members.
When a strike has full public backing, and full backing of the union membership, maybe your argument would hold water, but in this situation, where clearly less than half union members support the strike, and the public 'deplore' it and the union, they have no chance. It's all over for Unite....
WatersideWonker, good to see you back old chum....new name (universe1) not as catchy as the last one though! Could do better, 4 out of 10
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In actual fact there will come a point when the company will shut down and start again. With new terms and condtions for EVERYBODY. Take your head out of the sand people. Aviation isn,t the greatest payer in the world, but BA pays better than most!. Dont flitter this away.
Ref my wifes situation. I am led to believe it is being dealt with. The individuals involved i hope will get the fruits of their pathetic labours.
Ref my wifes situation. I am led to believe it is being dealt with. The individuals involved i hope will get the fruits of their pathetic labours.
Couldonlyaffordafiver
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BA made clear last week that, if agreement isn't negotiated within 3 months, it will simply make all cabin crew redundant and invite them to reapply for their jobs but on much worse terms: New Fleet terms presumably.
BA won't make anyone redundant. However, they can give everyone 90 days notice on existing contracts, as is their legal right. New contracts would then be issued (presumably New Fleet) and existing employees would be given the option to sign them. The law allows that if the employees choose not to sign, they will be deemed to have resigned. Harsh but it's the way it is.
On reflection, SOSR may not actually need to apply if BA are prepared to give the full 90 days notice.
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Over in America...
Just a quick update on what's been happening on the US side of things...
Yesterday's crossover was very well planned for. We've held crews back at the airport to ensure they didn't meet with outbound crews on their way to the airport. Some of the inbound strike-breakers/volunteers were very nervous on their way in, but were fine after they found out the arrangements in place.
It has to be said - the volunteers have done an absolutely fantastic job. There were lots of us there to meet the planes as they came in yesterday to make sure everything was ok. THe doors opened and the all the crew were smiling. After welcoming them to New York, the CSD replied with "Thank you so much - we're all very happy to be here...".
The passengers were all smiling, several stopping to thank staff on staff on their way out of the airport. Apparently all were completely fine about the reduced catering, even in Club and First. Not a single complaint to crew. I personally had three pax come up to me yesterday to thank us and everyone at BA for doing a great job keeping the airline running.
The airport itself was calm, but busy. No angry passengers. Very much business as usual.
One alarming thing I found out about later on in the evening was that one of the outbound CSDs apparently asked a member of airport staff to see the GenDec from the inbound flight. Quite how she had the balls and arrogance to do this is astounding. Quite happily asking airport staff for a list of names so that they could be bullied and harrassed when they got home. It's absolutely vile, and exactly the type of person we could do without at this airline.
The staff member of course refused. All staff have since been briefed that under no circumstances should they do this.
No signs of secondary action by US unions/GHAs. All completely normal, and much ado about nothing
Otherwise though - well done to all involved for pulling together and pulling this off so unbelievably well. It really does amuse me to see Unite reps quite happily get on national TV and spurt out such transparently false information! Do they have no shame? Or self-respect? It's just embarrassing for them!
Yesterday's crossover was very well planned for. We've held crews back at the airport to ensure they didn't meet with outbound crews on their way to the airport. Some of the inbound strike-breakers/volunteers were very nervous on their way in, but were fine after they found out the arrangements in place.
It has to be said - the volunteers have done an absolutely fantastic job. There were lots of us there to meet the planes as they came in yesterday to make sure everything was ok. THe doors opened and the all the crew were smiling. After welcoming them to New York, the CSD replied with "Thank you so much - we're all very happy to be here...".
The passengers were all smiling, several stopping to thank staff on staff on their way out of the airport. Apparently all were completely fine about the reduced catering, even in Club and First. Not a single complaint to crew. I personally had three pax come up to me yesterday to thank us and everyone at BA for doing a great job keeping the airline running.
The airport itself was calm, but busy. No angry passengers. Very much business as usual.
