British Airways vs. BASSA (current Airline Staff Only)

[MIDLGW]

It should be easy enough to find out if it was deliberate. The button has a wire safety catch, which breaks in the event of usage. (This might not be the technical term for it but I'm sure you'll all understand what I mean).

I'm just so tired of MissM's ramblings that I can't be bothered to correct her. It's like talking to a brick wall

[Chigley]

Miss M

Most sane people, myself included know that BA would struggle to find 5000 crew in a year, even two. BASSA and it's followers on the other hand seem to think that we will ALL be replaced in 2 years by mixed fleet crew and starved of work. So are you now suggesting that BASSA are lying that we only have 2-3 years left? Sounds like even you are having trouble believing the rubbish that comes from your union? Oh dear!

Regarding the VCC's, I know that they did a fantastic job because I met and spoke to many of them in CRC during the strikes as I worked throughout most strike days. I personally did not have the pleasure of flying with any as I left LHR with a full EF crew compliment on every trip. My CSD and Purser friends on LH and SH did however fly with VCC's and remarked on how professional and efficient they were onboard. Quite a contrast to what we've been dealing with since the strike days unfortunately.

[Colonel White]

BASSA and it's followers on the other hand seem to think that we will ALL be replaced in 2 years by mixed fleet crew and starved of work.

And therein lies the rub. Mixed fleet does not have union representation yet (far too soon) and when it does, I suspect that the crew will opt for Unite or maybe GMB, but certainly won't touch BASSA with a ten foot punt pole. So.... if that is the case, BASSA membership will plummet. How long before cabin crew work out that BASSA are actually after protecting their own little world ? If there are no members, there's no jobs for the Duncan's and Lizanne's and all their playmates. No members means reps don't get time off for union duties. It also means they don't get to sit at the top table of Unite.

The BASSA leadership don't want Mixed fleet because they know it will mean the end of the road for their cosy sinecures.

As an aside, is there any reason why cabin crew could not resign from BASSA but then join one of the other local branches of Unite. I know that A scale staff are members of the union. This would give crew the opportunity to send a vote of no confidence in BASSA, without then not having a trade union to support them. Alternatively, what is to stop them signing up with the GMB ?

Re: the ditching announcement. Intrigued to hear that posters to the BASSA forum got confused by the Sun journalist. Does this mean that it was a cabin crew member that spread the false rumour that it was a pilot error ? I'd say that was defamatory and if it can be proven to be a lie, the Sun might be in hot water as could the crew member who made the allegation. Another disciplinary in the offing ??

[Hand Solo]

For instance our devoted pilots refusing to take part in the service as it was not their job.

Yep, another baseless, made up story reported by CF and BASSA, and all true because some conveniently anonymous ICC said so. Yeah right.

[malcolmf]

Just because you keep saying it doesn't mean it's true:

In accordance with the pilot's deal. We have still offered huge savings to the company which they have turned down. Management is not after an agreement.

The pilots took a permanent pay cut and crew cut on the aircraft in exchange for no compulsory redundancies and to pay for VR. The share deal is £1000 of shares if BA gets to 10% margin which has only happened once in living memory.
It's not about the pilots anyway.

[Flap62]

From the Unite newsletter - anyone else notice that the BASSA rep NM was suspended just before she went on a Singapore. How amazing is it that a senior rep was on a high earning trip and not a Lagos!

[essessdeedee]

Miss M

Management is not after an agreement.

Do you really believe this? Particularly since management have reached agreement with all other work groups!

I was told by a manger in the CRC to remove my BASSA lanyard whilst next to me where a couple of pilots wearing their BALPA lanyards. Neither any of them were told to remove theirs. A different set of regulations.

2 different uniform wearer guides - see the intranet

[Flap62]

For what its worth:

As a BA pilot I personally don't like any form of lanyards, whether BALPA or BASSA but I recognise that some of my colleagues choose to wear one within our uniform standards. I work for BA, they pay my wages, not BALPA and so any lanyard I wear will be supplied by the company.

[Chigley]

Latest posting from DH

This is the latest vile drivel from Mr Holley. I love his arrogant ‘BA can’t touch me’ attitude whilst he continues to bully and harrass this poor CSD and just because he happens to hold a different opinion to BASSA. Why can’t people see that DH is just poison and his vendetta against this CSD is just the same as the one he has against WW. The fact he thought it OK to post this is just sickening!

Good luck to the victim of DH’s vengeful and spiteful harassment campaign, BA may have no control over him, but hopefully the criminal justice system does?

Fill Brancis

Our “friend” Del C Diner, aka xxxxx xxxxx has now taken the thread that he started with the responses to BA and one crew member has since been suspended, this ex BASSA rep really is the lowest of the low. I have contacted him to let him know how I feel and predictably he took my message straight to Tony McCarthy. He sort of forgot that BA have no control over me any more.

