British Airways vs. BASSA (Airline Staff Only)
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Its also the base with 10 less aircraft based there than this time last year (at least 4000 daily seats [100 per flt, 4 sectors per day] so 12000 over last strike and 16000 over this). Is like being compared with like (not saying it isnt.) How many less than 2 weeks ago for example?
Also 30% of the shorthaul flights were cancelled there last weekend so hardly no flight disruption.
Also 30% of the shorthaul flights were cancelled there last weekend so hardly no flight disruption.
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Hotel Mode
good point... comparisons to last year have to be used in the contest of the capacity changes. This is why ASK and RPKs are used in business reviews.
I don't think BA has ever tried to say that this strike wasn't going to be hurting the company. The point that some people seem to miss is that flights were cancelled in advance. Customers have been given as much time as possible to be able to change their plans, get a refund or stick with BA. For those who did stick with us, the main issue is that we do not cancel anymore on the day they are supposed to be flying. That's the test: we have not cancelled your flight, we have promised you we will be operating (customers on wet lease have been informed it was not a BA service) and we have not let you down on the day of departure. That's all.
I don't think BA has ever tried to say that this strike wasn't going to be hurting the company. The point that some people seem to miss is that flights were cancelled in advance. Customers have been given as much time as possible to be able to change their plans, get a refund or stick with BA. For those who did stick with us, the main issue is that we do not cancel anymore on the day they are supposed to be flying. That's the test: we have not cancelled your flight, we have promised you we will be operating (customers on wet lease have been informed it was not a BA service) and we have not let you down on the day of departure. That's all.
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Staff travel means a lot to crew - no point in denying that! The tickets might be expensier than on some airlines but ID tickets give the flexibility which particulary commuting crew needs - they are also refundable and re-bookable even if you have missed your flight.
It should be interesting to see how striking commuters will get to work in two weeks - some are saying it's Willie Walsh's fault if flights won't get crewed as he has withdrawn staff travel for strikers so they can't get to work. Maybe they should remind themselves that it's their responsibility to get to work - don't expect any sympathy from OST when they call and say they can't get to work - make a habit of it and they won't have a job.
It should be interesting to see how striking commuters will get to work in two weeks - some are saying it's Willie Walsh's fault if flights won't get crewed as he has withdrawn staff travel for strikers so they can't get to work. Maybe they should remind themselves that it's their responsibility to get to work - don't expect any sympathy from OST when they call and say they can't get to work - make a habit of it and they won't have a job.
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I see no reason to strike at all. Take the offer WW will make, keep your staff travel, get paid, and have a great time at work!
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Why the Change
Understand change was finally imposed, but to be fair BA had been trying to consult and negotiate with the unions for several months, not helped by internal union politics that meant the Unite union weren't particularly 'united' in their position, making the discussions somewhat difficult.
So, whilst the company is hemorrhaging money, the un-united unite union are playing silly beggars
The board and management have a duty to protect the long term viability of the company on a number of fronts, and whilst it is always preferable to seek agreement on any changes, there has to come a point when enough is enough and they must act. Furthermore, the courts have subsequently decided that the changes BA made (including reducing crew complement) were lawful and reasonable.
From my understanding, not all changes need to be agreed beforehand, only those that directly impact the agreed contract between the two parties. So, whilst many crew do not like the changes, they were necessary and deemed legal and reasonable
Accepting there's a number of concerns from crew (justified or otherwise), I believe the reduction of a crew member became central to the issue as to why the union couldn't reach agreement last year, and in hindsight, now seems a little sad that we've ended up where we have, and for what
So, whilst the company is hemorrhaging money, the un-united unite union are playing silly beggars
The board and management have a duty to protect the long term viability of the company on a number of fronts, and whilst it is always preferable to seek agreement on any changes, there has to come a point when enough is enough and they must act. Furthermore, the courts have subsequently decided that the changes BA made (including reducing crew complement) were lawful and reasonable.
From my understanding, not all changes need to be agreed beforehand, only those that directly impact the agreed contract between the two parties. So, whilst many crew do not like the changes, they were necessary and deemed legal and reasonable
Accepting there's a number of concerns from crew (justified or otherwise), I believe the reduction of a crew member became central to the issue as to why the union couldn't reach agreement last year, and in hindsight, now seems a little sad that we've ended up where we have, and for what
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Staff Travel
A genuine question:
If Staff Travel is deemed not a perk by Unite, and therefore cannot be removed legally, then what if HMRC suddenly decides it is a benefit in kind?
How would they tax it, and how far back could they go? Could this mean some commuters ending up with a significant tax bill?
I'm just asking a question out loud as I don't know.
DW.
If Staff Travel is deemed not a perk by Unite, and therefore cannot be removed legally, then what if HMRC suddenly decides it is a benefit in kind?
How would they tax it, and how far back could they go? Could this mean some commuters ending up with a significant tax bill?
I'm just asking a question out loud as I don't know.
DW.
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Tax on staff travel
It doesn't matter if the benefit is contractual or not
Fir instance long service awards, good idea schemes, and staff parties etc can be taxed under certain circumstances, none of which relate to whether they are contractual or not.
In most cases, you don't see the tax as it is paid by the employer under a PSA agreement
An ID90 is deemed to cost the company less than the amount paid by the employee so no tax is payable.
An ID100 is taxable, but the employer pays the tax for you (at least they did 3 years ago when I worked for BA) under a PSA agreement.
