British Airways vs. BASSA (Airline Staff Only)

[CantFlyWithoutEngine]

Ottergirl

what can be said as a joke in the galley though does not translate well in black and white.?

So you shouldnt be arrested if you joke about a bomb in you bag during security checks either.......

[ranger07]

Caribbean Boy

Thanks for that re Derek Simpson. He's just added this....

If I have to apologise to Willy over twittering then I shall .... But I am not afraid of saying what is really going on .....

[Melissa1510]

i hope what happened today is not the beginning of a trend of events, what's next? an attac to WTS? I hope the CC who will come to work will do it without trouble. This is madness, the Union has to sort this out and sort BASSA out. Wille is right, Unite cannot manage its people, they have lost control of the situation.

[Eddy]

Hi Otter,

I agree entirely..... However, BA is in a "get rid of 'em" kinda mood and they'll take whatever they can to give certain people the heave-ho.

Sadly, an innocent comment is far easier to hold someone to account over than the spoken word and so IF someone has been suspended/sacked for writing this down, however much it was undoubtedly a joke, I don't like their chances for being allowed back.

It's a harsh punishment for a crime not deserving of anything close to that level of retribution, but the company is just looking for reasons to get rid of people at the moment. Remember, people have been (allegedly) sacked for stealing tea bags and Twixes before..... When the company has a vendetta, it's just best to be extremely careful what you say (in black and white - everything else can be denied).

[Eddy]

Mel, this has (hopefully) nothing to do with Bassa. These people were radical left-wingers who really should be concentrating on finding work that disrupting last-ditch attempts to impact the employment of others.

I'll be going to work on Tuesday but will be enjoying a sense of pride, rather than one of fear.

[luke77]

I don't see any difference between this last debacle involving "non-bassa-ites" atacking ACAS and those on open-topped Bassa busses and marches on the Auroura hotel,you all seem the same to me - an embarrassment to BA

[mjc507]

You-Tube video

It looks like BASSA paid a bunch of homeless to interupt the meeting and chant nonsense. It's moments like these that make me even prouder that I am VCC. I am praying that WW does exactly what Aer Lingus did to their CC. Doesn't the fact that some of us were trained up so fast sink in at just how easily replaceable you all are?

[Electricflyer]

mjc507,

A few points;

How do you know they were homeless and on what grounds do you suspect BASSA actually paid these people to break in to ACAS and demonstrate?

Tony Woodley's reaction would suggest otherwise- that seems patently clear.

And doesn't the fact that you were able to train as VCC and leave the 'day job' make you realise how replaceable YOU are?

Did you think about that? Judging by your vindictive post I fear that was an oversight.

[CurlyWurly]

Am so disappointed that BASSA members are blindsided by Woodley/Simpson and the idiots at UNITE.. it makes no difference whether those people who were dismissed get their jobs back or travel perks are reinstated the damage is done and may be permanent..the travelling public simply won't put up with these antics any longer..would you risk your savings to fly with an airline that may be disrupted or if your flight is one that is going you then risk the surly crew who lost the fight?

I can't believe those men and women I have always been proud to call colleagues are going along with this fiasco..they can't be many of us who haven't been impacted by the recession - my brother lost his job in September and was out of work 6 months before taking a lower paid job..

Carry on like this and I'll see you at the Job Centre

[The Blu Riband]

I think CC have been joking about eye-drops in pilots dinner for most of them. Thats not to say that it is acceptable, or even that it is ever done; what can be said as a joke in the galley though does not translate well in black and white. Most of the 'guilty' crew in this category never intended this as a threat, or even that it would be construed as such. If anything it was a poorly timed joke and, if english is not their first language then they may not have realised how it could be misconstrued. Am I the only one who thinks this?

Hi Ottergirl
my bold.

Not acceptable , and certainly in very poor taste, ('scuse pun).

Sackable. No; but could depend on context and background.

[Meal Chucker]

I think CC have been joking about eye-drops in pilots dinner for most of them. Thats not to say that it is acceptable, or even that it is ever done; what can be said as a joke in the galley though does not translate well in black and white. Most of the 'guilty' crew in this category never intended this as a threat, or even that it would be construed as such. If anything it was a poorly timed joke and, if english is not their first language then they may not have realised how it could be misconstrued. Am I the only one who thinks this?

Joke or not, there was a previous high profile case of crew threatening to poison a pilot a few years back, I believe it was the origin of the term 'Dranse Day/Tours'.

I think this also ended with a police investigation, it was well documented on the old Bassa Forum at the time so I surprised to see it happen again, some crew never learn.

[essessdeedee]

CurlyWurly

Am so disappointed that BASSA members are blindsided by Woodley/Simpson and the idiots at UNITE..

I would suggest that these visible behaviours are being engineered by the bassa leadership. Look at the stlye and content of bassa comms for evidence.

Haven't Simpson & Woodley already stated that they have an agreement in principle with BA.

I, unfortunately, am a member of unite because of the T&G/Amicus merger and I see other unite members doing what they can to prevent CC from destroying this airline, daily.

[courtney]

This whole business is now getting beyond belief, amazing even to us who have always had a jaundiced view of BA cc, how can the company recover from this? Even the miners dispute wasn't, publicly at least, this vindictive and vicious. Walsh can only recover the situation by getting rid of the militants and injecting fresh talent into the cabin preferably, if possible, from the far east.

