British Airways - CC Industrial Relations Mk VI

[Human Factor]

As far as anyone knows (BASSA have been suitably vague - witness the question on the ballot paper), removal of the "imposition of new crewing levels" would stop the ballot.

I would suggest that BASSA would like "New Fleet" to be taken off the table (fat chance now, I reckon) but they can't make it a condition of calling off the strike because it hasn't happened yet and you can't strike about something which "may" happen in the future (ok, we all know it's going to happen but until the first person is recruited to "New Fleet", BASSA can't do anything about it. It would also require a new ballot at that point).

Edit: BASSA2010, love the location by the way. If only the real LA resident had half a clue....

[BlueUpGood]

Good question, one that couldn't be answered by BASSA stalwarts on the previous thread.. the ballot paper is non specific. Does anyone know?

Of course, BASSA would deny it's about their perceived right to dictate how BA runs it's own business They want the right to be consulted on everything, but if they don't like it (ie, everything) they throw their toys out when BA get on with running a business which is seriously in trouble.

[BentleyH]

BASSA set to lose court case

I heard on good authority yesterday from individuals present in court that the judge has already made it very clear to BASSA's counsel, that he is barking up the wrong tree.
Unless he can produce a completely different argument to the ones currently being used, BASSA will lose their application and be subject to court costs.

No real surprise!
3 defeats on the bounce with yet more to come!

I also gather they have yet again sent multiple ballot papers to some individuals along with papers to former employees and former members!

Perhaps Mark Everard should have spent more time working on their data base rather than surfing the internet!

I've also just been rostered for my SCCM training day having completed the normal 3-day course yesterday. Apparently there are 5 courses planned with ten of us on each course. I gather around 700 pilots have now volunteered in total.

Shame its come to this, but I really want to see this through now so that the cancer that is BASSA can be permanently removed from this great company. I don't want any innocent people to get caught in the fall-out, but I fear some of those still blind to the BASSA rhetoric but not that militant will get caught up in this and will lose their jobs.
Best way to protect against that of course is to turn up to work with the rest of us when the strike is called, so we can keep as many of our loyal customers flying as possible.

From what I have seen in Cranebank this week, there will be a brilliant atmosphere on board woth lots of 'can do' spirit rather than constant referal to outdated rule books which actually prevent us doing the right thing for our customers.

Here's hoping the current pain is worth it for the long term gain.

[binsleepen]

Afternoon all,

A question if I may? Is any unionised group of workers allowed to withdraw their labour on the receipt of a majority in favour of striking no matter what the reason or question on the ballot paper? It seems that with such a vaguely worded question on the BASSA ballot paper that there is no specific issue for BA to address.

P.S. Did anyone see the posts this morning by a "Lurker 2010" that have now disappeared. Wonder if they are a relation of our old friend "A Lurker".

[617sqn]

Volunteer crew as sccm

Just wondering what the reason is that the volunteer crew are going to be in charge over the regular crew?

[Diplome]

617sqn:

Just wondering what the reason is that the volunteer crew are going to be in charge over the regular crew?

Do you have a reliable source for this assertion?

[dave747436]

BentlyH

I understand BASSA are desperate for knowledge of numbers of volunteers...
Would it be worth deleting the number of pilots who've volunteered that you quote, above?
I'd hate them to use anything they read here as ammunition to foster hate between pilots & CC...
ATB.

[617sqn]

Volunteers as senior cabin crew member

Have a read of post 84.
Bentley H mentions sccm training.
I am assuming he/she is a pilot

[moo]

bassa not doing great in court...........

I am being updated from a source in court. It is not going well for the BASSA team....

[BentleyH]

Court update

As you say, all will be revealed in due course. I do however know my source personally so I'm comfortable it's accurate.

With regard to numbers, BASSA are praying that the number of volunteers is low. This is obviously part of their bullying tactics towards pilots in the hope some might decide against it as a result. BA are quite rightly keeping their cards close to their chests but bearing in mind there has been a very strong response to the request for volunteers, I think its important BASSA are aware of the strength of feeling against them and their outdated tactics. More importantly, crew still planning on striking need to know they'll be standing on a picket line or watching on Sky News as a steady stream of British Airways aircraft take-off from Heathrow.

