British Airways - CC Industrial Relations Mk VI
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Very interesting development. Big meeting.
A colleague and I do IA consulting now, after too many years to admit to dealing with it in a huge company.
The rule of thumb we use when advising in a situation like this?
Two scenario outcomes call for different options:
1. If you have a big policy change within the company, i.e. working conditions, rules, etc., especially where industrial relations is concerned, you put it in writing to the employees, in a detailed, lawyered email or other written document. Then call a meeting very soon afterward to allow questions from the audience/employees.
2. But when you have to eat crow or smooth over some kind of mess or failure--needing to put some spin on the situation--you call a public meeting and the top guy/woman makes a spin-filled presentation, usually without follow-up questions from the in-house audience.
So, you can tell where my mind is headed for Wednesday...LOL.
A colleague and I do IA consulting now, after too many years to admit to dealing with it in a huge company.
The rule of thumb we use when advising in a situation like this?
Two scenario outcomes call for different options:
1. If you have a big policy change within the company, i.e. working conditions, rules, etc., especially where industrial relations is concerned, you put it in writing to the employees, in a detailed, lawyered email or other written document. Then call a meeting very soon afterward to allow questions from the audience/employees.
2. But when you have to eat crow or smooth over some kind of mess or failure--needing to put some spin on the situation--you call a public meeting and the top guy/woman makes a spin-filled presentation, usually without follow-up questions from the in-house audience.
So, you can tell where my mind is headed for Wednesday...LOL.
Every industry is different, a service industry like BA is goign to be far different from manufacturing etc.
I believe with BA, these letters to crew went out some time ago and I suspect, like Wiggy suggests, this could well be Walsh coming out to state that BASSA are still not negotiating to anywhere near where BA needs them to be and therefore he is having to take steps to avoid the uncertainty hanging over the company, that is affecting bookings.
If bookings are down as much as some are suggesting (30%), the threat of action is almost having as much damage as a strike itself (and Im sure BASSA know this), so it would be well in his interest to get BASSA to force their hand now, end the uncertainty and lead to him getting closer to what he wants sooner rather than later.
I guess we will see, I very much think this is the opposite of a back down however and it will see Walsh give BASSA/ the crew one final opportunity to step down themselves.
You're supporting the Labour party, whether you vote for them or not.
You may still be able to do so; if interested, check.
As a 15yo apprentice, I opted out, much to the disgust of the shop steward
AtlasDrawer mentioned a 'talk' or update at Waterside on Wednesday and I don't get ESS mail.
Doesn't sound like a mass meeting (as much as you CAN have a mass meeting of an itinerate work group) but, by pre-announcing it, WW indicates that he wants maximum attention for the event. Hmm?
Doesn't sound like a mass meeting (as much as you CAN have a mass meeting of an itinerate work group) but, by pre-announcing it, WW indicates that he wants maximum attention for the event. Hmm?
Join Date: May 2005
Location: uk
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The event is being broadcast to all members of the workforce via the Intranet from 12.30 to 13.30 so must be fairly important info in my view. Even provisions have been made for overseas bases to get to see it.
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Quote:
The event is being broadcast to all members of the workforce via the Intranet from 12.30 to 13.30 so must be fairly important info in my view. Even provisions have been made for overseas bases to get to see it.
Hi Swalesboy,
Are you a BA employee....? In the ESS message I received, it only said that the forum would be broadcasted on internal BA television chanels on various locations.... no mention of the intranet. As I am on a day off, I would love the forum to be broadcasted via the intranet so I can watch it at home!
P.S. Can anybody explain how I can make a 'proper' quote on this forum.... can't see any quote options??? Thanks!!!
The event is being broadcast to all members of the workforce via the Intranet from 12.30 to 13.30 so must be fairly important info in my view. Even provisions have been made for overseas bases to get to see it.
Hi Swalesboy,
Are you a BA employee....? In the ESS message I received, it only said that the forum would be broadcasted on internal BA television chanels on various locations.... no mention of the intranet. As I am on a day off, I would love the forum to be broadcasted via the intranet so I can watch it at home!
P.S. Can anybody explain how I can make a 'proper' quote on this forum.... can't see any quote options??? Thanks!!!
Last edited by BABOBO; 2nd Mar 2010 at 10:11. Reason: spelling
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Thailand
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
LONDON - British Airways is preparing to roll out a tactical marketing campaign to protect its brand reputation while rivals look to capitalise as it faces the threat of strike action.
BA has asked digital agency Agency.com to create a social-media strategy aimed at providing customers with the latest information on services should the industrial action go ahead.