[Litebulbs]

Originally Posted by courtney

Even the miners dispute wasn't, publicly at least, this vindictive and vicious.

What?!

Taken from wiki -

" Ten deaths resulted from events around the strike: six pickets, three teenagers searching for coal, and a taxi driver taking a non-striking miner to work. "

[CurlyWurly]

This from Simpson Twitter (aptly names I think)
If I have to apologise to Willy over twittering then I shall .... But I am not afraid of saying what is really going on .....

Does this man ever realise the real issue here? I'm sorry buy no one has any sympathy for cabin crew - it's always been a well paid, comfortable job, for all the lows the highs more than compensate. For all the crew who don't like the job - leave - there are dozens and dozens of young people walking down the street who who would do your job twice as well for half the money in a heartbeat..for God's sake choose your battles!

[ranger07]

talks now pointless

It seems the sticking points now are B&H, ST 'returned'. At least we now know exactly what the strike is to be about.

It is really understandable that the public are giving us a wide birth. There is only one way forward...short term pain for long term gain. These militant and disloyal die hards absolutely must be removed from our airline. The vast members of staff want them out, they have little support from the public and media, so, what does that tell us? They really do not care, and this is all about 'Willy Willy Willy..Out out out ...And it aint gonna happen.

Stand firm Willy, you have the majority behind you. Total repect to all the Cabin Crew that will be working throughout this crazy, crazy action. Roll on the day that this becomes history, and, with their demise, we really are worthy of being the 'worlds' favourite airline'.

[HZ123]

I do recall that mining ceased and it put a lot of people out of work. Might that not happen soon at BA, does anyone have odds on the company going under?

[demomonkey]

Litebulbs is right. There are still families from coalfield areas who only live metres apart and STILL don't talk to each other even now after 25 years and the fact that their pit has long since closed.

But I think very few of us have a stomach for a 12 month long strike.

On another point, I will be working during the strike and will be very vigilant for anyone attempting to intimidate any operating CC member whether in the car park, bus, terminal or even on the drive in. No one can stop you for doing what is right for you, no one else knows your personal circumstances and unless they're offering to pay your mortgage indefinitely I'd trust your strength and conviction everytime!

[christmaslights]

disciplinaries

Can I just say that, to put this in to context, I have been flying with BA for 23 years and I think CC have been joking about eye-drops in pilots dinner for most of them. Thats not to say that it is acceptable, or even that it is ever done; what can be said as a joke in the galley though does not translate well in black and white. Most of the 'guilty' crew in this category never intended this as a threat, or even that it would be construed as such. If anything it was a poorly timed joke and, if english is not their first language then they may not have realised how it could be misconstrued. Am I the only one who thinks this?

Ottergirl

if these were jokes, than you are right the timing was VERY poor, but hopefully the disciplinary process (which has been approved by Unite) should be robust enough to ensure that those crew involved understand that it was inappropriate and will be able to go back to work.

Whatever the reasons though, intimidating someone, even if not mean as intimidation should not be tolerated. It is a fact that a lot of the volunteers were used to ensure there was no threat to cabin crew, and this was implemented following feedback by cabin crew feedback. One could even go as far as suggest that those who are perceived to be bullying or intimidating people do not mean to do it, but the intention sometimes is not enough to justify the outcome.

If people felt threatened because an inappropriate joke was made at the wrong time, than they should be made responsible. There is a process and guidelines to be followed to ensure that the consequences are in line with the actions.It is irrelevant what I or anybody else thinks.

When the company has a vendetta, it's just best to be extremely careful what you say (in black and white - everything else can be denied)

Guys can you please get yourselves sorted? On one side there is crew saying that CC are sobbing due to being left out by peers, scared of coming to work because of other CC, messages being left to intimidate.
HOWEVER if the company steps in and acts on what has been reported then, of course, BA has a vendetta, even though it is following a process that was approved by golden Unite!
I wander what would have happened if BA had done nothing? I clearly don't know for sure but I can imagine the comments along the lines of "WW does not care for our safety" "they just want us to come to work and do not care who gets hurt!" and so on. (hopefully I am wrong, but I have been moved to this attitude by the comments seen here).

Surely the way to look at this is that NOBODY would want a SILLY joke to ruin somebody else's life to the point of that person being scared of going to work, be it a volunteer or something else.

I know you have gone to work during the strike and you probably are a strong person, but don't forget that it seems that there are many other crew that are not as strong, and with regards to volunteers... well making a joke about somebody else's family is not only inappropriate is plain irresponsible, especially when there are all sort of negative attitude towards volunteers, (As proved by the march on the Arora, the whole scabs chanting etc.)

So please stop saying the company has a vendetta: you either want BA to do something about addressing the issues and concerns of your fellow BA workers or not. Simple.

I am BA employee but these are my views and my views only!

[ranger07]

miners strike

Not for comparison.

The company could not financially remain solvent for that period of time, the reserves would be used for whatever transitional period occurs through winding up, furthermore, this strike is over petty reasons and is only supported by the minority, who now expose themselves for what they really are.

If they think they'll have support on being given their P45's (a real possibilty) in the wake of this, they're beyond deluded!