British Airways vs. BASSA (Airline Staff Only)
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dave3,
I'm all for voicing an opinion about work T's & C's, but when strikers are seen enjoying themselves whilst there are others on the dole that would give their right arm for that job, it really is dificult to have sympathy. Especially as Woodley's asking for a company perk (not a right) to be re-instated before any talks will take place.
My opinions may sound negative, but the general public will see those pictures, see woodley going on holiday and leaving the helm to DS as a bit of joke.
I'm all for voicing an opinion about work T's & C's, but when strikers are seen enjoying themselves whilst there are others on the dole that would give their right arm for that job, it really is dificult to have sympathy. Especially as Woodley's asking for a company perk (not a right) to be re-instated before any talks will take place.
My opinions may sound negative, but the general public will see those pictures, see woodley going on holiday and leaving the helm to DS as a bit of joke.
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we need to talk to each other.. the general public will come back round.. You have the right to your opinion but we need to defuse this agression and anger and chanel it into working along side each other..
I have been to bedfont I have debated talked to the general public.. talked to ground crew and even waterside people that have cone to bedfont to talk to us... Yes there is a bar at bedfont yes people are talking....I for one would rather be in that arena when on strike than sat at home. it makes no diffence the geography of the stike the liquid that is being consumed or the fact that someone is wearing a pritty dress... lets get back to basics... we are on strike some agree some dont.. we need to sort this out. and not talking or being agressive to each other is not the way forward
I have been to bedfont I have debated talked to the general public.. talked to ground crew and even waterside people that have cone to bedfont to talk to us... Yes there is a bar at bedfont yes people are talking....I for one would rather be in that arena when on strike than sat at home. it makes no diffence the geography of the stike the liquid that is being consumed or the fact that someone is wearing a pritty dress... lets get back to basics... we are on strike some agree some dont.. we need to sort this out. and not talking or being agressive to each other is not the way forward
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agree to disagree
I do not believe that management have deliberately caused a divide, though, to my mind, it's certainly not an equal divide.
I will NEVER change my views. BASSA needed it's wings clipped, there are many in their midst who have alternative political motives (Willie, Willlie Willie...etc). ALL departments have taken hits, BASSA, despite talks lasting in excess of 14 months, REFUSED to play ball except offer savings that were to be repaid. Staff just had enough and wanted the Airline not just to survive, but to prosper. Consequently, staff 'backed BA', the rest is history. I will not move on this.
HOWEVER, strikers will disagree with my view as much as I disagree with their view.
That's why my previous posts have asked as to the viability of moving forward as 'one'.
Sometimes I feel we can, then feel the total opposite. We are now coming to the end of these strikes, no doubt the in-fighting will continue in its wake.
I don't know anymore. All I do know is that however we feel, we have customers to look after, and, hopefully entice their return after this damage.
I hope CRM then becomes a natural occurence in the fulness of time, if we can not endorse it any other way.
Let's at least focus on our passengers, however we feel, and prove to them that we are worthy of their custom. That indeed MUST be a common aim, no matter how are views differ.
I will NEVER change my views. BASSA needed it's wings clipped, there are many in their midst who have alternative political motives (Willie, Willlie Willie...etc). ALL departments have taken hits, BASSA, despite talks lasting in excess of 14 months, REFUSED to play ball except offer savings that were to be repaid. Staff just had enough and wanted the Airline not just to survive, but to prosper. Consequently, staff 'backed BA', the rest is history. I will not move on this.
HOWEVER, strikers will disagree with my view as much as I disagree with their view.
That's why my previous posts have asked as to the viability of moving forward as 'one'.
Sometimes I feel we can, then feel the total opposite. We are now coming to the end of these strikes, no doubt the in-fighting will continue in its wake.
I don't know anymore. All I do know is that however we feel, we have customers to look after, and, hopefully entice their return after this damage.
I hope CRM then becomes a natural occurence in the fulness of time, if we can not endorse it any other way.
Let's at least focus on our passengers, however we feel, and prove to them that we are worthy of their custom. That indeed MUST be a common aim, no matter how are views differ.
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for me I could not afford the new contract it would mean I could not aford to get to work
Please show were this has been threatened? I don't believe it has. BA have given commitments to not attack current crews wages.
