British Airways vs. BASSA (Airline Staff Only)
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Just back from a trip. Miserable, sour-faced steward wearing his BASSA lanyard refusing to make eye contact and just about managing to be civil. A consequence of the unrest perhaps? Well actually no. Said steward was noteworthy because I'd flown with him before and he was just as miserable and sour faced before this whole affair began.
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The Blue Riband
The offer is no more. Since the strikes started, the company have been playing a different ball game.
It will end in tears, sadly for the striking CC it will be their tears
The offer is no more. Since the strikes started, the company have been playing a different ball game.
It will end in tears, sadly for the striking CC it will be their tears
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(yes hotline as in ST, bet you miss those now eh?)
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Latest operational update for Tuesday:
Oh dear. Looks like Eurofleet have decided they're not going to risk their jobs so the WW CSDs don't have to 'demean' themselves by pushing a trolley 'like normal crew'.
Just WW left now, and we all know that is where most of the militants reside. And most of the commuters. How ironic.
WW hints that the offer he made just before the first strike was called is back on the table. For most crew that would be a very good deal, but how can BASSA possibly accept an offer that is identical to the one on the table before 7 days of strike.
Surely they would look ridiculous...
Attendance levels high, currently Total 88%, WW 58%, EF 87%, LGW100%
Just WW left now, and we all know that is where most of the militants reside. And most of the commuters. How ironic.
WW hints that the offer he made just before the first strike was called is back on the table. For most crew that would be a very good deal, but how can BASSA possibly accept an offer that is identical to the one on the table before 7 days of strike.
Surely they would look ridiculous...
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I am a pilot, although not with BA.I understand the grievances of the cabin crew, but feel that they are being railroaded by Unite into a position that has nothing to do with the cabin crew, and that Unite are having a dispute with the Prime Minister, and New Labour.
The worst case outcome from the current dispute is that cabin crew kill the golden egg laying goose that is BA. Rather than give a bit, and keep a career the current risk really is that there will be no BA in 5 or 10 years time.
To any pilots that are reading this have you put pressure on your Company Council, and BALPA to put pressure on Unite to solve this problem PDQ. It will affect you, and the rest of us if a solution isn't got to very soon.
The worst case outcome from the current dispute is that cabin crew kill the golden egg laying goose that is BA. Rather than give a bit, and keep a career the current risk really is that there will be no BA in 5 or 10 years time.
To any pilots that are reading this have you put pressure on your Company Council, and BALPA to put pressure on Unite to solve this problem PDQ. It will affect you, and the rest of us if a solution isn't got to very soon.
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Never going to win
Unite must hold their hands up and admit to their cannon fodder that the BA strike was a distraction to their real aim. Overthrow the Labour party and put red lefties in government.
Well done BA, you have led the way
Well done BA, you have led the way
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To any pilots that are reading this have you put pressure on your Company Council, and BALPA to put pressure on Unite to solve this problem PDQ. It will affect you, and the rest of us if a solution isn't got to very soon.
You have no idea do you ?
Unite hate Balpa
Junior trash
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WW hints that the offer he made just before the first strike was called is back on the table. For most crew that would be a very good deal, but how can BASSA possibly accept an offer that is identical to the one on the table before 7 days of strike.
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BALPA and the BACC are going to great lengths to remain neutral in this dispute involving another union.
The vast majority of BA members however are not neutral and wish to still have a job in a few months time.
The vast majority of BA members however are not neutral and wish to still have a job in a few months time.
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He is putting the worse offer from the 19th after the strikes were called back on the table. NOT the one from the day the strike dates were announced.
After BASSA rubbished the previous, better offer, with their 14 page rant (which I'm sure someone can provide a link for) and then Woodley trashed the second offer (now on the table again) as it was 'a worse offer', how can either of them (BASSA or Unite) possibly recommend this offer to the members?
I think the best we can hope for is that Unite put so much pressure on Bassa that they have to ballot their members, who will in all likelihood accept (given that 60-80% of them are now breaking the strike each day) and then Bassa can have their face saving exit by blaming their own members.