Volunteers with previous crew experience are being rostered as SCCMs because it alows BA to have some assurity they can operate these services without relying on CSDs and Pursers working. Those CSDs and Pursers already telling BA they will work during a strike are of course also being rostered to work during the planned strike period. BA does need to have nominated SCCMs on passenger services and it can't use existing main crew to fulfill this on a planned basis. I assume it also doesn't want to put added pressure on main crew already working in difficult circumstances, whereas we are old enough and ugly enough to look after ourselves!

[617sqn]

Volunteers as sccm

BentlyH
thank you for your rapid,informative reply.That does make sense.I was wondering the same.






Don't want to be spreading scurrilous,unsubstantiated,inflammatory rumours do we?

[Caribbean Boy]

Just wondering what the reason is that the volunteer crew are going to be in charge over the regular crew?

Volunteer crew won't have seniority over regular crew although some will have had the extra SCCM training. The plan is that they will work with, but not be in charge of, regular crew. So, even a pilot with 30 years' service might be junior to the purser and find himself serving food and drink at the back of the bus.

[TruBlu123]

High Court

I'm sure tha majority of us on this thread are praying for an outcome in BA's favour. However, let's not get ahead of ourselves in predicting the result. The law can be fickle and judges capricious when handing down judgements. Keep our fingers crossed and be patient. The company has a very robust case to present to the court.

[Caribbean Boy]

With regard to numbers, BASSA are praying that the number of volunteers is low.

BA has said that thousands have volunteered. I've heard that it's between 2,000-3,000. The actual figure will most likely be revealed at a time of BA's choosing (when BA can point out that there is no shortage of strikebreakers).

[Human Factor]

The law can be fickle and judges capricious when handing down judgements.

... and if the judgement doesn't go BASSA's way, bent again.

[BentleyH]

Crew make up

Caribbean Boy,

I'm afraid you are mistaken. The pilots completing the course will be the SCCM. We are being entered into TRACIE (the cabin crew rostering system) and will be rostered in exactly the same way as current SCCM. This will include conducting the briefing, sitting at 1L, taking any NITS briefings, allocating working positions etc etc. We will also continue to operate as SCCMs until the operation is fully back on it's feet.
I can speak from authority because I have the course notes for my course and have spoken at length this morning with Flight Ops about it.

For info, there is no hot food planned in the service. I'm assuming customers will get vouchers in the same way we did during the Gate Gourmet dispute (oh, yes another great example of Unite (formerly the T&G) in action!)

I agree its prudent not to count one's chickens....etc which is why I worded the update on the court case the way I did. One thing is for sure however, its not going very well for Unite so far.

Tirimasu - Well done on your work to date. We flew a couple of months ago and to be honest, it was a breath of fresh air to hear you understanding the issues and being very honest and clear with the crew. Keep it up and good luck!

[BentleyH]

Judge's travel plans

Maybe this judge is thinking of taking a flight with BA during the rest of his life.....if so, he must be bent!

[License to Fly]

strike workers

So lets work this out - during a potential strike, BA will have access to :-

-c.2000-3000 volunteers
-majority of gatwick crew (who gain little from this strike) - 3,000?
-CC who have left BA & being invited back from their previous short term 12 month contracts
-(1000/2000 ?) CC who are not members of the union
-cabin crew that decide they are not striking
TOTAL 7,000-10,000 perhaps ?

With a cabin crew number of c.13,000 (many of those are part time (anyone know what % are?/others must be taking unpaid leave), does the above number of people not enable BA to run a good operation ?

They can even use the oneworld partners on certain routes to take customers/put on bigger planes, enabling BA to cancel those flights ... high frequency routes can have certain flights cancelled, whilst customers are still accommodated ..... planes can be operated with legal minimum crew rather than the number BA put on ... there are so so many options - I wonder how many of the YES voters have thought about this

Nobody knows what could happen, but it has the potential for many CC to lose their jobs, which no one wants as there are some great people in BA and that would be a real shame (& where do you get a new well paid job in this recession?)

Whatever the CC believe, Mr Walsh will not back down and you must remember its him that pays their wage each month, not BASSA

LTF

[tomkins]

LTF
I think you`re figures are a little optimistic.For a start I believe that there are approx.1300 c/c at lgw not 3000 and being one of them I know that a fair few have the intention of striking.
You seem to have picked numbers and figures out of thin air ,even the vol.figures have not been confirmed.
I think 7000 to 10000 heads being available to work is wishful thinking.

[617sqn]

Not sure of the legalities of getting ex employees back to strike break.

Can any one clarify that?

None of the crew that took VR that I know have been asked back.