Not only did he strike break for personal promotion but he then came on this Forum and started a taunting thread. He then took some replies to BA and caused someone to be suspended. In all my flying career his actions are the nastiest and lowest I have ever encountered.
Please no one respond to this message other than a bump because as sure as eggs are eggs xxxx xxxx will report you and cost you your job. Just ensure his name is “known”.
Finally can I say Hi to Tony McCarthy as I know he will be reading this message very shortly. How’s the bullying going Tony? How’s the union busting going? By the way don’t get too cosy with xxxx xxxx he’s a bit of a snake. Regards to Willie – Love Duncan

[Copenhagen]

Isn't bullying a criminal offence, not just a BA offence?

[cloudn9ne]

MissM,

I'm not sure if you have chosen to ignore the 2 recent posts regarding where blame lies for the 'imposition' or if you havent seen them. Please have a good look.

Also you keep ignoring the fact that:

1) The crew didnt want a pay cut, it was BASSA that offered this to the company in order to get the extra crew member back ( this caused uproar, expecially at LGW)

2) at no point were PERMANANT savings offered, so your offer was as good as useless to the company and always feel way short of your own valuations. It is permenant change that is needed ( so you cannot keep comparing your offer with what the pilots have LOST PERMEMANTLY).


This is really getting very tedious repeating what has been said many, many times before.

[Betty girl]

Chigley,
Thanks for repinting that, I am not in Bassa and was banned from crew forum so am unable to access this drivel but it's always interesting to hear how low Bassa and DH can go.

Don't know why, as I am not in Unite now, but got the latest pamphlet through the post from them. You can tell DH had alot to do with it!

Why does Unite just not stop him from printing all this rubbish! I just can't believe they can possibly think this is a good use of union funds. He is actually bringing Unite into disrepute in my opinion.

[MIDLGW]

Quite a few people on CF think that the latest leaflet is factual and speaking the truth. Aaaaargh!!! Are these people serious?

As for DH's latest post on bassa forum - what a plonker. That post shows pure evil, I have to say. Nasty nasty man. I hope there's some way of getting him stopped. I really feel for the CSD (don't know who he is), nobody deserves to be treated like he's being treated. If it were me, I'd get on to TW/DS as well as the police and BA.

This goes to show why there have been so many suspensions and sackings. Too many people behaving abominably. Simple as that. It's unprecedented, but does prove that some crew (a vast minority) should not be in the job.

[Chigley]

Bettygirl

Couldn't agree with you more. He is single handedly destroying the union and the members are slowly realising this. He has become a liability.

I still have access from my friend who has been on maternity, everytime I read this stuff and think how shocking it is and the members will now wake up to him.....I'm wrong. The brainwashing is too far gone I'm afraid!

[the flying nunn]

Isn't it ironic that if BASSA had agreed to what everyone now says is acceptable the strike wouldn't have taken place, everyone would still have staff travel, no one would have been sacked or suspended, DH would still have a job, this CSD would not have had to be crucified, friendships would not have been broken, we would have had shares in the company, and we would all be off on an extra holiday with the free ticket that was up for the taking.

What was the strike for again?

[plodding along]

But that's the thing, they only SAY the deal would be acceptable if staff travel and the sacked crew were reinstated.
They know that won't happen.
This is a battle over who controls the airline, BASSA wants control over the route network for obvious reasons.
If BA conceded on staff travel and disciplinaries the dispute would not be over.
So what will settle it? Nothing I imagine, nothing short of going back to square one and giving power back to BASSA.
It will soon be two years since this all started, it is clear from Miss M's posts that we have got nowhere, the views of BASSA's supporters are fixed and unchangeable.
The future does not look bright.

[ranger07]

So what will settle it? Nothing I imagine, nothing short of going back to square one and giving power back to BASSA.
It will soon be two years since this all started, it is clear from Miss M's posts that we have got nowhere, the views of BASSA's supporters are fixed and unchangeable.
The future does not look bright.

Not so sure on the 'future does not look bright' bit. These militants are the minority, the longer this continues, the less relevant they become.

You're certainly right with the BASSA mind set though, there is just no reasoning with them, MissM case in point.

MissM, if you are reading, I'd be very interested to know of your thoughts regarding DH's vile postings.

[Eddy]

Originally Posted by MissM

Send out a new ballot, please. I can't wait to return it.

Yes, please, send it! I can't wait for MissM to return it, either! And I can't wait for her to go on strike again and can't wait for her subsequent dismissal from this company because BA will almost undoubtedly find a legal loophole enabling them to get rid of the now (because Mixed Fleet looks set to grow more quickly than previously expected) excess crew who keep putting at jeopardy this great airline.

I'd never wish sacking/redundancy on ANYONE under normal circumstances, but your attitude, MissM, stinks. You won't talk to or socialise with strike breakers? You won't deal with our flight crew?

