British Airways vs. BASSA (Airline Staff Only)
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Willie Walsh email....
To All colleagues
The announcement by Unite that it will mount a further 20 days of strike action will have shocked our customers and many of you.
Sadly it comes as no surprise to those of us who have spent the past 15 months negotiating with Unite in a genuine attempt to reach an agreement.
It seems to me that time and again, Unite has shown itself to be a cynical and calculating trade union, willing to stretch the boundaries of truthfulness and integrity. I would like to set the record straight.
We have made significant compromises.
In a statement on Monday, Unite claimed that we had "rejected an approach by the union over the weekend". That is not true. I was available all weekend and there were no contacts made.
Unite has repeatedly moved the goalposts and is not interested in settling the dispute. The union knows our latest offer addresses all the concerns it has raised during 15 months of negotiations and that we have compromised many times in an effort to get a resolution.
Tony Woodley himself has said that our final offer "on many points represents an improvement".
During these talks, we have:
I do not believe the union is genuine when it says it wants meaningful talks to enable these strikes to be called off, especially in view of its plans for a fresh ballot to enable more strikes later in the year.
This is a fair deal and it remains available. There are no more compromises that we can make and we cannot lose sight of the fact these changes are to ensure our future sustainability.
Disciplinary proceedings
Contrary to media reports, no-one has been suspended for taking part in strike action.
Most of the suspensions have taken place following allegations from colleagues of bullying and intimidation. We are duty bound to investigate these, and the investigations are conducted under the company's disciplinary procedures, which have been in place for many years and are agreed with all of the trade unions, including Unite.
To date, we have concluded 30 disciplinary cases. Of those, five individuals have had no action taken against them and gone back to work; 15 have had written warnings and seven have been dismissed for serious cases of misconduct.
It is ludicrous for Unite to describe our disciplinary investigations as "victimisation".
Fantasy ballot
Unite has said that cabin crew have overwhelmingly rejected our latest proposal. I do not believe this is the case.
More than 70 per cent of crew came to work during the previous strikes.
The union’s latest online ballot was operated outside the statutory rules and the votes were not confidential. Cabin crew had to submit their name, staff number and union membership details when casting their vote. These were intimidatory tactics that I think were intended to deter crew from voting in favour of the deal.
You may question whether these are the actions of a democratic trade union keen to genuinely engage with its members and represent their best interests, or those of a small minority of people hell bent on destroying your company and your jobs. Please don’t let them.
This action will not be 20 days of strikes, and the union knows this. The "breather" days in between the four blocks of strikes serve no purpose for our operation or our customers. This is a 23 day strike in the run up to the World Cup, which will disrupt another school break and many other business trips and hard earned holidays. And just when the UK economy needs help to get back on its feet, Unite will deal it another blow.
The announcement by Unite that it will mount a further 20 days of strike action will have shocked our customers and many of you.
Sadly it comes as no surprise to those of us who have spent the past 15 months negotiating with Unite in a genuine attempt to reach an agreement.
It seems to me that time and again, Unite has shown itself to be a cynical and calculating trade union, willing to stretch the boundaries of truthfulness and integrity. I would like to set the record straight.
We have made significant compromises.
In a statement on Monday, Unite claimed that we had "rejected an approach by the union over the weekend". That is not true. I was available all weekend and there were no contacts made.
Unite has repeatedly moved the goalposts and is not interested in settling the dispute. The union knows our latest offer addresses all the concerns it has raised during 15 months of negotiations and that we have compromised many times in an effort to get a resolution.
Tony Woodley himself has said that our final offer "on many points represents an improvement".
During these talks, we have:
- offered the partial reversal of crew complements, despite a High Court ruling in our favour
- agreed to future promotions and transfers on current contracts for current crew
- given a written assurance about the allocation of routes and aircraft between fleets
- given assurances to protect the pay, terms and conditions for our current crew
- changed our position on pay to guarantee RPI rises for two years, on top of increments
- agreed to the return of staff travel to crew who went on strike, subject to certain conditions
I do not believe the union is genuine when it says it wants meaningful talks to enable these strikes to be called off, especially in view of its plans for a fresh ballot to enable more strikes later in the year.
This is a fair deal and it remains available. There are no more compromises that we can make and we cannot lose sight of the fact these changes are to ensure our future sustainability.
Disciplinary proceedings
Contrary to media reports, no-one has been suspended for taking part in strike action.
Most of the suspensions have taken place following allegations from colleagues of bullying and intimidation. We are duty bound to investigate these, and the investigations are conducted under the company's disciplinary procedures, which have been in place for many years and are agreed with all of the trade unions, including Unite.
To date, we have concluded 30 disciplinary cases. Of those, five individuals have had no action taken against them and gone back to work; 15 have had written warnings and seven have been dismissed for serious cases of misconduct.