Some have suggested that Mr Walsh allow commuters to have staff travel back, just to get to work only. I for one hope this never happens. Some of the most poisonous and vicious militants in BA fall in to this group. (striking commuters)
(and before anyone starts, I'm not generalising about commuters in general, the good ones will probably still have their staff travel anyway if the trend witnessed in the CRC continues)
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Comrade Trotsky
Alot of people seem to be under the impression that the numerous strikes being called across multiple industries is due to a secret 'red' revolution organised by 'unreformed' Labour Party members to overthrough Gordon Brown and create a Soviet workers republic.
I think some of this might have to do with the Daily Mail's editorial byline and gerrymandering of public opinion in the run up to a general election.
One thing all these separate strikes have in common is precisely nothing. OK, they maybe about jobs, working conditions etc but what else are employer/employee relations about? Each dispute its subtly different and has been caused by events unqiue to those industries.
You have to remember that the Daily Mail is the same paper that has claimed virtually everything is both good and bad for cancer at seperate times. The evidence: The Daily Mail Oncological Ontology Project. This is also the newspaper that was pro Hitler & Mussolini until shortly before the outbreak of WW2, helped bring immigrants INTO the UK in the 1970s and last year printed libelous comments about a deceased member of Boyzone. Not a track record of journalistic glory.
Claiming Unite has aspirations of a Soviet Revolution led by Comrade Woodley is like saying David & Samantha 'Sam Cam' Cameron have recruited Joseph Goebbels as their personal PR advisor.
Lets keep things in perspective and only use the Daily Mail for what its good for; crosswords for the masses and house training animals.
I think some of this might have to do with the Daily Mail's editorial byline and gerrymandering of public opinion in the run up to a general election.
One thing all these separate strikes have in common is precisely nothing. OK, they maybe about jobs, working conditions etc but what else are employer/employee relations about? Each dispute its subtly different and has been caused by events unqiue to those industries.
You have to remember that the Daily Mail is the same paper that has claimed virtually everything is both good and bad for cancer at seperate times. The evidence: The Daily Mail Oncological Ontology Project. This is also the newspaper that was pro Hitler & Mussolini until shortly before the outbreak of WW2, helped bring immigrants INTO the UK in the 1970s and last year printed libelous comments about a deceased member of Boyzone. Not a track record of journalistic glory.
Claiming Unite has aspirations of a Soviet Revolution led by Comrade Woodley is like saying David & Samantha 'Sam Cam' Cameron have recruited Joseph Goebbels as their personal PR advisor.
Lets keep things in perspective and only use the Daily Mail for what its good for; crosswords for the masses and house training animals.
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Why do we need an offer back on the table?
Those of us cabin crew that are coming to work have indicated that we are more than happy with the crew complements. We are working well with colleagues from all other departments, we have adapted to quite a lot of changes within our own environment and we have crossed picket lines to make it happen.
BA have made their savings, so why is "an offer" still required? Let the strikers strike. For the first time in my entire career with BA I have seen organisation that is second to none. It has been breathtakingly excellent - from the security, the keeping apart of strikers/non-strikers, booking different hotels, the manning of the flights, re-instating flights at the last minute and getting them crewed and even getting customers to book on the reinstated flights so they don't go empty.
How come? How come BA have suddenly risen from the ashes with such a display of excellence? Because of the people involved. It is us that make BA great. The can-do attitutude, the pulling out all the stops, the "it's no skin off my nose", I'll do whatever I can to help attitude. And of course the fact that BASSA are no longer in the building to prevent that happening.
So, please don't stress about an offer. We don't actually need one. We are doing just grand as we are.
It has never felt so good to be part of such a fantastic team and I feel very proud of each and every one of my working colleagues at BA.
I am BA cabin crew and this is my own viewpoint and not that of BA.
Those of us cabin crew that are coming to work have indicated that we are more than happy with the crew complements. We are working well with colleagues from all other departments, we have adapted to quite a lot of changes within our own environment and we have crossed picket lines to make it happen.