You need to leave the airline NOW, for these things will never change. And yours is the kind of attitude the service industry doesn't need.

MissM, I'm sorry again for wishing job-loss uopon you but your attitude of utter disdain for those of us who worked during the strike - even those in different departments - is worrying for a whole host of reasons.

Same goes for the lovely people too chickensh*t to use their own name when sending messages like this via Facebo0k :

“enjoy mixed flying, this is what SCABS deserve, how does it feel to be totally hated and have your name bantered around so you will be a lifelong scab in many peoples eyes....good luck and shame you have lost so many friends after turning your back on them, you should be ashamed of yourself!!!”

Suspect these are the same people who are, I understand, having a field day discussing all kinds of theories about how I came to be rostered a Singapore for my final Heathrow trip in a couple of weeks.... But oddly enough, again, none of these people seem to want to actually say anything to my face.

For an employee group seemingly intent on throwing around allegations of bullying, they're doing a good job of being the bullies themselves.

[sttropez]

BALPA Lanyards

essessdeedee wrote:

2 different uniform wearer guides - see the intranet

From the flight ops intranet Uniform Wearer Standards:
Security Pass

• Must be worn at all times when on
duty.
• Corporate chains must be white,
silver or navy blue. No other
wording should appear on chains
except for British Airways branded chains.

• No other badges are to be worn with
the uniform without specific approval.

The BALPA lanyards and lapel pins do NOT comply with uniform standards as do the BASSA lanyards - no difference.

They are intimidating to both flight and cabin crew

BASSA and BALPA lanyards and any other union propaganda should not be worn

[Colonel White]

DH may be deluding himself. Whilst his statement

He sort of forgot that BA have no control over me any more.

may be true, but it doesn't stop BA from instituting proceedings. Looking at some of the material now coming from BASSA, it is dangerously close to threatening to interfere with the performance of cabin crew either by inciting tension between crew members or by making disparaging comment about individual cabin crew. As the person making these comments is a union officer - in this case the branch secretary - this is likely to be considered to have the full backing of the union. As with the window blinds fiasco, this would amount to tort and unless repudiated by the senior echelons of Unite, could cost the union dearly. Duncan is Unite's problem, not BA's. Sooner or later Unite will have to take action as if he continues in his current fashion, he is on course to make one gaffe too many. Unite will then be forced into having to make a very public, very humiliating apology, potentially with costs associated.

The point that BASSA are now missing completely is that from BA's perspective the dispute is over. The union had its opportunity to throw a hissy. It didn't bring the airline to a halt and now it's time to move on. Offers were made and non-union staff have signed up to the latest deal. Mixed fleet is here, probably larger than intended. The airline has started to make the cost savings as a result of shedding higher paid staff through VS and bringing in new staff on lower salaries. The reduced manning levels have been running for nearly 10 months. On top of this, the tie up with American and merger with Iberia are well on course and should be starting to boost earnings over the next twelve months. The airline has moved on and is now settng about tackling the next lot of challenges. Union busting ? That was all in minds of a few union officials. BA has no interest in breaking unions. It would however, vigourously defend itself if a union behaved in a manner that threatened the reputation or survival of the company.

The people I feel sorriest for are those crew who are still in the union and who didn't vote to reject the final offer. They are now in limbo-land. They can't sign up to the deal. Many are unwilling to transfer to Mixed fleet as it would be a cut in take home pay. They're no better off than they were 18 months ago when this kicked off. All the while their union is doing a good rabid dog impersonation, frothing at the mouth and barking at anyone who comes near. BASSA are on record as having withdrawn from all bar Health and Safety meetings with BA management over a year ago. The number of BASSA reps have been diminished either by sackings by the company as a result of disciplinary proceedings or by BASSA turning on its own members who choose to oppose the party line.

The mass meeting on the 6th will be a gathering of the faithful. Maximum capacity for Kempton Park is about 1,000 - so if filled to the brim that is between a tenth and a seventh of the total membership, a real majority !! There will be the usual fiery rhetoric aimed at geeing up the troops. There can be no call for further action as that requires a postal ballot. There may be a show of hands for solidarity with the sacked and suspended crew. There may be a show of hands for no negotiation unless staff travel is returned with full seniority. There will be the usual socialist claptrap spouted about injustices. They won't go quite as far as the 'comrades' stage, preferring the softer 'brothers and sisters' line. Speaker after speaker will tell the faithful how evil BA management are and how badly cabin crew have been treated both in the past and in more recent times. They will be reminded of the great strides the union has made on their behalf in securing decent working conditions. At the end a lot of hot air will have been expended, but nothing material will come of it. It will be rather like a tent revival meeting but without the christian decency. The union aim will be to whip attendees into a state of righteous indignation at the appalling actions of BA management on downtrodden workers, while carefully deflecting any criticism of their own shortcomings in negotiations. There will be no dissenting voices. Union democracy - doncha just love it