Hope this helps
Fir instance long service awards, good idea schemes, and staff parties etc can be taxed under certain circumstances, none of which relate to whether they are contractual or not.
In most cases, you don't see the tax as it is paid by the employer under a PSA agreement
An ID90 is deemed to cost the company less than the amount paid by the employee so no tax is payable.
An ID100 is taxable, but the employer pays the tax for you (at least they did 3 years ago when I worked for BA) under a PSA agreement.
Hope this helps
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Cancellations
bacabincrew wrote:
Where did you get your figures from. Here are the planned and cancelled flights between 0600 and 1200 today from LHR (excludes codeshares on IB, AY, etc):
Time Total Cancelled
0600-0700 3 1
0700-0800 22 9
0800-0900 19 2
0900-1000 24 8
1000-1100 16 4
1100-1200 22 8
Total planned flights 106, total cancellations 32. So, BA operated 74 flights or 70% of flights, which is better than the plan.
Furthermore the strike is actually more damaging than BA are saying - for example the flights out of LHR today not including the codeshares but including wet leases are as follows:
The flights below include wet leased flights but don't include codeshares
06:00 - 09:00 13 Cancelled 31 Departures
09:00 - 12:00 23 Cancelled 42 Planned
12:00 - 15:00 24 Cancelled 32 Planned
15:00 - 18:00 30 Cancelled 32 Planned
18:00 - 21:00 44 Cancelled 9 Planned
21:00 - 23:59 6 Cancelled 11 Planned
140 Cancellations 157 Planned to go
These are true figures - and as you can see nowhere near 70% Operating
47% Cancelled 53% Operating
The flights below include wet leased flights but don't include codeshares
06:00 - 09:00 13 Cancelled 31 Departures
09:00 - 12:00 23 Cancelled 42 Planned
12:00 - 15:00 24 Cancelled 32 Planned
15:00 - 18:00 30 Cancelled 32 Planned
18:00 - 21:00 44 Cancelled 9 Planned
21:00 - 23:59 6 Cancelled 11 Planned
140 Cancellations 157 Planned to go
These are true figures - and as you can see nowhere near 70% Operating
47% Cancelled 53% Operating
Time Total Cancelled
0600-0700 3 1
0700-0800 22 9
0800-0900 19 2
0900-1000 24 8
1000-1100 16 4
1100-1200 22 8
Total planned flights 106, total cancellations 32. So, BA operated 74 flights or 70% of flights, which is better than the plan.
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Sorry, is 106 flights the plan or the normal none strike schedule. If 106 is the plan during industrial action then they've flown 70% of the plan. I thought BA was looking to fly 100% of the plan which would be 70% of normal. 
Several Engineers that I work with at BA have resigned from Unite this week...........the antics of BASSA and with Unite supporting them and spreading the distortions and outright lies over the last 10 days or so has finally tipped them over the edge........... ( the infamous "ill maintained aircraft " jibe probably the final straw ).......still it beats me as to why they were still with them anyway.......Unite / Amicus have never represented the views and needs of the professional Licensed engineers
Unites loss .....= ALAEs gain
I Hope all the Pickets enjoyed their "Fun Day " today
........... I think that they will have to get used to a lot more leisure time in the future, all that face painting etc will come in useful to fill all those long hours idling at home !!
Unites loss .....= ALAEs gain
I Hope all the Pickets enjoyed their "Fun Day " today
........... I think that they will have to get used to a lot more leisure time in the future, all that face painting etc will come in useful to fill all those long hours idling at home !!
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BACABINCREW
Genuine question:
With over 60% of crew turning up for work (and yes - having been in CRC last Monday, yesterday and today I think BA's figures are fairly accurate), do you consider that Unite/BASSA are currently representing the views of the majority of BA Cabin Crew?
Genuine question:
With over 60% of crew turning up for work (and yes - having been in CRC last Monday, yesterday and today I think BA's figures are fairly accurate), do you consider that Unite/BASSA are currently representing the views of the majority of BA Cabin Crew?
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Christmaslights,
Good point. I was just thinking today that there's been a lot of talk of striking crew making life a little tricky for non-striking crew. But there's been no mention of non-striking crew making life tricky for strikers.
What is it that makes striking employees (changed to "employees" as opposed to "crew" as this is probably the norm across all unionised workforces) more likely to bully and intimidate?! I know I won't engage in that sort of behaviour. And I know the absolute majority of my colleagues - regardless of their position - are the same.
Good point. I was just thinking today that there's been a lot of talk of striking crew making life a little tricky for non-striking crew. But there's been no mention of non-striking crew making life tricky for strikers.
What is it that makes striking employees (changed to "employees" as opposed to "crew" as this is probably the norm across all unionised workforces) more likely to bully and intimidate?! I know I won't engage in that sort of behaviour. And I know the absolute majority of my colleagues - regardless of their position - are the same.
You're right it does cut both ways. Last time you signed off you said you'd post us your account but I haven't seen it or have I missed it? Join Date: Jan 2007
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Unite admin strike at Gatwick has collapsed
On Channel 4 news at 18:30 Bryan Boyd admitted that Gatwick is working normally with words to the effect that the main issues are at LHR and that LGW doesn't really matter
. I'm also adding to it all the time..... 
Blink 182
Many of us left Unite/Amicus a while ago. This latest own goal has just made a load of the apathetic suddenly sit up and realise who they are supporting.
ALAE all the way.
Many of us left Unite/Amicus a while ago. This latest own goal has just made a load of the apathetic suddenly sit up and realise who they are supporting.
ALAE all the way.