British Airways vs. BASSA (Airline Staff Only)

[ottergirl]

ottergirl - you say the shorthaul network is being cancelled but my nightstops next week are still in tact and nothing on my roster has been cancelled - believe whatever propaganda you want to, nothing is for certain yet and I think BA are (rightly) keeping their options open

I had two day trips Weds and Thurs and they have both been wiped! Not ones I was sorry to lose though!

[Human Factor]

Absolutely staggering in my opinion - we are taking part in a lawful dispute.

Are you absolutely sure? BA doesn't seem to think so and so far their lawyers have been notably effective.

Given that a verdict is unlikely before the beginning of the strike, are you going to go walk out knowing that you may potentially be striking illegally and can be summarily dismissed if it is proven to be the case?

Equally relevant. If BA win this injunction, anyone who took part in the earlier strike will also have taken part in an illegal strike and runs the risk of being summarily dismissed.

BA have wanted rid of the militants since the beginning. That they would achieve it was never in dispute, although how they planned to do it was subject for discussion. This is how they will do it.

So wwcrewmember, will YOU go on strike on Tuesday?

[Abbey Road]

Last throw of the dice for a very worried man - there is no way that BA will win this.

Not from where most of us are standing!

If a court decides that UNITE and BASSA have not complied as required in the previous 2 strike dates, then it was not legal striking. Consequently the vast majority of protection vanishes, retrospectively! How many people will really be willing to stick their necks out next week? Very few, I am willing to wager, very few indeed.

[wwcrewmember]

Like I said - the throw of a dice of a worried man.....

I wont be on strike on Tuesday - but I will on Thursday

[BikerMark]

In answer to the question why apply for the injunction now?

The answer's in the Intranet news item:

"...The Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 requires unions to send everyone eligible to vote details of the exact breakdown of the ballot result. This point of law was clarified in April following Network Rail’s successful application for an injunction to stop a strike by the RMT..."

So it's a point of law that post-dates the March strikes.

If it does become an illegal strike, that'll be a horrible feeling of deja vu for Tony Woodley, thinking back to the Gate Gourmet events a few years ago
(2005 was it?).

[VSOP Fables]

I had the impression the online ballot was just a straw poll to boost morale for the strikers - isn't this strike still covered by the previous ballot? Or is it that BASSA keep changing the reasons for the strike? Sorry, muddled thinking cos I've OD'd on chocolate after hearing about the injunction.

[ottergirl]

It is the previous ballot that is the subject of the court case.

[VSOP Fables]

Thanks Ottergirl.

[The Blu Riband]

Do you have any idea how long it would take to recruit and properly train up over 3000 cabin crew

With the strikers sacked, and Bassa rendered ineffective, BA could operate to minimum levels for some time. Wouldn't need 13,000 crew in the future - maybe 11,000.

There are at least 1000 recently unemployed cabin crew who could be refreshed very quickly. Then allowing for "new fleet" scheduling I reckon a full operation within 3 months max. BA are newly flush with cash after not having to pay certain fines.

[The Blu Riband]

crew members on here are cheering for the colleagues to be sacked

Please don't tell me you expect sympathy.

[ottergirl]

BA could operate to minimum levels for some time

Not without considerable damage to our brand! Why go there when we don't have to? My experience of training new-entrant crew tells me that our disclosure service struggles when we have two courses a week (24 in each) as does uniform stores, The Rivers, ID unit, etc so I think your optimism is unfounded. Lets hope we don't have to put it to the test, eh!

[64K]

With the strikers sacked, and Bassa rendered ineffective, BA could operate to minimum levels for some time. Wouldn't need 13,000 crew in the future - maybe 11,000.

There are at least 1000 recently unemployed cabin crew who could be refreshed very quickly. Then allowing for "new fleet" scheduling I reckon a full operation within 3 months max. BA are newly flush with cash after not having to pay certain fines.

From what Willie was suggesting, it sounds like recruitment might be just around the corner... And aren't there still people in holding pools?

