British Airways vs. BASSA (Airline Staff Only)
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
Posts: 644
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by fruitbat
How depressing for the dwindling strikers at BFC to open their reduced March pay slips
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London
Posts: 166
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
SPARK of LIFEs,wonderful experience!!,can almost hear the Julie Andrews soundtrack!."Volunteers",such as yourself,however well intended ,Nigels doing ice & lemon etc have sown the seeds to many years of unrest.
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
[sarcasm]"I hate all pilots because some of them volunteered to break my strike"
"I hate all ________because some of them ____________________"
Air your prejudices on PPrune! Fill in the ______'s and post![/sarcasm]
Welsh/won the grand slam more recently than us.
Liverpudlians/are seen to be leading BASSA over a cliff.
"I hate all ________because some of them ____________________"
Air your prejudices on PPrune! Fill in the ______'s and post![/sarcasm]
Welsh/won the grand slam more recently than us.
Liverpudlians/are seen to be leading BASSA over a cliff.
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: London
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
HiFlyer14 : thanks for summarising so beautifully (post 897) what so many others feel, and for painting such a clear picture of what's actually happening out there in the real world ; in contrast to life in the fictional country otherwise known as Bassaland (not yet on the network AFAIK 
)
I'm beginning to think that the dwindling minority of CC who remain in favour of strike action don't - in their heart of hearts - actually believe the Bassa spin themselves any more. After the laughable "20 747's parked up at CWL", "only 26 CC turned up for duty" and countless other gems, even they will have seen that the the propaganda rarely if ever bears any relation to the truth. But, their dilemma is, it's all they have to cling to
and so striking CC continue to worry their heads about things over which they have no control, and that won't in any way help their own cause in reaching whatever settlement they imagine they deserve. Hence their paranoia and obsession with whatever unsubstantiated missives the Union dreams up, whether it's how much vol FD crews get for acting as CC, the precise number of cancellations, aircraft alleged to be flying empty, that WW is evil personified and not fit to run the airline (despite the share price saying the opposite....) etc etc etc . It goes on and on .....
meanwhile BA mgt simply get on with running the operation as best they can and doing everything possible to make life acceptable both for pax and for those staff more interested in working than waving banners at Bedfont 'fun days'
and the real sadness I think many of us are now feeling for the Bassa diehards is that in the time it will take for them to come to their senses they will have lost so much, yet with no prospect of anything to show for their action..... .
)I'm beginning to think that the dwindling minority of CC who remain in favour of strike action don't - in their heart of hearts - actually believe the Bassa spin themselves any more. After the laughable "20 747's parked up at CWL", "only 26 CC turned up for duty" and countless other gems, even they will have seen that the the propaganda rarely if ever bears any relation to the truth. But, their dilemma is, it's all they have to cling to
and so striking CC continue to worry their heads about things over which they have no control, and that won't in any way help their own cause in reaching whatever settlement they imagine they deserve. Hence their paranoia and obsession with whatever unsubstantiated missives the Union dreams up, whether it's how much vol FD crews get for acting as CC, the precise number of cancellations, aircraft alleged to be flying empty, that WW is evil personified and not fit to run the airline (despite the share price saying the opposite....) etc etc etc . It goes on and on .....
meanwhile BA mgt simply get on with running the operation as best they can and doing everything possible to make life acceptable both for pax and for those staff more interested in working than waving banners at Bedfont 'fun days'
and the real sadness I think many of us are now feeling for the Bassa diehards is that in the time it will take for them to come to their senses they will have lost so much, yet with no prospect of anything to show for their action..... .
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Planet Moo Moo
Posts: 1,279
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Confused by BA's claim as to how much impact cabin crew's industrial action is having?
Then watch this clip from Sky news yesterday (Sunday) evening and allow them to explain exactly how the numbers are being inflated by the use of code share and "wet leased" services.
Remember this also does not identify the empty aircraft flights known as "freighters" which are believed to be a further third or more of departing flights.
Then watch this clip from Sky news yesterday (Sunday) evening and allow them to explain exactly how the numbers are being inflated by the use of code share and "wet leased" services.
Remember this also does not identify the empty aircraft flights known as "freighters" which are believed to be a further third or more of departing flights.
