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British Airways - CC Industrial Relations Mk VI

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British Airways - CC Industrial Relations Mk VI

Old 13th Feb 2010, 10:59
  #461 (permalink)  
 
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Not a very good PR exercise.Firstly it was a big mistake to discuss their salary and allowances.Times are hard for everyone these days but the cabin crew deal is not that bad.

A typical old type of LHR CSD attitude protected at fortress Heathrow for years and no clue what's going on at the bases.His comments about LGW being made up of diffrent airlines said it all .He obviously forgot about the operation at British Airtours which was eventually merged into mainline and no refrence to the old worldwide fleet at LGW.Just the old chesnut LGW are diffrent to us at LHR .Crew at LGW trying to make ends meat yes that's right as the crew were stitched up by BASSA he forgot to mention that one.

He is in breach of his contract talking to the media.BA should track him down and make an example of him.

Last edited by Weather Map; 13th Feb 2010 at 11:24.
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Old 13th Feb 2010, 12:30
  #462 (permalink)  
 
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the old worldwide fleet at LGW
which of course was British Caledonian!

trying to make ends meat
Baaa?
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Old 13th Feb 2010, 12:37
  #463 (permalink)  
 
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LHR crew sold LGW cc down the river a few years back and now the chickens are coming home to roost! What LHR cc didn't realise at the time was that this move was the beginning of the end for them and through their unions' selfish actions they set in motion a process which now is catching up with them.

If LGW crew can operate with reduced numbers then there is no reason why LHR crew can't follow suit. Same recruitment, same training, same skill-set, same aircraft.....

BA were simply driving in the thin end of the wedge. LHR cc didn't care about LGW cc then, don't really care about them now (until they try get a vote out of them) and will not care about them in the future.

LGW members who support the strike surprise me. Why jeopardise your career/staff travel to protect the people who sold you short not long ago?

BASSA have led a disgraceful campaign. The image of an honourable semi-glamorous lifestyle is now been destroyed and replaced by a public perception of greediness, intimidation and corporate hostage taking. This is not the truth as i do not know one single ccrew who is half as bad as the public image BASSA has now created.

Why continue letting these mugs represent you?
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Old 13th Feb 2010, 12:45
  #464 (permalink)  
 
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Oh come on, corparate hostage taking? Mr walsh is hardly a fresh graduate straight out of school. Both sides are playing hard and there will be a outcome that will change the future for both sides of the dispute.
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Old 13th Feb 2010, 13:01
  #465 (permalink)  
 
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Ottergirl.

The Worldwide Fleet at LGW was not B Cal .That came after the merger with British Airtours and mainline .Longhaul at LGW was mainline from 1988 until say 05 06 and it was part of British Airways mainline.The opeartions that Airtours and B Cal cabin crew had were what WW wants now at LHR Single Fleet.Airtours and B Cal cabin crew did long and shorthaul flying .

Trying to make ends meat I have never liked this sort of attitude towards the cabin crew who were based outside of LHR .Why LGW crew can't wake up to BASSA is beyond me.
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Old 13th Feb 2010, 13:27
  #466 (permalink)  
 
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Weather Map

As far as I remember, there was a difference between flight and cabin crew. The flight crew changed from BA mainline to Goldcrest crew around 96, but the cabin crew were British Airtours crew, rebranded to Caledonian to maintain the Yellow Dog and Tartan, albeit on those fine Tristars!

No doubt I will be proved wrong again, as I was with CC89!
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Old 13th Feb 2010, 13:35
  #467 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by Litebulbs
Oh come on, corparate hostage taking? Mr walsh is hardly a fresh graduate straight out of school. Both sides are playing hard and there will be a outcome that will change the future for both sides of the dispute.
You imply that Mr Walsh and Bassa stand equally in this dispute.

Bassa have lied on many occasions, they have acted illegally, they have had court cases go against them owing to illegal advice from the chairman, they have been seen to overtly intimidate those who disagree with them, they have deliberately spread misinformation to maximise support for an ill advised strike. That isn't playing hard, that's behaviour I would be ashamed of.

Can you give me examples where WW has behaved in a similarly dishonest and disreputable manner?

You may not like the man, but he's doing his job honestly and with integrity.
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Old 13th Feb 2010, 15:19
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I suppose I was using Mr Walsh as a representative of the BA management team, in the same way that many posters on this site quote BASSA as a living entity and as I argued that people should not do that, then I have to apologise for doing the same thing myself.

