British Airways - CC Industrial Relations Mk VI

[JayPee28bpr]

Litebulbs

I thought you might find this interesting, given your musings about a negotiated settlement at BA.

RTÉ News: Aer Lingus pilots accept cost-cutting plan

Just by way of context, the deal that IALPA has just overwhelmingly voted to accept is pretty much identical to a deal they overwhelmingly rejected just before Christmas. So why the change of heart? Well the dispute went to the Labour Relations Commission which pretty much sided entirely with Aer Lingus. Also, the CEO of Aer Lingus threatened to make 25% of the entire workforce compulsorily redundant, as well as shifting Aer Lingus' registration to the UK, where he could hire staff on considerably lower T&Cs. Ring any bells closer to home?

I think the BA cabin crew dispute will end in a very similar manner.

[Snas]

The Post | BA cabin crew offer to take pay cut

Remarkable if this is correct...!

Pay in exchange for crew numbers?

It seems to me that a pay cut in exchange to working a little bit harder benefits no-one. The CSD, it could be argued, benefits from having to do a bit less, however being the biggest earners the loss of pay will be the greatest.

The union is the only winner here from increased numbers and therefore subs.

Cabin crew, you've been had – enjoy...!

[FlexSRS]

Newswires now reporting that BASSA have offered BA a 3.4% paycut and a 2 year pay freeze, and have given BA until Tuesday to accept, or they will strike.

Question for cabin crew; Would you rather work 1 down, or take a 3.4% paycut and 2yr freeze?


(I'm not sure 3.4% will be enough, I guess there are other savings along with the headline measures!)

As a quick & dirty look at the numbers, £60m divided by 11,000 cabin crew is about £5,400 each. If the average cabin crew was earning £40,000, a 3.4% cut would be worth about £1,400 each, so unless the average cabin crew pay was £160,000, then a 3.4% cut isn't going to make £60m worth of savings!

[Diplome]

Snas:

Thank you for posting the link.

Would be nice to know what the full offer was. Is this another temporary savings that has to be repaid, etc.?

I'm amazed that Unite is offering a wage cut. Has this become more about the Unions saving face rather than representing the best interest of their employees?

In any event, I'll be shocked if Walsh goes back on his firm statement that the imposition will remain so we will have to wait and see what else gets selectively leaked by BASSA/Unite.

[Snas]

In any event, I'll be shocked if Walsh goes back on his firm statement that the imposition will remain so we will have to wait and see what else gets selectively leaked by BASSA/Unite.

I agree, this is very unlikley.
Have the Union factored in re-recruitement costs, training, yadda yadda -

I guess this is a last ditch attempt from the clueless, little more.

[Crash_and_Burn]

This made me smile!!

The TUC, which is chairing the meetings, has set the deadline for the "close of play" on Tuesday 9 March.

Since when has BASSA/UNITE paid the slightest bit of attention to a negotiating deadline... 30th June 2009??!?!

The deadline is only becasue the strike mandate runs out a few days later.

If I was a BA negotiator, i'd be chuckling and checking on my spell checker how to spell NO!

Obviously, if BASSA has offered a 3.4% pay cut, this is becasue the members have voted to agree to this, isn't it??

CB

[spin_doctor]

From the Unite website:

Low wages, reliance on tax credit top-ups and the distress of being forced to deliver a poorer service to passengers are the real reasons behind the BA dispute, says the airline's cabin crew.

The issues are highlighted in a video released today (Tuesday) by crew and their union, Unite, who have jointly produced the film in order to set the record straight about the causes of the current dispute.

According to Unite, the 13,500 crew have been grossly misrepresented by their employer. One of the major distortions, challenged in the video, is that the crew are highly paid. In truth, around 75 per cent of all crew do not earn more than £20,000 per year. In fact, as the video shows, so poorly paid are many of the crew based at Gatwick that many of them rely on second jobs or Working Family Tax Credits to top up their earnings to a level where they can support their families.

Despite this, the union is still intent on getting a pay cut for it's members, rather than accept the imposed solution of reduced crewing levels.

[wiggy]

Indeed. According to recent blogs, commentators (including Union reps) and newpapers some BA Cabin Crew live in Social housing, are on close to the minimum wage, and certainly those on the post '97 contract aren't as well paid compared with their Senior colleagues........I can't see the rank and file being too impressed with this offer.

[Snas]

It could be argued the the union are cutting crews pay by “imposition” – I suggest a strike...! It’s the only thing that a union intent on macho representation understand and will bring them to the table to talk to their members.

Representation by negotation not imposition – demand nothing less.

[Papillon]

Surely this can't go down well with the rank and file. Under BA's proposals there is no pay cut, under Unite's there is. For someone low paid who takes home £11,000 a year that amounts to £30 a month less. Quite a lot.

[nurjio]

..indeed, and ally that with the BASSA (non)work which resulted in HMRC's bigger slice of the 'allowances', it adds up to a staggering mis-representation - but sooo many members just do not see the level of incompetence that is patently on display here.

nurj

[Pornpants1]

BASSA/UNITE play into Willies hands

BASSA/UNITE or should I say BASSA have played straight into BA's hands, this is exactly what Willies little pep talk was all about Wednesday lunchtime.

UNITE have no stomach for a fight, they worked out ages ago that it would fail. BA know it will fail, that's why they want them to strike.

[wiggy]

And it looks like a massive PR gift if BA choose to to take it:

It can be spun to the newpapers/media as - BA offered to maintain Cabin Crew pay in return for CSD being a working position, but Unite/BASSA would rather see the main crew take a pay cut.........

[Mariner9]

I wonder what the ballot result would have been if the question posed had been:

Do you wish to strike unless BA cuts our salary by 3.4% and allows the poor old CSD's an easier life again?

[Weather Map]

If WW does not take this opportunity to finish off BASSA for good he will regret it.

[Crash_and_Burn]

Any feedback on the "Other Forum"?

CB

[anotherthing]

Newswires now reporting that BASSA have offered BA a 3.4% paycut and a 2 year pay freeze, and have given BA until Tuesday to accept, or they will strike.

I can see the headlines now "BASSA announces strike dates because bullying management refuse to cut CC pay"

[Weather Map]

Crash and Burn.

One brave soul posted on one forum how they thought the whole thing had been a waste of money and they felt that BASSA had their own agenda.Also this person was fed up of getting sent silly texts and mails with no real information.Needless to say they have been shot down in flames however it does seem that some people are starting to see BASSA for what it realy is.Oh and they did mention that they were leaning more towards the PCCC.Well you can imagine what followed next.

[jetlag22]

3.4% off pay.? A 3.4% pay reduction equates to 5% cost reduction for BA. So the IFCE budget is £1200M. Does not quite sound right. For a 3.4% pay cut to generate £60M in savings would need the BA PPI costs to be double the pay cut, ie.the pay cut would need to be 6-7% to generate the £60M saving required to put a crew member back on.
BA will not even consider this offer and BASSA can't do maths again.

[Beagle9]

Sky News website reports offer as being pay FREEZE on basic and allowances AMOUNTING TO (say the union) a 3.4% pay cut, saving BA £12m. So not a REAL 3.4% pay cut if this is true.