British Airways - CC Industrial Relations Mk VI

[sussex2]

Beats me rigid this business about stopping staff travel for those that execute their legal right to go on strike, and yes I understand staff travel is a concession.
Considering the very high numbers of cabin crew who commute, then surely you would simply be forcing these people to buy tickets on competitors. I feel sure the folks at EZY must be laughing all the way to the bank at the very thought of it.
I find it amazing that any company would actively participate in encouraging its' own employees to use anothers services.
As far as I am aware staff travel is profitable, why put that money into someone elses pocket? I cannot imagine that the motives for doing this will not be questioned.

[Cough]

Staff travel embargo...

I believe half the issue with the staff travel embargo is within the terminals. If you have a large number of customers who are delayed or inconvenienced by the strike who require some form of assistance, then maybe you shouldn't be spending time getting staff on aircraft.

[Hotel Mode]

As far as I am aware staff travel is profitable, why put that money into someone elses pocket? I cannot imagine that the motives for doing this will not be questioned.

Staff travel only makes a profit if you only include the staff travel ticketing/admin costs. Its virtually nil actual revenue, so BA wont notice.

Most will probably end up paying BA for tickets, not the competition anyway. By the time you've added in the costs of getting to LGW/LTN and STN its not worth the effort unless youre saving 50 quid or so. So in fact it will probably improve BAs sales. Secondly, it will make a lot of the commuters (normally long serving, high paypoint) think twice about their continued employment at BA without costing BA any redundancy etc. And both of them only apply if it doesnt have the desired effect of causing most of them to turn up to work on day 1 of the strike.

[Andy_S]

Originally Posted by sussex2

Considering the very high numbers of cabin crew who commute, then surely you would simply be forcing these people to buy tickets on competitors.

No. You are forcing them to consider whether they want to continue working for BA or not.

If they strike, then they won't need staff travel while they've withdrawn their labour, so it's not such an issue. The problem will arise when they go back to work. It won't be viable for them to commute at commercial ticket prices using a competitor, so in practical terms they'll have to look for new employment. I expect it will concentrate minds wonderfully.........

[TopBunk]

Also to be considered is that the ID90 fare is transferable at nil cost from one flight to an earlier (or more likely) a later should you be delayed. This is ideal for commuters.

Should they not have that flexibility, by losing Staff Travel, then they run the risk of missing a flight on a non-transferable ticket and having to pay an expensive last minute fare in addition, or buying a flexible ticket in the first place.

As indicated above, this could find BA quite a few NO votes, or having voted YES find some people resigning of their own volition because of commute costs having lost ST.

Yet again, another example of BASSA/Unite letting down their flock

[HiFlyer14]

The strike ballot will define where BASSA are now. 75%+ yes after all of the company and media hype, means that it is the crew and crew alone that have made the statement. There will be no blaming of the BASSA reps at all.

Litebulbs - This concoction is now simmering gently and I'm afraid the blaming of the BASSA reps is well under way.

Start the mix with the fact that many crew are extremely unhappy about the call for a 12 day strike without consultation or even prior notification. Many won't vote yes again due to being misled last time.

Stir in a bit of complete disgust at the recent threats, intimidation and immature practises that the reps seem unable to refrain from.

Add to that the threat of losing staff travel, reducing the crew hotel budget and increasing the cost-savings required in IFCE.

Finally, add in an increasing number of cabin crew resigning from the Union and forming a new council brought about for crew by crew who have simply had enough of the disastrous IR that Unite have created.

Put it on a low light until the 22 Feb. A Yes vote is achieved but not very strong - less than 75% I would guess. First day of strike - how many will actually carry it out?

And there you have it. A recipe for disaster, if you're a Unite rep.

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

[saintjoseph]

please correct me if i'm wrong, but aren't cc supposed to live within 90 minutes of their base. commuting is a lifestyle choice made possible by staff travel. during ia why should someone choosing to live in eg los angeles retain staff travel while someone living in windsor has it suspended. i've always been told "it's a privilege not a right!".