(The opinions above are personal and not those of my employer)

[Abbey Road]

..... our brand .....

Sounds really odd when expounded by an apparent proponent of these indefensible strikes.

[Litebulbs]

Originally Posted by ottergirl

Not without considerable damage to our brand! Why go there when we don't have to? My experience of training new-entrant crew tells me that our disclosure service struggles when we have two courses a week (24 in each) as does uniform stores, The Rivers, ID unit, etc so I think your optimism is unfounded. Lets hope we don't have to put it to the test, eh!

So it could be a couple of years at least to replace the crew then?

[Tiramisu]

Posted by Ottergirl
Do you have any idea how long it would take to recruit and properly train up over 3000 cabin crew; these are not the same as volunteers who can do without serving hot drinks or administering drugs? Add in CRC and promotion courses and it would screw up our operation with shortages for the best part of a year.

Ottergirl,
Don't forget we Eurofleet CSDs have been going on about the lack of work for some time. We have been surplus for the best part of 2009 though work has picked up for me this year inspite of of still getting non-op days occasionally. This does mean a better use of resources on Eurofleet and a smile on our faces in getting more work finally.

[GS-Alpha]

So it could be a couple of years at least to replace the crew then?

Yes according to those figures I guess so, but that is no problem - who says you have to sack everyone all in one go? Hypothetically, you could give the choice of a new contract to sign or a notice of dismissal, and set the dates as you like. You do this to a handful of illegal strikers at a time at whatever your training rate is. I can't see this scenario happening though, because the company is a far fairer employer than the militants give them credit.

[MagicTiger]

What does the CC vs BA have to do with the Professional Pilots Rumour Network?

Here is the fact, BA have far much more money to withstand a standoff, then the CC can afford to loose with a long drawn out strike, as now is the BA CC next step.

I feel everyone should be paid a fair wage for their work, but it seems NOBODY here can say what the the BA CC really want to achieve, to make this conflict end.

In normal circumstances, if it is that bad, why don't you just leave and find other work? That is the logical conclusion of this now. It is not like BA is the only company in the world you can work for. Personally if I felt I was treated badly, I would just pack my bags and say bye bye! Why don't unhappy BA CC do the same?

[Hotel Mode]

Not without considerable damage to our brand! Why go there when we don't have to? My experience of training new-entrant crew tells me that our disclosure service struggles when we have two courses a week (24 in each) as does uniform stores, The Rivers, ID unit, etc so I think your optimism is unfounded. Lets hope we don't have to put it to the test, eh!

Would this be the same ID/uniform etc unit that has managed to kit out 1000 VCCs (in addition to pilots, around 50% without airside IDs) within 12 weeks? The logistics of replacing strikers is no longer the obstacle it might have been at Christmas. Dont forget the 750+ in the hold pool and the temps yet to return, a full time contract will tempt many and most have previous flying experience.

And would it be the same damage to the brand that was caused by the use of VCC in march that actually INCREASED the cabin crew GPM results?

[Hotel Mode]

So 500 no ID holders in 12 weeks against potential 5000+ strikers means 120 weeks or over two years?

BA can survive on far less than their current crewing levels. Thats why theres still an HR1 ticking over for 2000 cabin crew redundancies. BA just has just been overcrewed for the last 6 months. The new crew will be rostered to scheme, and full time instead of the current 50% of part timers and BAs crewing requirement could be cut by several 000's at a stroke. In short, lose 5000 replace with 2000, 1000 of whom youve already trained.

We're all replaceable, and its important to remember that when you intend to cost your employer more than you cost to replace.

[Abbey Road]

If no change happens then they would be happy again?

Isn't that one of the roots of the problem? BASSA feel that cabin crew should be left untouched, whilst the rest of the company take the strain of pay cuts, pay freezes, personnel cuts, increased productivity? Lots of people in the company may not necessarily be happy, but that doesn't mean they attempt to screw the company that is their very livelihood.

BA cabin crew need realise that BA isn't about them.. BA isn't just them. Many of them need to get a grip, or pack up and ship out.