Don't they realise that BA has a contract with its customers to get them to their destination by any means possible.
The fact that the company uses diverse methods and ensures that aircraft positioning out to be in place at the end of the Unite spat have revenue generating cargo onboard shows initiative not desperation.
By embarking upon this contingency plan BA are at least ensuring that passengers remain mildly confident about booking with BA in the future. Something that is obviously at odds with Unites view that the strike would cripple the carrier. Sorry Len, but we are not back in your beloved militant 70's yet. Now where is your mate Derek Hatton?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: UK
Age: 64
Posts: 3,586
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A majority of the most problematic posts being made on this thread come from those that are not actually employed by BA. At present, the thread is open to all those actively employed by airlines: If this situation continues, we may further restrict posting rights to BA staff only. Suggest that those of you not actually employed by BA think more carefully before posting.
A number of recent deletions have involved users from outside the industry, or who have retired from it: These users have been thread-banned.
A number of recent deletions have involved users from outside the industry, or who have retired from it: These users have been thread-banned.
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: surrey
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
winners
Well there are none in this. (Forgetting those in the union who may have political agendas.)
WW will not back down IMO.
Neither will Unite.
It's up to the CC who are not disposed to strike to
either try to persuade the less militant union reps to persuade the unite leaders to get the best deal possible (it won't be as good as previous offers)
or
sit it out hoping that more CC cave in.
Either way, it's going to be a pretty uncomfortable time after the end of IA when ex striking CC have to work with those who did not strike.
The strikers might be seen as second class citizens because they dont have ST.
Is it really possible for the 2 groups to mix?
Seems to me that the ex strikers either need the same Ts and Cs, or they can't work in the same airline (notwithstanding the New Fleet which you might consider as a similar situation, but is not because the new CC signed up to different Ts and Cs)
However you look at it, the strikers are very poorly placed.
The only moral of this is that and CC who have not shown their hand yet by not turning up for work whould think long and hard before they join the strike.
If WW could find it in his being to negotiate a deal which gave back the ST to strikers, that would clearly be the best outcome for the airline unless he is hell bent on getting rid of the strikers
WW will not back down IMO.
Neither will Unite.
It's up to the CC who are not disposed to strike to
either try to persuade the less militant union reps to persuade the unite leaders to get the best deal possible (it won't be as good as previous offers)
or
sit it out hoping that more CC cave in.
Either way, it's going to be a pretty uncomfortable time after the end of IA when ex striking CC have to work with those who did not strike.
The strikers might be seen as second class citizens because they dont have ST.
Is it really possible for the 2 groups to mix?
Seems to me that the ex strikers either need the same Ts and Cs, or they can't work in the same airline (notwithstanding the New Fleet which you might consider as a similar situation, but is not because the new CC signed up to different Ts and Cs)
However you look at it, the strikers are very poorly placed.
The only moral of this is that and CC who have not shown their hand yet by not turning up for work whould think long and hard before they join the strike.
If WW could find it in his being to negotiate a deal which gave back the ST to strikers, that would clearly be the best outcome for the airline unless he is hell bent on getting rid of the strikers
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: London
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
miamimike - seems you think I'm flight crew. Wrong. I'm a ground staff volunteer. As for unrest, let's meet again in 12 months and discuss how things are going. I anticipate I'll still have a job, a decent salary, and staff travel. I also think CC will be a much nicer place to work.
For info, my directorate agreed to the company's considerable savings plan. It hurt financially and I now have to work a little harder, but I'm still paid well, in my opinion, for what I do.
For info, my directorate agreed to the company's considerable savings plan. It hurt financially and I now have to work a little harder, but I'm still paid well, in my opinion, for what I do.
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: UK
Posts: 285
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Simple
All strikers are given a 'New Fleet' contract to sign, with Staff Travel with a date of joining as the day the contract is signed.
New Fleet will fly different routes and the two sets of crew will never have to work together.
Those crew who backed BA will continue to enjoy their previous T's and C's and have jumped up the Staff Travel pecking order.
All strikers are given a 'New Fleet' contract to sign, with Staff Travel with a date of joining as the day the contract is signed.
New Fleet will fly different routes and the two sets of crew will never have to work together.