One alarming thing I found out about later on in the evening was that one of the outbound CSDs apparently asked a member of airport staff to see the GenDec from the inbound flight. Quite how she had the balls and arrogance to do this is astounding. Quite happily asking airport staff for a list of names so that they could be bullied and harrassed when they got home. It's absolutely vile, and exactly the type of person we could do without at this airline.
The staff member of course refused. All staff have since been briefed that under no circumstances should they do this.
No signs of secondary action by US unions/GHAs. All completely normal, and much ado about nothing
Otherwise though - well done to all involved for pulling together and pulling this off so unbelievably well. It really does amuse me to see Unite reps quite happily get on national TV and spurt out such transparently false information! Do they have no shame? Or self-respect? It's just embarrassing for them!
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BAShareholder
Most standby crew were surplus to requirement yesterday.
That's a fact.
Most standby crew were surplus to requirement yesterday.
That's a fact.
Oh and they have cancelled another 2 between 21:00 and Midnight - 8 are due to go.
So thats 40 flights out of 55 cancelled...........
Couldonlyaffordafiver
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Litebulbs,
IMHO, expect either "LGW + a bit" or "Virgin +10%" (please let's avoid the "what is market rate?" debate). At the end of the day (this bit isn't IMHO), BA want their original pound of flesh plus the return of any strike costs.
No inside knowledge on the future deal though, suffice to say I believe some of the strikers will be grabbing for whatever deal BA choose to offer in a few weeks.
Where do you think the contract point would be set? Would it be based on the LGW agreements, or even lower?
No inside knowledge on the future deal though, suffice to say I believe some of the strikers will be grabbing for whatever deal BA choose to offer in a few weeks.
Couldonlyaffordafiver
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bashareholder,
I like facts too. My reliable source told me 14 would be departing (re-opened for passengers). Looks like 15 now. 
I like facts - I suppose the fact is maybe BA should have called them in today as they have had to cancel 38 flights due to depart between 18:00 and 21:00 tonight - 7 will go.
Oh and they have cancelled another 2 between 21:00 and Midnight - 8 are due to go.
So thats 40 flights out of 55 cancelled...........
Oh and they have cancelled another 2 between 21:00 and Midnight - 8 are due to go.
So thats 40 flights out of 55 cancelled...........
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to: bashareholder
Where are you getting this information?
Looking at LHR departures pretty well all the PLANNED services are operating as normal.
The Bangkok/Sydney is the only one delayed.
Truth not spin.
Edited to add that Bangkok/Sydney now back on schedule.
BAA Heathrow: Flight departures today at Heathrow Airport | Live Heathrow Airport departures
Where are you getting this information?
Looking at LHR departures pretty well all the PLANNED services are operating as normal.
The Bangkok/Sydney is the only one delayed.
Truth not spin.
Edited to add that Bangkok/Sydney now back on schedule.
BAA Heathrow: Flight departures today at Heathrow Airport | Live Heathrow Airport departures
Last edited by Sunshine Express; 21st Mar 2010 at 17:56.
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JayPee28bpr
Some interesting questions. The first one that I will attempt to answer is that if any action is taken against a union rep, for just being a union rep, there is no limit on the compensation that a company would have to pay if found guilty.
With regard to Unites opinion of BASSA, then they can only go on the two ballots to date. If, as many are suggesting on pprune, that the strike is crumbling, then more questions will be asked.
Much will be answered in the coming week in the lead up to the next stoppage however.
With regard to Unites opinion of BASSA, then they can only go on the two ballots to date. If, as many are suggesting on pprune, that the strike is crumbling, then more questions will be asked.
Much will be answered in the coming week in the lead up to the next stoppage however.
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The problem is that BA have had to take an educated guess as to how many flights they could put on for Pax and then cancel some. this is why flights are being reinstated as they are getting a better idea as to the turn up rate.
To have tried to run a full schedule with all the subsequent disruption if enough crew didn't turn up would have been a PR disaster.
To have tried to run a full schedule with all the subsequent disruption if enough crew didn't turn up would have been a PR disaster.