It is ludicrous for Unite to describe our disciplinary investigations as "victimisation".
Fantasy ballot
Unite has said that cabin crew have overwhelmingly rejected our latest proposal. I do not believe this is the case.
More than 70 per cent of crew came to work during the previous strikes.
The union’s latest online ballot was operated outside the statutory rules and the votes were not confidential. Cabin crew had to submit their name, staff number and union membership details when casting their vote. These were intimidatory tactics that I think were intended to deter crew from voting in favour of the deal.
You may question whether these are the actions of a democratic trade union keen to genuinely engage with its members and represent their best interests, or those of a small minority of people hell bent on destroying your company and your jobs. Please don’t let them.
This action will not be 20 days of strikes, and the union knows this. The "breather" days in between the four blocks of strikes serve no purpose for our operation or our customers. This is a 23 day strike in the run up to the World Cup, which will disrupt another school break and many other business trips and hard earned holidays. And just when the UK economy needs help to get back on its feet, Unite will deal it another blow.
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This is the most explicit account that WW has yet published concerning the sort of behaviour he has had to tolerate from BASSA. This may well be significant as it goes a long way to justify whatever draconian action he now plans.
Any fellow UNITE members within BA who had even a scintilla of sympathy are very unlikely to get too agitated after reading this if they subsequently learn the entire CC workforce have had their current contracts terminated and new ones imposed.
Nipping support action in the bud? Could be!
Any fellow UNITE members within BA who had even a scintilla of sympathy are very unlikely to get too agitated after reading this if they subsequently learn the entire CC workforce have had their current contracts terminated and new ones imposed.
Nipping support action in the bud? Could be!
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It may well be! SOSR could probably be claimed and new contracts issued.
Given today also heralds the announcement of the highest unemployment figures so far in the downturn and the uptake of the new contract will be...interesting.
What a shame it has potentially come to this. I suspect if a new contract does arrive on the doorstep many will look back in amazement at how many opportunities were squandered by BASSA/UNITE.
Given today also heralds the announcement of the highest unemployment figures so far in the downturn and the uptake of the new contract will be...interesting.
What a shame it has potentially come to this. I suspect if a new contract does arrive on the doorstep many will look back in amazement at how many opportunities were squandered by BASSA/UNITE.
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Demomonkey,I wasnt advocating a JL Partnership in the full sense of the word.The recent documentary showed how effective IR, based on mutual trust and respect,led to "partners" displaying total comittment and pride toward their employer.That same culture used to be very much in evidence in BA up until about 7 years ago,when the rot started to set in.Performance Management,itself,apallingly managed,led to harassment & bullying within Cabin Services.Indeed,one Performance Manager(ex SWT Driver)responsible for my performance,ended up getting sacked for thumping a taxi driver in the Compass car park!.At this point it was fair to say that the Company had lost the plot.The situation was then exasperated by the arrival of the"only man for the job" ,ultimately leading to a continuing downward trend in morale,which is where we are today.Despite many protestations to the contrary Mr Walshs management style has absolutely no place within BA.Like it or not,the face of the Cabin Crew has to be a happy one if BA is to retrieve its past accolades.With a fractured workforce BA need a pair of reasonable hands.....I believe Martin George may well be available....bring him on!
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I seem to have missed this 'total commitment and pride' the cabin crew were displaying in the past. Too many examples I can remember of the total commitment going as far as ringing the BASSA reps then walking off the job because they were one minute late, or downgrading customers because they were one crew member short. Thats been going on for a lot longer than the last 7 years. Perhaps if the crew wish to be treated as partners then they should realise that their partnership has to be with BA, not BASSA.
Walsh has driven through an effective set of reforms which have put the company on a a more stable financial footing, with a minimum of industrial unrest. Remember when the bus drivers held the operation to ransom? No more, and not a sniff of unrest in the process. The reason crew don't like Walsh is plain and simple - he won't do what they want him to do. There's a reason why one of the first things he did as CEO was sack Mike Street.
Walsh has driven through an effective set of reforms which have put the company on a a more stable financial footing, with a minimum of industrial unrest. Remember when the bus drivers held the operation to ransom? No more, and not a sniff of unrest in the process. The reason crew don't like Walsh is plain and simple - he won't do what they want him to do. There's a reason why one of the first things he did as CEO was sack Mike Street.
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Miamimike
....would it be fair to say that the
has, in your mind, absolutely nothing to do with the HUGE global recession, the MASSIVE unemployment in the UK, the unstable Government, airline bankruptcies left-right-and-centre and APPALLING and potentially CATASTROPHIC continuing losses to British Airways inflicted by its own people (in thanks for the best pay+Ts&Cs in the business)?