Those crew who backed BA will continue to enjoy their previous T's and C's and have jumped up the Staff Travel pecking order.
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: on boeings finest
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
WetLease
As an aside, have any Cabin Crew/UNITE/BASSA stopped to think out of the box and wondered if it might actually be cheaper to fly short haul routes using wet lease aircraft
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ILS27L,
just for clarity, I'm a pilot volunteer cabin crew. I was meant to go to Boston yesterday but enough 'normal' cabin crew turned up so I was sent home. If I had gone I would have earnt £195 after tax for the there and back. it's the same for captains or first officers. Divide that by flying hours, time downroute, or whichever way you like, but it's not £166/hr.
I'm not sure why you wonder why any pilot wouldn't volunteer, because of 'retaliation'. What do you mean by that?
As for secret supporters of the strike amongst pilots, there's no reason why any pilot wouldn't voice their opinion on the Flt deck, no-ones going to scratch their car or even get in a huff over it! They would say what they think. As it is, many pilots are married to cabin crew but in the last 18 months of this issue, I haven't heard one mention support for the Bassa position. (and the same goes for engineers, trms etc)
just for clarity, I'm a pilot volunteer cabin crew. I was meant to go to Boston yesterday but enough 'normal' cabin crew turned up so I was sent home. If I had gone I would have earnt £195 after tax for the there and back. it's the same for captains or first officers. Divide that by flying hours, time downroute, or whichever way you like, but it's not £166/hr.
I'm not sure why you wonder why any pilot wouldn't volunteer, because of 'retaliation'. What do you mean by that?
As for secret supporters of the strike amongst pilots, there's no reason why any pilot wouldn't voice their opinion on the Flt deck, no-ones going to scratch their car or even get in a huff over it! They would say what they think. As it is, many pilots are married to cabin crew but in the last 18 months of this issue, I haven't heard one mention support for the Bassa position. (and the same goes for engineers, trms etc)
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: uk
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
rzw30,thanks for the reality check.Obviously everyone has their own take/agenda on the present situation.You have highlighted what I believe is a huge problem once all parties are back working together.
So little thought has been given to what will be the aftermath.This has the potential for years of damage to the company.Even with my experience (30 years) I cannot believe the stupidity of the flight crew in their short sightedness.
So little thought has been given to what will be the aftermath.This has the potential for years of damage to the company.Even with my experience (30 years) I cannot believe the stupidity of the flight crew in their short sightedness.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: LGW
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The UNITE sound bites that are trotted out from Bedfont:
Which is designed to convey that 90% of all Cabin Crew support strike action
As we know, just over 7100 crew out of the 12000+ work force voted for strike action which is about 60% in very round figures.
I feel as one of the 4900+ crew members who did NOT want to be led down this path of destruction, we are behaving very politely and responsibly, considering what the strike supporters are doing to the company in our name.
Over 90% of Cabin Crew voted on strike action.....
As we know, just over 7100 crew out of the 12000+ work force voted for strike action which is about 60% in very round figures.
I feel as one of the 4900+ crew members who did NOT want to be led down this path of destruction, we are behaving very politely and responsibly, considering what the strike supporters are doing to the company in our name.
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: uk
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes Spark of Life,did realise that you werent flight crew.I also understand your good intentions.I believe that life after resolution will be very very difficult given the need for nature of FC/CC workplace.
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Planet Moo Moo
Posts: 1,279
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Even with my experience (30 years) I cannot believe the stupidity of the flight crew in their short sightedness.
Can we also put to bed the spectre of 'CRM' please? I will expect/require all crew to operate to SOP whether or not they took part in the strike or took part in the contingency plan. Whilst they are on my aeroplane, on company time, operating as part of my crew they will conduct themselves in an appropriate manner. Any inappropriate behaviour, be it in either direction, will result in the perpertrator being off loaded. CRM will not be affected by this strike on my aeroplane. Simples.
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Cardiff
Age: 62
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
BA285
Fruitbat
BA 285 left with 12 CC of which 2 were volunteers. Service was great as was the atmosphere. Also a huge amount of support from the pax for the onboard crew.
BA 285 left with 12 CC of which 2 were volunteers. Service was great as was the atmosphere. Also a huge amount of support from the pax for the onboard crew.