ADVERTISEMENT
Last week, BA staff who are members of the trade union Unite voted in favour of a strike. The union must name strike dates by 15 March at the latest, with 22 March the last possible date a walkout could begin.
Unite had originally planned to call a strike over Christmas, but this had to be postponed. The delay has enabled BA to prepare a response, but the flag-carrier's competitors have also used this time to plot an assault on BA's weakened position.
Paul Simmons, regional general manager UK for easy*Jet, said: "The on, off, and now potentially on again nature of the BA strike has made planning difficult for the travelling public.
"If the strike does go ahead, we plan to offer BA Gold Card-holders free access to Speedy Boarding on strike days."
EasyJet will run press ads promoting this offer. Bmi, meanwhile, also plans to run print ads to encourage BA customers to use its services.
BA has already launched a paid search campaign on Google and Yahoo! to update travellers on the latest news regarding the strikes, as part of its damage-limitation exercise.
BA has asked digital agency Agency.com to create a social-media strategy aimed at providing customers with the latest information on services should the industrial action go ahead.
ADVERTISEMENT
Last week, BA staff who are members of the trade union Unite voted in favour of a strike. The union must name strike dates by 15 March at the latest, with 22 March the last possible date a walkout could begin.
Unite had originally planned to call a strike over Christmas, but this had to be postponed. The delay has enabled BA to prepare a response, but the flag-carrier's competitors have also used this time to plot an assault on BA's weakened position.
Paul Simmons, regional general manager UK for easy*Jet, said: "The on, off, and now potentially on again nature of the BA strike has made planning difficult for the travelling public.
"If the strike does go ahead, we plan to offer BA Gold Card-holders free access to Speedy Boarding on strike days."
EasyJet will run press ads promoting this offer. Bmi, meanwhile, also plans to run print ads to encourage BA customers to use its services.
BA has already launched a paid search campaign on Google and Yahoo! to update travellers on the latest news regarding the strikes, as part of its damage-limitation exercise.
Added: Found this in The Times:
For their part, union members claim that the BA chief executive, Willie Walsh, has been brought in expressly to break the tight hold of the union and to slash the airline’s staff budget.
Certainly, it now seems what just about everybody but the BASSA beneficiaries of BA's largesse want him to do.
Full article at:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle7036452.ece
Last edited by ChicoG; 2nd Mar 2010 at 12:36.
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: 35,000 ft
Posts: 468
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Whatever the meeting is about tomorrow I get the unsettling feeling that it is ABOUT us rather than FOR us (cabin crew that is).
It is going out in various locations to make access easy - for office based staff. It is NOT going out on the intranet, or anywhere else where cabin crew might be able to see it. If feels distinctly like we may be persona non grata at this meeting.
I await tomorrow morning's post with trepidation. And Unite, if that forewarned change of contract letter does arrive, you have a helluva lot to answer for.
I am BA cabin crew and this is my own viewpoint and not that of BA.
It is going out in various locations to make access easy - for office based staff. It is NOT going out on the intranet, or anywhere else where cabin crew might be able to see it. If feels distinctly like we may be persona non grata at this meeting.
I await tomorrow morning's post with trepidation. And Unite, if that forewarned change of contract letter does arrive, you have a helluva lot to answer for.
I am BA cabin crew and this is my own viewpoint and not that of BA.
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Colleague forum WW
Hiflyer
it IS being shown at 4 different locations in the CRC and IFCE Areas
T5A Departures Crew TV Room
T5A Departures OSU 1st Office
T5A Gate Seating Level JV11Crew Rest Area
T5A Gate Seating Level JV11Crew Rest Area
T5A Gate Seating Level Crew IFS DOMs Area
T5B Apron Level Ready Area South
T5B Ramp Group - Rest/Welfare/ESS
SAA 2nd Floor Rest/Welfare/ESS
EAA Engineering Ready Area
EAA Rest / Welfare/ ESS
it IS being shown at 4 different locations in the CRC and IFCE Areas
T5A Departures Crew TV Room
T5A Departures OSU 1st Office
T5A Gate Seating Level JV11Crew Rest Area
T5A Gate Seating Level JV11Crew Rest Area
T5A Gate Seating Level Crew IFS DOMs Area
T5B Apron Level Ready Area South
T5B Ramp Group - Rest/Welfare/ESS
SAA 2nd Floor Rest/Welfare/ESS
EAA Engineering Ready Area
EAA Rest / Welfare/ ESS
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 586
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
HiFlyer:
Where exactly is it going to be available...any access at hubs, etc.?
In all honesty I can understand BA's position not to make it web-based given the actions of some of the more militant BASSA members.