I put it to you that the source of this 'continuing downward trend in morale' is not only self-inflicted, but actually nothing less than cot-based toy throwing from a small and replaceable part of our once-great company who are stamping their feet like spoilt children because they're not getting their own way and have finally met an adult who knows where the naughty step is. Is this why there is such hatred/fear of Willy Walsh amongst a small percentage of CC? For the record many of our customers, all of the City, the Shareholders, the Board and probably ALL other BA staff around the world think he's doing a fantastic job. Back of a fag-packet calculation....I put that as one BILLION BILLION people who disagree with your 'cause', give or take. I could get Price Waterhouse Coopers to audit that figure, but who would believe them?
No-one understands why CC don't just accept the MUCH LESS DRASTIC changes to your job than any other groups have taken this year (let alone over the past decade!) and get on with doing what you're paid for, like the rest of us?
Keep the money & perks, have the great terms & conditions, work less than in other airlines for more pay, take a pay-rise in line with inflation over the next two years, as well as usual salary increments, and take the offered protection of new fleets/aircraft/routes/allowances and promotions that have been guaranteed. Or not. But I think the penny has dropped for well over half of the Cabin Crew community that Walsh Will Win.
I feel sorry for the brave cabin crew who came into work during the last attempts at sabotaging our company, and also for those who have taken the chance to leave Unite/Bassa. These guys can take solace in the fact they are in a large majority.....if only 5700 cabin crew voted yes this time, is that not really only 42% of all cabin crew? Of course this doesn't take account of the strangely popular option of voting FOR a strike but coming into work anyway to protect yourself!
continuing downward trend in morale,which is where we are today
I put it to you that the source of this 'continuing downward trend in morale' is not only self-inflicted, but actually nothing less than cot-based toy throwing from a small and replaceable part of our once-great company who are stamping their feet like spoilt children because they're not getting their own way and have finally met an adult who knows where the naughty step is. Is this why there is such hatred/fear of Willy Walsh amongst a small percentage of CC? For the record many of our customers, all of the City, the Shareholders, the Board and probably ALL other BA staff around the world think he's doing a fantastic job. Back of a fag-packet calculation....I put that as one BILLION BILLION people who disagree with your 'cause', give or take. I could get Price Waterhouse Coopers to audit that figure, but who would believe them?
No-one understands why CC don't just accept the MUCH LESS DRASTIC changes to your job than any other groups have taken this year (let alone over the past decade!) and get on with doing what you're paid for, like the rest of us?
Keep the money & perks, have the great terms & conditions, work less than in other airlines for more pay, take a pay-rise in line with inflation over the next two years, as well as usual salary increments, and take the offered protection of new fleets/aircraft/routes/allowances and promotions that have been guaranteed. Or not. But I think the penny has dropped for well over half of the Cabin Crew community that Walsh Will Win.
I feel sorry for the brave cabin crew who came into work during the last attempts at sabotaging our company, and also for those who have taken the chance to leave Unite/Bassa. These guys can take solace in the fact they are in a large majority.....if only 5700 cabin crew voted yes this time, is that not really only 42% of all cabin crew? Of course this doesn't take account of the strangely popular option of voting FOR a strike but coming into work anyway to protect yourself!
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Willie's forum at Waterside today was very interesting.
For the first time, he mentioned that providing BA demonstrated that it has reasonably tried to resolve the dispute (which it has - ACAS, TUC, partial restoration of non-contractual crew complements, offer to consider restoring non-contractual concessions), it could fairly dismiss strikers after 12 weeks.
Also very interesting was that there was mention of possibly recruiting external cabin crew if this is going to be a protracted strike with BA crew not wanting to work... Many options available, it seems.
Can this strike achieve anything? Will it lead to a better offer? I very much doubt it. I suggest people think very carefully about what they intend to do...
(The views above are my own, not those of my employer)
For the first time, he mentioned that providing BA demonstrated that it has reasonably tried to resolve the dispute (which it has - ACAS, TUC, partial restoration of non-contractual crew complements, offer to consider restoring non-contractual concessions), it could fairly dismiss strikers after 12 weeks.
Also very interesting was that there was mention of possibly recruiting external cabin crew if this is going to be a protracted strike with BA crew not wanting to work... Many options available, it seems.
Can this strike achieve anything? Will it lead to a better offer? I very much doubt it. I suggest people think very carefully about what they intend to do...
(The views above are my own, not those of my employer)
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Genuine question about the 12 weeks: Do cabin crew actually have to go on strike after the 12 weeks are up or, assuming Unite don't suddenly cave in, could WW say "well we are still in dispute with UNITE so, even though no further strike dates have been announced, owing to the fact that no agreement has been reached and the uncertainty this generates, to protect our business and customers we have no option but to dismiss anyone who has been on strike. Anyone who has lost staff travel will now be given 90 days pay in lieu of notice (or whatever your contractual notice period is."
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Uh-oh OzzieO !