If they subsequently do attack your salary then have a strike ballot. BASSA have twisted and confused people until they will strike this is irresponsible.
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Licence to fly. I would like to ask why you believe we have contempt for our customers. You have stated this as a fact , i hold no contempt at all for them, FACT. To add to that i spent a long time talking with the flight crew on my last trip who thanked me for being so friendly and for not bringing the dispute or my opinions into work. I was threatened by a strikebreaker on this trip who told me that if i had a problem with her husband being on our trip and upgraded by another crew member, that the captain would be having words with me !! I had shown no sign of being upset by it at all and actually looked after her husbamd very well for which he was very grateful. I would never bully or harrass anybody , and i am saddened to see on this forum that overall we are being portrayed as thugs and hooligans. Nobody wants to comment on the manager assaulting one of the strikers who is a good friend of mine. The oxygen bottles left running in the bunk area so that they were left empty for the next crew, or the posting about Nigeria being a toilet. This comment is being passed onto the Nigerian Embassy as it is so insulting and frankly racist. Put it this way any actions like this on either side are unacceptable , but please get your facts right .For the final time Lizanne is with us everyday and not in Los Angeles as has been mentioned in previous posts.
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"Everyone needs to understand that in a democracy we have the right to a different view... we must respect that.."
Dave3:
Beautifully put, I couldn't agree more. At the end of the day we are all adults and I have every faith we will ALL act professionally.
Dave3:
Beautifully put, I couldn't agree more. At the end of the day we are all adults and I have every faith we will ALL act professionally.
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How many in BASSA
I am interested to know is it still the 9879 that are shown on the home page, or is it DH's number "I'm the only one that knows how many".
Now BA is in the last period of IA and rumours of another ballot, I have been trying to track the numbers as an indication of support.
I hear such different numbers on this site about how many were at Bedfont on a daily basis....3000/1500 including kids....300 for Billy Bragg?
Just an honest question if anyone has a recent truthful update?
How many are today in BASSA?
Thank you in advance
Now BA is in the last period of IA and rumours of another ballot, I have been trying to track the numbers as an indication of support.
I hear such different numbers on this site about how many were at Bedfont on a daily basis....3000/1500 including kids....300 for Billy Bragg?
Just an honest question if anyone has a recent truthful update?
How many are today in BASSA?
Thank you in advance
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NS68
t's not unite that needs to make sure the workforce is happy.It is the company's responsability.
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blueupgood
Quote:
t's not unite that needs to make sure the workforce is happy.It is the company's responsability.
It is all relative!
t's not unite that needs to make sure the workforce is happy.It is the company's responsability.
I am responsible for my young son's happiness. I also have to teach him how to survive in the real world. Sometimes tears are shed. It's all a part of growing up
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How will people get to work?
Genuine question.
We've been hearing about some of the long and tortuous journeys that some crew have to make to attend work.
I'm assuming that those that took IA either the first time or in this latest tranche of IA will all have lost their ST (perhaps those from the second bunch have yet to lose it).
My question is, will some of these crew members simply have to resign from BA as they will immediately be unable to report for duty due to the travel costs they would incur? Or will they continue to come to work, but at their own (increased) expense?
We've been hearing about some of the long and tortuous journeys that some crew have to make to attend work.
I'm assuming that those that took IA either the first time or in this latest tranche of IA will all have lost their ST (perhaps those from the second bunch have yet to lose it).
My question is, will some of these crew members simply have to resign from BA as they will immediately be unable to report for duty due to the travel costs they would incur? Or will they continue to come to work, but at their own (increased) expense?
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davidexba,
Both scenarios are valid.
Furthermore, if anyone fails to perform by being late, not turning up for work, etc, then there are formal policies (EG902 and EG901) for dealing with this.
Both scenarios are valid.
Furthermore, if anyone fails to perform by being late, not turning up for work, etc, then there are formal policies (EG902 and EG901) for dealing with this.
