Go Back  PPRuNe Forums > Other Aircrew Forums > Cabin Crew
Reload this Page >

British Airways vs. BASSA (current Airline Staff Only)

Wikiposts
Search
Cabin Crew Where professional flight attendants discuss matters that affect our jobs & lives.

British Airways vs. BASSA (current Airline Staff Only)

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 29th Jun 2010, 20:56
  #581 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: LHR
Posts: 741
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
By "facilities agreement", I take this to mean office space in T5 for BASSA but did this include de-rostering for reps to conduct union business?
ISTR that the reps were denied de-rostering from trips from late last year because they decided to withdraw from negotiations on almost all matters (apart from Health & Safety).

This was what prompted disciplinary proceedings against DH because he did not report for duty for trips before Christmas.
LD12986 is offline  
Old 29th Jun 2010, 20:59
  #582 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Ava Hannah
Willie Walsh is only dragging this out because he is convinced that sooner or later everyone will return to work because we can't afford to strike for an eternity. This is achievable by the assistance of VCC and non-striking crew members.
Excellent, you're getting there!

Come in to work on the next strike day and see how close we are to being able to run that full operation by the numbers of cabin crew prepared to work and the numbers of volunteers backing BA. You'll see that the demands of Bassa are becoming increasingly irrelevant, as the company will simply carry on without them, no matter how long they strike.

There can be no agreement, so there won't be one.
midman is offline  
Old 29th Jun 2010, 21:06
  #583 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: LGW
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
So what was the scope of the now lapsed "Facilities Agreement" between BA and BASSA?
Rover90 is offline  
Old 29th Jun 2010, 21:08
  #584 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: london
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I have worked for this company for over 17 years. I have climbed the career latter. I think I, and many others, deserve a bit of respect from our current management.
You forget that BA is very rare in that it has far higher than usual lengths of service amongst its staff. Crew are not the sole stalwarts of the company as you might assume. The majority of staff whether crew, Checkin-in, ramp, engineering, I.M, managment, ramp etc etc, have ALL given many years to the company and invested time, hard work and loyalty. 35, 45 years service are common across the business. The most recent joiner in my department has 12 years service. We all want a long term future for our company, so that it can give us an ongoing career.

I joined BA over 14 years ago in the front line dealing with customers. I have climbed the career ladder 8 grades since i joined. That is why i am glad W.W and BA have shown ME some respect by not allowing a selfish and narrow sighted minority of CC to destroy all that I have worked for, nor frittered away the sacrifices that the rest of us have made for our future by caving into toddler tantrums by a misguided and disingenuous union.

So, well done on 17 years, well done on being loyal and climbing the ladder as far as you have, I have much respect for that. But that is in the past now. It is you and your union who has thrown respect back in BA's face by cheering and insisting on no negotiation, and refusing to join the rest of us in contributing for the FUTURE. So don't be surprised if you don't feel that the rest of us are respecting you any more.
BAAlltheway is offline  
Old 29th Jun 2010, 21:09
  #585 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: About 3000 below Midhurst SID I reckon
Posts: 691
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Many of us know exactly what our management is planning
For the thousands that don't know Ava, please inform us all.

From conversations i've had with crew, many are still undecided if they should be striking or not.

So if you have facts that could help them decide, this could be your chance to silence the 'opposition', and win over the high percentage that apparantly crossed the picket line, as well as those too who didn't have to make a decision.
sixmilehighclub is offline  
Old 29th Jun 2010, 21:21
  #586 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Joburg
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Excellent, you're getting there!

Come in to work on the next strike day and see how close we are to being able to run that full operation by the numbers of cabin crew prepared to work and the numbers of volunteers backing BA. You'll see that the demands of Bassa are becoming increasingly irrelevant, as the company will simply carry on without them, no matter how long they strike.

There can be no agreement, so there won't be one.
There will be an agreement sooner or later. I have lost staff travel and thousands of pounds. What have I got to lose to strike during another period? Nothing! Surely we can't give up now.
Ava Hannah is offline  
Old 29th Jun 2010, 21:25
  #587 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: 35,000 ft
Posts: 468
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I am trying to protect my job and my income.
Then Ava, from one crew member to another, from one parent to another, and from one colleague to another, please can I offer you some sincere advice?