I would call to question one thing that has happened in the last week. How did the internal investigation of 15 employees make it to the media? The way I read the reports, the Unite FTO's were reacting to what had happened, rather than bringing it to to public awareness. That would indicate some form of a leak. No doubt, others will read this differently.

With regard to a ballot, I have read the judgement and can find no reference to anything that was seen as illegal. An incorrect ballot was carried out and an injuction was granted to stop the action taking place.

The BASSA chair is still in place and as far as I am aware, no action have been taken against that position. BA would be fully within their rights to seek sanctions against an employee, if that employee had done anything wrong. You only have the protection of the law, if a company seeks to persecute a union representative, for carrying out the duties of the role.
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Old 13th Feb 2010, 15:59
  #469 (permalink)  
 
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I would call to question one thing that has happened in the last week. How did the internal investigation of 15 employees make it to the media? The way I read the reports, the Unite FTO's were reacting to what had happened, rather than bringing it to to public awareness. That would indicate some form of a leak. No doubt, others will read this differently..
I doubt it was a leak sanctioned by BA, as the last thing they want is to wash their dirty linen in public and get in to a public war of words with Unite (at least not now when the dispute has gone quiet). It could have been Unite or any number of individuals in the company.
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Old 13th Feb 2010, 20:29
  #470 (permalink)  
 
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Latest from BASSA - imagine they have time to write all this rubbish when they are so busy!

An insight to a rep's week in the BASSA office


3 discussions with managers to sort out part time for women returning to
work after breast cancer.

14 phone calls to scheduling.

1 attendance at a drugs and alcohol test for a crew member reported by a
manager. Crew member breathalysed by police. Result "Negative". Crew
member breathalysed by BA's private company. Reading: zero. 5 follow up
phone calls to managers to request apologies, lost allowances,
explanations.

123 messages to reply to when we are too busy to answer the phone.

1 crew member suspended for alleged staff travel misuse. 4 follow up phone
calls.

17 crew members suspended for discussing or reading or being a facebook
friend of someone who has discussed the existence of a list of pilots
working as crew during the strike.

20 phone calls to managers.

2 meetings.

1 "all reps" strategy meeting.

30 phone calls to the highly distressed
crew members concerned some of whom are off sick recovering from a major operation, pregnant and in danger of losing the baby or downroute.

19 phone calls from crew worried that they too will be suspended.

9 overnight phone calls on the emergency phone from crew with situations
downroute or checking that they have worked their hours out correctly.

25 discussions with crew members on the strike seeking information and
reassurance on why they should vote "yes".

30 queries about the High Court case.

1 meeting with a senior manager to discuss the mismanagement of a crew
member given a termination date following sickness due to an accident at
work for which BA have admitted liability.

4 conversations with solicitors.

27 attendance meetings booked in.

8 discussions regarding bullying and harassment by pilots or management.

10 discussions with the DOMS.

1 arranging for a bereaved crew member to passenger home.

A REP'S WEEK IN THE BASSA OFFICE IF WE LOSE THIS DISPUTE:

1 long deafening silence.
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Old 13th Feb 2010, 20:43
  #471 (permalink)  
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So despite all the chat about incoming bullying and harrasment only 8 people actually even rang Bassa with a vague hint of it..

Meanwhile 17 crew get suspended and a further 19 ring up worried. Talk about damned by your own statistics!
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Old 13th Feb 2010, 20:45
  #472 (permalink)  
 
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Trying to justify Bassa

What do they want? A round of applause?

All those tasks can be fulfilled by PCC reps.

And for probably less than £15/month from 10,000 members.
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Old 13th Feb 2010, 20:55
  #473 (permalink)  
 
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World in shock as union that has thousands and thousands of members has to deal with lots of ad hoc queries a week and members ring up asking questions about ongoing court case and strike ballot.
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Old 13th Feb 2010, 22:37
  #474 (permalink)  
 
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A tad overwrought:


An insight to a rep's week in the BASSA office

3 discussions with managers to sort out part time for women returning to work after breast cancer.

14 phone calls to scheduling.

1 attendance at a drugs and alcohol test for a crew member reported by a manager. Crew member breathalysed by police. Result "Negative". Crew member breathalysed by BA's private company. Reading: zero. 5 follow up phone calls to managers to request apologies, lost allowances,explanations.

123 messages to reply to when we are too busy to answer the phone.

1 crew member suspended for alleged staff travel misuse. 4 follow up phone calls.

17 crew members suspended for discussing or reading or being a facebook friend of someone who has discussed the existence of a list of pilots working as crew during the strike.