Junior trash
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Todays instalment
BASSA > Latest News
BEDFONT DAY 19 - DUNCAN’S REPORT BACKJun 6th, 2010 by admin
Sometimes Bedfont days just pass by without anything significant happening. People turn up, they have a “buckshee BASSA breakfast in a bun”, they man a picket line or two, they chew the cud, join in with a bit of sychronised megaphone chanting and then after a pint or a Pimms or two they crash in the field for an hour before meandering home satisfied that they have supported the cause. Such was today. The expected inclement weather never materialised, there was a laid back atmosphere and even the burger man was seen contemplating his navel which makes a change from him contemplating his bank balance.
Finlay Stott (aged 2) lost his Fireman Sam toy for a while but peace was restored when it was found “drowning” in the dog’s water bowl.
The henna lady continued to daub any available skin with her XXXX tattoos, the cakes continued to pour in, the samosas arrived on time, the generators that feed electricity into the marquee packed up twice and the Daily Mail printed its daily ritual of finding someone or something about Unite to have a bitch about. I mean it really is the limit Tony Woodley taking his sick wife on EasyJet to Paphos for a week and staying at a £600 a week apartment. What is the world coming to?
There is some news inasmuch some of the reps are meeting Derek Simpson tomorrow to go through the letter to BA informing them the reasons why we will shortly be issuing a notification to ballot letter. Willie Walsh is in Berlin until Tuesday afternoon allegedly at a IATA conference but in my opinion he is more likely to be looking at ways to rebuild the Berlin Wall.
I wiled away an hour this morning talking to an old BASSA veteran who participated in the 1997 dispute when, believe it or not, the relationship between us and the company was nearly as venomous. He had with him a folder that contained 5 fanzine magazines.
A group of anonymous crew brought out an underground magazine called “Chaos” in the aftermath of the strike and really lampooned BA to the extent that the company were desperate to find out who was behind it. All fingers pointed to BASSA but in fact we were, for once, innocent but we all had fun watching BA running around like headless chickens trying to find out the identities of the publishers. Issue One was really hard-hitting and hilarious but what caught my eye was a quote from the famous Russian novelist and dramatist, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, which is probably more apt now than when it was used in 1997. In my particular circumstances ie no longer an employee of BA, I certainly know where Aleksandr was coming from.
“You only have power over people so long as you don’t take everything away from them. But, when you’ve robbed a man of everything, he is no longer in your power - he’s free again”.
So, three days to go. Tuesday is House of Commons day (details to be posted later) and Wednesday will culminate in another march along the Bath Rd, which means tomorrow is the last normal day. There are still members earning their XXXX for the first time (I met 2 today) so it is still important we make sure the Bedfont experience remains ongoing for virgin visitors. Looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible. Regards to all - Duncan
PS My tomatoes are doing just fine, thanks to all those who enquired after their welfare today.
BASSA > Latest News
BEDFONT DAY 19 - DUNCAN’S REPORT BACKJun 6th, 2010 by admin
Sometimes Bedfont days just pass by without anything significant happening. People turn up, they have a “buckshee BASSA breakfast in a bun”, they man a picket line or two, they chew the cud, join in with a bit of sychronised megaphone chanting and then after a pint or a Pimms or two they crash in the field for an hour before meandering home satisfied that they have supported the cause. Such was today. The expected inclement weather never materialised, there was a laid back atmosphere and even the burger man was seen contemplating his navel which makes a change from him contemplating his bank balance.
Finlay Stott (aged 2) lost his Fireman Sam toy for a while but peace was restored when it was found “drowning” in the dog’s water bowl.
The henna lady continued to daub any available skin with her XXXX tattoos, the cakes continued to pour in, the samosas arrived on time, the generators that feed electricity into the marquee packed up twice and the Daily Mail printed its daily ritual of finding someone or something about Unite to have a bitch about. I mean it really is the limit Tony Woodley taking his sick wife on EasyJet to Paphos for a week and staying at a £600 a week apartment. What is the world coming to?
There is some news inasmuch some of the reps are meeting Derek Simpson tomorrow to go through the letter to BA informing them the reasons why we will shortly be issuing a notification to ballot letter. Willie Walsh is in Berlin until Tuesday afternoon allegedly at a IATA conference but in my opinion he is more likely to be looking at ways to rebuild the Berlin Wall.
I wiled away an hour this morning talking to an old BASSA veteran who participated in the 1997 dispute when, believe it or not, the relationship between us and the company was nearly as venomous. He had with him a folder that contained 5 fanzine magazines.