[winstonsmith]

saintjoseph - crew can choose where they want to live AS LONG as they can get to work within a certain time limit when they are on standby. Most commuting crew stay at B&B's during their standby blocks. Some crew commuting by car drive and sit somewhere along the road so they can make it to the airport within 2 hours.

[Finnster]

correct saint joseph infact i think its 45 mins lgw/lhr !!

[Litebulbs]

HiFlyer,

Very valid points and we are in agreement that the vote percentage will define the industrial relations within BA going forward, more than any other time in BASSA's history.

[Hotel Mode]

Very valid points and we are in agreement that the vote percentage will define the industrial relations within BA going forward, more than any other time in BASSA's history.

Not just the vote percentage, but the actual turnout on the first few days of the strike. Even a 99% yes on 99% turnout wont get Willy changing his tack.

[midman]

Originally Posted by Hotel Mode

Not just the vote percentage, but the actual turnout on the first few days of the strike. Even a 99% yes on 99% turnout wont get Willy changing his tack.

Not just the Yes vote percentage, but the percentage turnout, which I expect to be down on last time.

If there's an 70% Yes vote but there's only a 70% turnout, then a MINORITY of Unite members will have voted for a strike.

I reckon 3 out of 4 will bottle it on day one and come to work, leaving the strike threat toothless.

The thousands of volunteers trained up (hundreds at Cranebank this week!) will barely get a chance to have a trip down the back!

[Rover90]

Scheme Rules

Scheme, the document for avoidance of fatigue in a flying duty period states:

Travelling time from Home to Departure Aerdrome, if long distances are involved, is a factor influencing any subsequent onset of fatigue. If the journey time from home to departure airfield is usually in excess of 1hr 30mins duration, crew members should consider making arrangements for accommodation nearer to base.

Not a hard and fast rule but excessive commuting times are clearly not encouraged.

[Human Factor]

... crew members should consider making arrangements for accommodation nearer to base.

Many have digs, B&Bs, mate's spare rooms, etc within close range of LHR.

[juniorjetclub]

Pleased to meet you

Watersidewonker.

I am a volunteer.

I am looking forward to volunteering.

I have completed my volunteers' course (as a VOLUNTEER, along with my 2 dozen or so collegues - 2, 3 and 4 stripes) that also attended on my course.

I trust that you will be as friendly to me as I will be to you.

If you have the influence you claim to have, then I suggest you arrange to have the offensive language that is written in the toilets of the SEP building removed PRONTO. It is outdated and unnecessary.

I am backing BA, and am proud to do so.

[TopBunk]

Some BASSA members may be under the illusion that this is a Mexican standoff between them and the company.

If they believe that, they'll believe anything.

A large proportion of BASSA members believe everything BASSA tell them; they wouldn't believe PWC's audit of the books, they don't accept the need for permanent change, they believe BA are 'hiding' profits because the aircraft are full, they think that because BA.com shows a certain fare for a certain flight on a certain day to be £x where x is quite high that the yields are just fine.

What makes you think they will read Businessweek

[Crash_and_Burn]

Blimey, it's gone quiet on here while we all wait for the judge.....

Is it as quiet on the "other" forum (not having access myself) or are they still in a frenzy?

Looking forward to my training course starting on Monday... Be nice to get out of the office for a few weeks. I'm sure my work will still be waiting for me when I get back.

CB

[fincastle84]

Crash & Burn

Good luck on your course, I'm sure you'll enjoy it & the experience of working in the cabin, if required.

You're so right, it's very quiet over here. I've just returned from my 7 day sabbatical in the sinbin so have been looking forward to reading some lively discussion. Maybe it will liven up in a couple of weeks after the verdict & the result of the ballot.

PS To all concerned, thanks for all of the suppport & kind messages while I've been away.

[Ten West]

Anyone have an idea of when we can expect a judgment?

[Hotel Mode]

Anyone have an idea of when we can expect a judgment?

I dont know, it might be a while. Apparantly the judge is trying out new First class on its inaugural flight to Chicago today so isnt available. (sets timer and waits for first report on crewforum...)

Tongue now out of cheek, I believe its beginning of next week but can change.