I perfectly understand some of the apprehension you must be feeling.
However, it doesn't necessarily have to be a negative. This could be BA's communication to non-cabin crew regarding a settlement, and why. It could simply be a message acknowledging the situation and thanking them for their continued support of BA.
Its a bit unsettling for Cabin Crew that this is taking place without any signal from Unite/BASSA. There are many reasons that BA may take decisive action (further threat of strike effecting bookings, etc.), but there are also other possibilities.
You are correct, a change of contract situation would be horrific from the CC's/BASSA's point of view, but its not as if the rest of BA or the public at large are going to be sympathetic. BA's hand is almost being forced in this issue.
Good luck and we can only hope for the best.
Where exactly is it going to be available...any access at hubs, etc.?
In all honesty I can understand BA's position not to make it web-based given the actions of some of the more militant BASSA members.
I perfectly understand some of the apprehension you must be feeling.
However, it doesn't necessarily have to be a negative. This could be BA's communication to non-cabin crew regarding a settlement, and why. It could simply be a message acknowledging the situation and thanking them for their continued support of BA.
Its a bit unsettling for Cabin Crew that this is taking place without any signal from Unite/BASSA. There are many reasons that BA may take decisive action (further threat of strike effecting bookings, etc.), but there are also other possibilities.
You are correct, a change of contract situation would be horrific from the CC's/BASSA's point of view, but its not as if the rest of BA or the public at large are going to be sympathetic. BA's hand is almost being forced in this issue.
Good luck and we can only hope for the best.
Junior trash
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: UK
Posts: 1,025
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This could be BA's communication to non-cabin crew regarding a settlement,
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 586
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well for heaven's sake Hotel Mode..lol.
So much for my trying to see the positive side.
That does not bode well regarding a "we're all going to sit around and sing kumbaya" sort of moment.
A nervous evening indeed for many Cabin Crew members.
Is Unite/BASSA speaking to their members about the status of negotiations? Heck, are they even sitting in the same room?
For those Cabin Crew who are truly trying to approach this reasonably I'll be hoping for the "rally the troops" angle.
So much for my trying to see the positive side.
That does not bode well regarding a "we're all going to sit around and sing kumbaya" sort of moment.
A nervous evening indeed for many Cabin Crew members.
Is Unite/BASSA speaking to their members about the status of negotiations? Heck, are they even sitting in the same room?
For those Cabin Crew who are truly trying to approach this reasonably I'll be hoping for the "rally the troops" angle.
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: motorway services
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As a few have stated this vacuum cannot continue with customers drifting away. On past form it is unlikely that BASSA have been negotiating constructively.
This could be the 'big one'.
This could be the 'big one'.
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: london
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
For what its worth..
My guess is that given there was initially an expectation of strike dates being announced straight after the result of the ballot, and still now more than a week on, no strike dates, WW wants to let everyone know that the threat of IA has NOT gone away, and that volunteers will still be needed, and probably explain a bit about what the company is doing to prepare, what the impact of ongoing waiting is etc.
What the company does not want is for people to be lulled into a false sense of security by the lack of announced IA.
It is still probable, even if not inevitable, and we still need to remain prepared to deal with it if/when it happens.
However from where i am sitting, it is most encouraging that there are so many volunteers, unprecidented numbers, signed up to "back ba" in one way or another, from hosting pax in T5, to meeting, to rebooking tickets, or escorting the "willing" crew in to work, to the actual volunteer crew, that there has had to be an entirely new way of managing the resource pool. Lots of work has been done to ensure that if it happens, the response can be almost instant, and resources can be sent to the areas they are needed in a timely and flexible way.
What the company does not want is for people to be lulled into a false sense of security by the lack of announced IA.
It is still probable, even if not inevitable, and we still need to remain prepared to deal with it if/when it happens.
However from where i am sitting, it is most encouraging that there are so many volunteers, unprecidented numbers, signed up to "back ba" in one way or another, from hosting pax in T5, to meeting, to rebooking tickets, or escorting the "willing" crew in to work, to the actual volunteer crew, that there has had to be an entirely new way of managing the resource pool. Lots of work has been done to ensure that if it happens, the response can be almost instant, and resources can be sent to the areas they are needed in a timely and flexible way.
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Any major announcement pertaining to a serious change in the way the airline operates - and therefore likely to impact the share price - would have to be announced to the stock market in advance of any staff briefing.
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: England
Posts: 343
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The BA shareprice is up over 6% today. This is far more than the general rise in the market. What is good news for investors, share price and profitability is not necessariy good news for terms and conditions, I wonder if some in the city already have a hint of something to come.
Regards
Regards