OzzieO - I think you'll find that even Willie Walsh indicated at this afternoon's forum , as have many other commentators and employment law experts, that, after 12 weeks (since the strike mandate), providing the company can show it had made reasonable endeavours to come to a settlement, which it clearly has by involving ACAS, that strikers contracts can be cancelled and strikers therefore dismissed fairly. ROLL ON 12TH JUNE 
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OzzieO
The law on protected strikes says.
'(3)
The conditions are that— .
(a) there must have been no call by the trade union to take part or continue to take part in industrial action to which the ballot relates, or any authorisation or endorsement by the union of any such industrial action, before the date of the ballot; .
So if BA can prove that the new ballot is still connected to the original ballot, its deemed to be the same strike. No additional 12 weeks. Depends who you want to believe, BASSA or the law of the land.
The law on protected strikes says.
'(3)
The conditions are that— .
(a) there must have been no call by the trade union to take part or continue to take part in industrial action to which the ballot relates, or any authorisation or endorsement by the union of any such industrial action, before the date of the ballot; .
So if BA can prove that the new ballot is still connected to the original ballot, its deemed to be the same strike. No additional 12 weeks. Depends who you want to believe, BASSA or the law of the land.
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interesting article :-
FT.com / UK - BA faces renewed threat of strike after fall in trade
especially where it says :-
"I can't for one minute see BA sacking people before that 12-week deadline has expired," said Marc Meryon, a partner at the Bircham Dyson Bell law firm, who specialises in industrial law. To do so would be to invite claims for unfair dismissal.
Mr Meryon said sacking people after the deadline could still be complex and time-consuming and that the airline may want to consider other penalties.
FT.com / UK - BA faces renewed threat of strike after fall in trade
especially where it says :-
"I can't for one minute see BA sacking people before that 12-week deadline has expired," said Marc Meryon, a partner at the Bircham Dyson Bell law firm, who specialises in industrial law. To do so would be to invite claims for unfair dismissal.
Mr Meryon said sacking people after the deadline could still be complex and time-consuming and that the airline may want to consider other penalties.
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So if the 12th June comes and goes, what next for the union?
Complete capitulation or some other master plan. I have to be honest, every other BASSA master plan has been cut off quite easily so far.
I see it as me trying to play Kasparov in chess, he would be 5 steps ahead of me on every move. Willie Walsh, love him or hate him, seems to be steps ahead every time BASSA make a move.
Complete capitulation or some other master plan. I have to be honest, every other BASSA master plan has been cut off quite easily so far.
I see it as me trying to play Kasparov in chess, he would be 5 steps ahead of me on every move. Willie Walsh, love him or hate him, seems to be steps ahead every time BASSA make a move.
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WWW, how good to see you back here!
I am glad you restrict your comments to BASSA members - they are, after all, a diminishing number!
Not one of the predictions from the BASSA side of the table have actually come to pass. As time has gone on the rantings and distortions have become more hysterical and divorced from reality. Nemesis is approaching, even Mr Holley admitted as much on the radio yesterday.
I am glad you restrict your comments to BASSA members - they are, after all, a diminishing number!
Not one of the predictions from the BASSA side of the table have actually come to pass. As time has gone on the rantings and distortions have become more hysterical and divorced from reality. Nemesis is approaching, even Mr Holley admitted as much on the radio yesterday.
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Watersidewonker
As you so graciously point out,
FINALLY, you seem to be getting it!
Well done
I doubt very much BASSA members will be stronger than ever after the B&H handed out
Well done
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WWW
Are you suggesting that BASSA have somehow unanimously 'voted' by show of hands to exchange strikers' £30/day sustenance pay for duty free cigarettes?
I doubt very much BASSA members will be stronger than ever after the B&H handed out
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Some arithmetic
3000 (who have lost staff travel) X 20K (average unfair dismissal settlement)
- £60m
Loss over 23 days of strike = possibly greater than £60m?
Only my humble opinion, of course.
From a meeting I attended last week, the company were anticipating BASSA's announcement. The only thing they got wrong was the date!
3000 (who have lost staff travel) X 20K (average unfair dismissal settlement)
- £60m
Loss over 23 days of strike = possibly greater than £60m?
Only my humble opinion, of course.
From a meeting I attended last week, the company were anticipating BASSA's announcement. The only thing they got wrong was the date!
Last edited by Nevermind; 12th May 2010 at 18:04.
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Will WW still be around after the 12th June [comma] I doubt very much [stop] BASSA members will be stronger than ever after the B&H handed out by the company [stop] wait and see.
i think that's how it's to be read...
i think that's how it's to be read...
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Sorry about the punctuation but being cabin crew my school progress was quite weak to be honest with you it could be bordering slobbish behaviour. I can hold my head high with pride that I would never betray my colleagues unlike what has been shown by other sections of the flying community.