Accept the offer. It is a good one. Tell Unite you want it. Vote for it. And then move on.

Sometimes not winning, but simply walking away and moving on can be equally good therapy. There are no winners in any of this. We all lose. Let's stop fighting and start excelling again.

Life, as you are sadly more aware than others, is simply too short. Stop fighting, and give yourself a break. You'll be amazed at how easy it is and how good it feels. ATB.
HiFlyer14 is offline  
Old 29th Jun 2010, 21:28
  #588 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Joburg
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You forget that BA is very rare in that it has far higher than usual lengths of service amongst its staff. Crew are not the sole stalwarts of the company as you might assume. The majority of staff whether crew, Checkin-in, ramp, engineering, I.M, managment, ramp etc etc, have ALL given many years to the company and invested time, hard work and loyalty. 35, 45 years service are common across the business. The most recent joiner in my department has 12 years service. We all want a long term future for our company, so that it can give us an ongoing career.
I am not forgetting anything. Our customers spend the most time with us cabin crew and we are usually the faces they remember. I think you would see that most cabin crew are wanting a long term future within BA but it's not easy when they want to replace us with £11.000-a-year cabin crew members.

So, well done on 17 years, well done on being loyal and climbing the ladder as far as you have, I have much respect for that. But that is in the past now. It is you and your union who has thrown respect back in BA's face by cheering and insisting on no negotiation, and refusing to join the rest of us in contributing for the FUTURE. So don't be surprised if you don't feel that the rest of us are respecting you any more.
Don't worry. Many of us don't respect you either after what many ground staff have done and trained to become VCCs.
Ava Hannah is offline  
Old 29th Jun 2010, 21:29
  #589 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 1998
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 368
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Ava Hannah
There will be an agreement sooner or later. I have lost staff travel and thousands of pounds. What have I got to lose to strike during another period? Nothing! Surely we can't give up now.
Ava,

That may well be true. It would serve well for you to think, if only briefly, what BA, if anything, has to lose by you going on strike anymore. I suspect that each time, the impact diminishes and BASSA are left looking increasingly like an arcane irrelevance.

Also, I note you've dropped the reference to price fixing (a tacit acceptance, I presume, that Mr. Walsh cannot be responsible for things that happened before he joined the airline?) so thank you for that but I wonder if you might consider my earlier question wherein I asked what you think "he" is doing to destroy the brand. I fear you might find that from the outside looking in, there's a groundswell of people (not just other staff groups) who are finally glad the airline is being brought kicking and screaming into the present day. If you wish to be the anachronism that tries to resist all that, by all means, go ahead but be aware that it's an all or nothing strategy and there won't be many looking over their shoulders to check on your wellbeing if your gamble is the wrong one.

MrB
MrBunker is offline  
Old 29th Jun 2010, 21:30
  #590 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Gatwick
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Ava Hannah

"They have been constantly comparing, and exaggerating, our salaries to other LCC's throughout this dispute with the only purpose to make us appear us overpaid belladonnas".

You have been told already but BA management don't need to dream up figures like BASSA - just look yourself at The UK Civil Aviation Authority. The CAA publish the figures - not the airline.

I do and have worked for a number of airlines, related industries, and very different large companies and by far, BA was the softest on employees bar the local government/civil service. They have all changed to save their industries/jobs - why can't BASSA or do you want to be the latest success like Rover, Miners, Steel industry etc
mastafreighter is offline  
Old 29th Jun 2010, 21:34
  #591 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: maidenhead
Posts: 941
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Angel

Please any striker reading this stop and think what might happen if you strike.

The offer is really good and could have been agreed by negotiation if BASSA had wanted to in the first place.

Bill Francis has today been answering questions on a web chat on the crew forum. Please read it. It answers loads of questions put to him mostly by striking crew.

They are going to give you some staff travel back and in time I am sure they may eventually return it all but that will never happen if you strike. You will more likely lose your job too.
Betty girl is offline  
Old 29th Jun 2010, 21:44
  #592 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Joburg
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Then Ava, from one crew member to another, from one parent to another, and from one colleague to another, please can I offer you some sincere advice?