20 phone calls to managers.

2 meetings.

1 "all reps" strategy meeting.

30 phone calls to the highly distressed crew members concerned some of whom are off sick recovering from a major operation, pregnant and in danger of losing the baby or downroute.

19 phone calls from crew worried that they too will be suspended.

9 overnight phone calls on the emergency phone from crew with situations downroute or checking that they have worked their hours out correctly.

25 discussions with crew members on the strike seeking information and reassurance on why they should vote "yes".

30 queries about the High Court case.

1 meeting with a senior manager to discuss the mismanagement of a crew member given a termination date following sickness due to an accident at work for which BA have admitted liability.

4 conversations with solicitors.

27 attendance meetings booked in.

8 discussions regarding bullying and harassment by pilots or management.

10 discussions with the DOMS.

1 arranging for a bereaved crew member to passenger home.
Seriously, we are speaking of a WEEK here and this dramatic individual is going into hyperdrive over having to schedule things? Any office manager at a relatively active business is going to match this, and then some.

What is it with BASSA and their attitude that just doing enough is so darn hard.

You're working for a Union that has put themselves into a disturbing situation. Members will have questions.

Though I note that there is absolutely no mention of "Reviewing fake PCCC website with keywords linking it to BA and the PCCC to make sure that pornography is of adequate quality" so for now I'm going to reserve judgement regarding the authenticity of the above missive.
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Old 13th Feb 2010, 22:52
  #475 (permalink)  
 
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The latest comms from Bassa says it all, really. There's nothing new in the comms methods, nor is the drama new. We all know they've been painting themselves into a corner, and this latest missive is pretty astounding. If I was a member of Bassa, I would be most annoyed and offended as to having details (however small) of my calls published in this manner.

The reaction elsewhere is predictable and comes with a few posts of how the PCCC couldn't possibly deal with all this. We could, actually.

As someone's mentioned already, Bassa have now pointed BA in the direction of another 19 potential suspendees. Very clever.

Gg

I am BA Cabin Crew and these are my opinions, not that of my employer

Last edited by Glamgirl; 13th Feb 2010 at 23:01. Reason: add disclaimer
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Old 13th Feb 2010, 23:00
  #476 (permalink)  
 
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Glamgirl:

As someone's mentioned already, Bassa have now pointed BA in the direction of another 19 potential suspendees. Very clever
.

Somehow I think that BA is probably waaaay ahead of BASSA regarding indentifying misconduct by employees.
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Old 13th Feb 2010, 23:02
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Diplome,

I agree with you. I may even go as far as to say it could be a lot more than 19, the rest just haven't realised yet

Gg

I am BA Cabin Crew and these are my opinions, not that of my employer
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Old 13th Feb 2010, 23:08
  #478 (permalink)  
 
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I wasn't going to point this out, but I feel I have to:

(my bold)

30 phone calls to the highly distressed
crew members concerned some of whom are off sick recovering from a major operation, pregnant and in danger of losing the baby or downroute.

Are Bassa really insinuating that BA will be to blame in a case of a miscarriage? That is beyond sick and disgusting, to be honest.

Gg

I am BA Cabin Crew and these are my opinions, not that of my employer
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Old 14th Feb 2010, 09:49
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“Week in the Life” of a BASSA Rep.

I have looked closely at the “Week in the Life” of a BASS Rep.

Take out the items that are caused as a direct result of the grenade that BASSA have just pulled the pin out of ie latest strike threat. Clearly only the most naïve of individuals would expect to initiate a chain of events and not have to field significantly more enquiries.

Strip out the items that are not directly the responsibility of BASSA but adopted by BASSA as they feel that they run the airline ie.

arranging for a bereaved crew member to passenger home.
and not forgetting:

14 phone calls to scheduling.
to extract your next rostered duties…..allegedly…..

…and that leaves a very reasonable office workload for one five day week (don’t do weekends) dealing with real industrial relations issues.

Last edited by Rover90; 14th Feb 2010 at 10:36.
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Old 14th Feb 2010, 10:44
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Maybe BASSA should realise that their only real hope of retaining any representation at BA is if they LOSE this *****ing ballot. If they win, and their members march, lemming like, out the door, then it is probable that their goose is cooked as far as BA is concerned and then some other organisation (PCCC?) would hopefully come to the fore. If they lose however (let's all hope so), then at least they will still have some de facto say in the future and retain representation. Personally I'm kind of hoping that not enough people are crazy enough to throw their teddy bears in the corner, time will tell.
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