A group of anonymous crew brought out an underground magazine called “Chaos” in the aftermath of the strike and really lampooned BA to the extent that the company were desperate to find out who was behind it. All fingers pointed to BASSA but in fact we were, for once, innocent but we all had fun watching BA running around like headless chickens trying to find out the identities of the publishers. Issue One was really hard-hitting and hilarious but what caught my eye was a quote from the famous Russian novelist and dramatist, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, which is probably more apt now than when it was used in 1997. In my particular circumstances ie no longer an employee of BA, I certainly know where Aleksandr was coming from.
“You only have power over people so long as you don’t take everything away from them. But, when you’ve robbed a man of everything, he is no longer in your power - he’s free again”.
So, three days to go. Tuesday is House of Commons day (details to be posted later) and Wednesday will culminate in another march along the Bath Rd, which means tomorrow is the last normal day. There are still members earning their XXXX for the first time (I met 2 today) so it is still important we make sure the Bedfont experience remains ongoing for virgin visitors. Looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible. Regards to all - Duncan
PS My tomatoes are doing just fine, thanks to all those who enquired after their welfare today.
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DH's ramblings are symbolic of this strike: futile, puerile, infantile, and completely devoid of any useful information.
If I was on strike, I would want to know:
A. What we have achieved so far.
B. Any further advances we hope to make.
C. Any talks being conducted (there aren't apparently)?
D. Why no talks are being conducted.
E. Why Tony Woodley jets off on holiday while I'm struggling to pay my monthly bills.
F. How it is going to end?
G. If any court action is being taken about the ST issue (after all Unite claim it is illegal). If not, why not?
H. Why are you organising hardship loans, instead of getting me back to work?
I. How is a hardship loan going to help me? It is seemingly not interest free, so how will I pay it, and the interest back, especially if more strikes are planned?
And most importantly: when we go back to work in a few days time; what will have been achieved?
80% of longhaul flights and 60% of shorthaul flights operating must surely ring alarm bells?
If not, then we really have to ask: exactly what is being put in those delicious cakes?
If I was on strike, I would want to know:
A. What we have achieved so far.
B. Any further advances we hope to make.
C. Any talks being conducted (there aren't apparently)?
D. Why no talks are being conducted.
E. Why Tony Woodley jets off on holiday while I'm struggling to pay my monthly bills.
F. How it is going to end?
G. If any court action is being taken about the ST issue (after all Unite claim it is illegal). If not, why not?
H. Why are you organising hardship loans, instead of getting me back to work?
I. How is a hardship loan going to help me? It is seemingly not interest free, so how will I pay it, and the interest back, especially if more strikes are planned?
And most importantly: when we go back to work in a few days time; what will have been achieved?
80% of longhaul flights and 60% of shorthaul flights operating must surely ring alarm bells?
If not, then we really have to ask: exactly what is being put in those delicious cakes?
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My day today
I was backing BA today as CSP, and was allocated airside arrivals, lots of crew happy to talk today as they collected their bags, they looked less stressed, wanted to know how the rest of the airline was feeling and wondered how it would all end. Lots more eye contact and smiles. The journey back to Waterside where about 15 crew, pilots and CC, high jacked our bus to join us was particulaly ammusing and good spirited.
I am taking all this as a good sign.
I am taking all this as a good sign.
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Hyflyer14
E. Why Tony Woodley jets off on holiday while I'm struggling to pay my monthly bills.
Hyflyer14, you forgot to mention the very expensive blue range rover in the picture (mail on line)
Backing BA and proud
Hyflyer14, you forgot to mention the very expensive blue range rover in the picture (mail on line)
Backing BA and proud
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davidex I had a year of paid travel by BA when my base closed since then l have always paid my own travel to work ... I am simply making the point that if the new contract came in I could no longer afford to come to work..I had WW on a flight and asked him some relevent questions.. his answers did not leave me confident that I would have a sustainable contract and stable income after her leaves then company. Thats why I am striking my personal opinon.
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Tony has to have a holiday like anyone else.Just because he takes it while 3000+ of his members are going without pay,losing friends and have no idea whats going on is no reason for him to cancel a nice few days lapping up the sun with a few beers-the man obviously feels he deserves it.