Accept the offer. It is a good one. Tell Unite you want it. Vote for it. And then move on.

Sometimes not winning, but simply walking away and moving on can be equally good therapy. There are no winners in any of this. We all lose. Let's stop fighting and start excelling again.

Life, as you are sadly more aware than others, is simply too short. Stop fighting, and give yourself a break. You'll be amazed at how easy it is and how good it feels. ATB.
HiFlyer14, it is a fair offer if you haven't been on strike. Why should I stop fighting? They have made it perfectly clear that those of us who are pursers are superfluous. I have nothing to lose except a couple of days pay.
Ava Hannah is offline  
Old 29th Jun 2010, 21:44
  #593 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Between a rock & a hard place.
Posts: 486
Likes: 0
Received 15 Likes on 7 Posts
Virgin crew costs. Sorry, but just because it is written on a CAA web site, or any other web site for that matter, doesn't mean I have to believe it. And I err on the don't quite believe it side of things. Where do the CAA get there figures from? direct from airlines? Virgin in particular is a private company and not a PLC, it doesn't need, nor I believe, to publish its costs. And remember that the £14k figure is costs not salary. Uniform, training, hotac, transport etc. Take those figures away from £14k and then the allowances, which I'm led to believe are not generous at Virgin, and you're not looking at much. Include staff with 25 years service and the average should rise. It just doesn't add up in my book. I know a few ex Virgin staff and they agree, or they were way above average.

This business of not de-rostering reps. Come on BA, I want this dispute over and so allegedly do you. So why not de-roster the reps so that your proposal can be discussed and just maybe accepted. Its one day, if you want this malaise to be over - show some willing, de-roster the reps. Remember the branch meeting is a two way matter, and lots of crew have lots of questions and points of view to be put to the reps. Its little things like this that make me suspicious that the 'break the union' crowd may have a valid point.
PC767 is offline  
Old 29th Jun 2010, 21:52
  #594 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Joburg
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You have been told already but BA management don't need to dream up figures like BASSA - just look yourself at The UK Civil Aviation Authority. The CAA publish the figures - not the airline.

I do and have worked for a number of airlines, related industries, and very different large companies and by far, BA was the softest on employees bar the local government/civil service. They have all changed to save their industries/jobs - why can't BASSA or do you want to be the latest success like Rover, Miners, Steel industry etc
The figures for VA does NOT include allowances.

Most of us want to be part of a success but we are fighting against a nasty management which wants to replace all of us. What else can we do? Sit and do nothing?
Ava Hannah is offline  
Old 29th Jun 2010, 22:05
  #595 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: LGW
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Ava Hannah wrote:

What have I got to lose to strike during another period? Nothing! Surely we can't give up now.
To be honest, in the worst case, your job.

Ava, I don't feel that BASSA have much left in their armoury apart from your quote "Surely we can't give up now"

By contrast, BA has a whole raft of options and the polling of non-union crew is just the start of the end game.

Mr Walsh will surely prevail and it is just a question of when persons supporting further strike action actually sign up or otherwise that will determine their future in British Airways or otherwise.
Rover90 is offline  
Old 29th Jun 2010, 22:08
  #596 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London
Posts: 166
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Virgin crew costs. Sorry, but just because it is written on a CAA web site, or any other web site for that matter, doesn't mean I have to believe it. And I err on the don't quite believe it side of things. Where do the CAA get there figures from? direct from airlines?
I would imagine so. The CAA can audit airlines (especially as they underwrite the ATOL scheme). We could start claiming that the CAA and Virgin are making up figures, like BASSA claim BA are, but that would be 'virgin' on the ridiculous.


And remember that the £14k figure is costs not salary. Uniform, training, hotac, transport etc.
Caribbean boy previously quoted what those figures include, but for completeness they were:

Expenditure Total expenditure for the salaries and allowances of all employees. Included are gross salary (before deduction of income tax, pension social welfare and voluntary payments), overtime pay, sales commissions, flying pay and subsistence allowances, (such as cost of living allowances, station and overseas allowances) and all crew hourly flight allowances (i.e. those in excess of travel and incidental expenses).