BA have made their savings, so why is "an offer" still required? Let the strikers strike. For the first time in my entire career with BA I have seen organisation that is second to none. It has been breathtakingly excellent - from the security, the keeping apart of strikers/non-strikers, booking different hotels, the manning of the flights, re-instating flights at the last minute and getting them crewed and even getting customers to book on the reinstated flights so they don't go empty.
How come? How come BA have suddenly risen from the ashes with such a display of excellence? Because of the people involved. It is us that make BA great. The can-do attitutude, the pulling out all the stops, the "it's no skin off my nose", I'll do whatever I can to help attitude. And of course the fact that BASSA are no longer in the building to prevent that happening.
So, please don't stress about an offer. We don't actually need one. We are doing just grand as we are.
It has never felt so good to be part of such a fantastic team and I feel very proud of each and every one of my working colleagues at BA.
I am BA cabin crew and this is my own viewpoint and not that of BA.
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Sunshine Express. Is noone worried that neutrality and inaction may be as bad as supporting Unite?
I think that this problem is bigger than whether BALPA and Unite 'like' each other Blu Riband. The bottom line is that if the problem isn't solved I will be competing with 3.000 more pilots for jobs than I am at the moment, and if you are a pilot so will you, and if you are cabin crew you will competing for jobs that pay you less in salary than you can make in expenses.
To BA cabin crew: you have made your point, but now you have to be constructive about whatever else you do. British Airways has run like a government department for too long, and other sectors of the company have had to make changes (some more, some less) and now it is your turn. If you don't like go and see where else you can get such a well paid job! I completely understand the pressures that you work in, but get real or you won't be working at all!
I think that this problem is bigger than whether BALPA and Unite 'like' each other Blu Riband. The bottom line is that if the problem isn't solved I will be competing with 3.000 more pilots for jobs than I am at the moment, and if you are a pilot so will you, and if you are cabin crew you will competing for jobs that pay you less in salary than you can make in expenses.
To BA cabin crew: you have made your point, but now you have to be constructive about whatever else you do. British Airways has run like a government department for too long, and other sectors of the company have had to make changes (some more, some less) and now it is your turn. If you don't like go and see where else you can get such a well paid job! I completely understand the pressures that you work in, but get real or you won't be working at all!
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I think this is BA's next problem, how to make the extra savings to compensate for the strikes without upsetting the majority of crew that didn't actually go on strike.
Changes still need to be made, bigger changes now than before the strikes began.
Changes still need to be made, bigger changes now than before the strikes began.
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Originally Posted by HiFlyer14
So, please don't stress about an offer. We don't actually need one. We are doing just grand as we are.
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Sunshine Express. Is noone worried that neutrality and inaction may be as bad as supporting Unite?
I think at least one BALPA rep agreed.
He is now no longer a BALPA rep.
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Is noone worried that neutrality and inaction may be as bad as supporting Unite?
In a time when the airline industry has seen a major downturn not witnessed for 20 years or more, a union that calls for 7+ days of industrial action to avoid productivity improvements only must have an alternative view of reality to everyone else.
As for neutrality, just look at all those who have volunteered to work as cabin crew and those 70%+ cabin crew who feel committed to their profession and are working normally. It is us who don't want to be unemployed and are doing what's necessary to help keep BA and our customers (the ones who pay our salaries in the end) flying.
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Why do we need an offer back on the table?
I have seen organisation that is second to none. It has been breathtakingly excellent
Some of the most poisonous and vicious militants in BA fall in to this group.
how to make the extra savings
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I do hope that's not the sort of attitude you'll take to the table when you're negotiation under your remit as a rep with PCCC..... 
Why? What "attitude" are you referring to? And what's wrong with it? Not everything has to be a "fight" you know. That is the beauty of collaboration.
As and when the New Fleet issue arises, the Professional Cabin Crew Council will deal with that then. For now, those that are working are perfectly happy with the way things are. The peacefulness it brings is almost tangible.