No hotac, no uniforms, no transport. Just what they get paid. And there won't be many staff with 25 years service as the airline is only 26 years old. Plus they only have one real supervisory grade on board for crew, the IFS. Being a 'senior' doesn't really bring any more money home.

This business of not de-rostering reps. Come on BA, I want this dispute over and so allegedly do you. So why not de-roster the reps so that your proposal can be discussed and just maybe accepted.
According to Willie BASSA unilaterally withdrew from the facilities agreement last December, so why should BA de-roster the reps?

Its one day, if you want this malaise to be over - show some willing, de-roster the reps.
It seems a pertinent time to remind all that the deadline for negotiation was June 30th 2009. How many 'one days' do BASSA want?

Remember the branch meeting is a two way matter, and lots of crew have lots of questions and points of view to be put to the reps. Its little things like this that make me suspicious that the 'break the union' crowd may have a valid point.
Honestly, how many critical voices will you hear at a branch meeting? We all know how it's going to work; the militants will attend, the moderates will stay away, the reps will tell a tale of woe about how badly they've been treated, the members will line up to say "no surrender, no deal until staff travel is reinstated and the hostages are released" and everyone will leave no closer to a settlement. Really, why should BA waste the time?
Timothy Claypole is offline  
Old 29th Jun 2010, 22:09
  #597 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: 35,000 ft
Posts: 468
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It's quite astounding that on the ESS webchat yesterday with BF, so many crew were (quite rudely on many counts) insisting that BA should give staff travel back, and then they would accept the offer. We had the usual BASSA soundbites "illegal to punish legal industrial action" blah, blah, blah.

The astounding bit is, that, regardless of the legality or illegallity of the removal of staff travel, they just don't see the IRONY of what they're asking for.

Everyone had staff travel BEFORE the strike, which cost us millions, which ruined the reputation of our community, and which inconvenienced lots of our customers. So if they do get it back (and quite frankly I don't mind one way or another) WHAT WILL THEY HAVE ACHIEVED through striking?? NOTHING. NADA. ZILCH.

But remarkably, that does not actually seem to figure in their understanding of the whole situation.

The other astounding bit was how blatantly rude, arrogant and unprofessional they were on a corporate forum. Now, remind me again, which side is the bully in all of this?

I am BA cabin crew and this is my own viewpoint and not that of BA.
HiFlyer14 is offline  
Old 29th Jun 2010, 22:14
  #598 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London
Posts: 166
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Ah but they weren't rude Hiflyer. It said so on BASSA and CrewForum. They'll cant even tell when they're being offensive now!
Timothy Claypole is offline  
Old 29th Jun 2010, 22:17
  #599 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Ava Hannah
There will be an agreement sooner or later. I have lost staff travel and thousands of pounds. What have I got to lose to strike during another period? Nothing! Surely we can't give up now.
I don't think there will be an agreement. Any agreement would provide Bassa with significant 'strutting' room which would allow them to fight another day. All this effort and money is aimed at making Bassa irrelevant - not breaking them, just sidelining them. They won't be allowed to continue with the status quo.

Once WW has New Fleet running, has his thousands of volunteers, temps and strikebreakers in place, he can allow Militant Fleet to wither and die on the vine. With no work that will happen fast.

Why do you think he has offered non-union members the opportunity to sign up for the separate contract? Once they are separate from the No voting Bassa hardliners, he can offer all those XXXX old contract holders a new contract that they cannot accept, and they leave.
In one fell swoop he rewards non-strikers and gets rid of the militant tendency. And it's all legal as they have self-selected and it's unconnected to the strike.

Clever move, but have Bassa spotted it?
midman is offline  
Old 29th Jun 2010, 22:36
  #600 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LHR
Age: 49
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Unite legal action on staff travel

Does anyone have any concrete info on if, or indeed when , UNITE intend to take BA to court for the reinstatement of staff travel in its original form. Its just that, I heard out on line that UNITE are taking BA to court for the reinstatement of staff travel. It could turn out to be a rumour, though.

AD

Last edited by AtlasDrawer; 29th Jun 2010 at 22:44. Reason: typo
AtlasDrawer is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.