British Airways vs. BASSA (current Airline Staff Only)
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Yet more BASSA lies
It is staggering that BASSA consistently gets away with communicating downright lies to their members. It ought to be illegal for a union knowingly to mislead members like this. Just a few of the gems in the missive posted by Tiramisu.
- The arbitrary and unfair dismissal of our Branch Secretary
In fact Mr Holley was dismissed because he failed to turn up to work as a Eurofleet CSD which is what he is employed by BA to do during the snow disruption in December on three separate days. As the judge put it in his interim hearing he is not entitled to decide if and when he comes to work and BA is likely to win, which is why he was not reinstated on pay pending his full tribunal hearing. Yet according to BASSA the dismissal is arbitrary and unfair.
- The suspension and sacking of 70 of our cabin crew colleagues for trivial offences, 11 people have been dismissed out of the 58 disciplinaries concluded so far. Dismissal only took place where there was serious bullying, harrassment or intimidation (except for Mr Holley discussed above)
- The destruction of our negotiating framework , our agreements and the demise of the NSP
It was BASSA who wrote to the company months ago withdrawing from all meetings except disciplinaries and health and safety!!! How can they say it was the company who destroyed the negotiating framework etc, when it is they who decided to take the ball away!
The next few points are more issues of opinion rather than downright lies, but they play on fear by making people feel like victims whereas in fact the company seems to me to be exercising common sense.
- Removal of our right to proceed with all the outstanding legal claims arising from the dispute
Any individual would always be free to go ahead and pursue legal claims if they want to - but what kind of a settlement is it if one of the parties reserves the right to pursue the other in court over the very matters that are at the heart of the settlement? Just shows BASSA operates in a parallel universe,
- Accepting inferior disciplinary, grievance and attendance management procedures This will have to be negotiated with the other NSPs too - and in any event there is no explanation as to what is inferior
- Removal of our ability to take part in any future , lawful industrial action without punitive financial sanctions
This is rubbish - they expect the company to top up allowances for people who fail to get the average allowances because they have been on strike in breach of their employment contract and causing huge losses to the company
- Continued and sustained bullying and harassment by the company
????? I think this means the company insists on not doing what we tell them we want.
- BA censoring all future communication by the union to its members
???? This one seems delusional unless they mean they've been asked to stop LYING to their members
- Giving up all your union rights and the effective destruction of your trade union Can't find that anywhere in the offer - other unions seem to manage fine with the current management
- The arbitrary and unfair dismissal of our Branch Secretary
In fact Mr Holley was dismissed because he failed to turn up to work as a Eurofleet CSD which is what he is employed by BA to do during the snow disruption in December on three separate days. As the judge put it in his interim hearing he is not entitled to decide if and when he comes to work and BA is likely to win, which is why he was not reinstated on pay pending his full tribunal hearing. Yet according to BASSA the dismissal is arbitrary and unfair.
- The suspension and sacking of 70 of our cabin crew colleagues for trivial offences, 11 people have been dismissed out of the 58 disciplinaries concluded so far. Dismissal only took place where there was serious bullying, harrassment or intimidation (except for Mr Holley discussed above)
- The destruction of our negotiating framework , our agreements and the demise of the NSP
It was BASSA who wrote to the company months ago withdrawing from all meetings except disciplinaries and health and safety!!! How can they say it was the company who destroyed the negotiating framework etc, when it is they who decided to take the ball away!
The next few points are more issues of opinion rather than downright lies, but they play on fear by making people feel like victims whereas in fact the company seems to me to be exercising common sense.
- Removal of our right to proceed with all the outstanding legal claims arising from the dispute
Any individual would always be free to go ahead and pursue legal claims if they want to - but what kind of a settlement is it if one of the parties reserves the right to pursue the other in court over the very matters that are at the heart of the settlement? Just shows BASSA operates in a parallel universe,
- Accepting inferior disciplinary, grievance and attendance management procedures This will have to be negotiated with the other NSPs too - and in any event there is no explanation as to what is inferior
- Removal of our ability to take part in any future , lawful industrial action without punitive financial sanctions
This is rubbish - they expect the company to top up allowances for people who fail to get the average allowances because they have been on strike in breach of their employment contract and causing huge losses to the company
- Continued and sustained bullying and harassment by the company
????? I think this means the company insists on not doing what we tell them we want.
- BA censoring all future communication by the union to its members
???? This one seems delusional unless they mean they've been asked to stop LYING to their members
- Giving up all your union rights and the effective destruction of your trade union Can't find that anywhere in the offer - other unions seem to manage fine with the current management
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BASSA > Latest News
INTEREST FREE LOANS
Jul 13th, 2010 by admin
Striking crew who were at Bedfont Football club will have been heartened by the words of Lennie McCluskey, the prospective next general secretary of Unite, who informed the receptive crowd that it was Unites intention to alleviate the stress of industrial action by offering interest free loans to the few crew that would find the strike financially crippling.
Lennie went on to say that Unite had gathered a war chest of £750,000 for the intention of softening the blow of industrial action.
We are at a point now where we need to try and sort out who we can offer the loan to. If you have applied to unite for this loan, we will need a little more information to help the process.
We need you to provide documented evidence of severe financial hardship. This will be by providing us with 2 consecutive bank statements, giving all your out goings, plus copies of your last two pay slips, plus copies of your strike pay advise. Only people that took part in industrial action can apply.
I know we may have your payslips already for the strike pay, but please forgive us, as this is a different claim and we need the copies to support this new request.
You may find it helpful to support your request, by submitting as much evidence as possible, as we will need to decide who to give the loans to, and who we cannot. We need to make it clear that we will not be providing loans to everyone that applies for it, so it is in your best interest to be as free with your supporting information as possible.
We also need to impress on applicants, that this loan from your union will be accompanied by a legal framework that will surround its repayment structure.
Please contact [email protected] or write to S Harris, Unite House, 99 New Rd, Harlington, Middx, UB3 5BQ
This is one of the latest Bassa 'news' items. Just noticed who is sorting out the loans, none other than Steve Harris. Nice to see Bassa have got him sorted in the Unite offices. Just find it an irony that Mr. Harris is looking after £750k of loans!! Only could this happen with Unite/bassa
INTEREST FREE LOANS
Jul 13th, 2010 by admin
Striking crew who were at Bedfont Football club will have been heartened by the words of Lennie McCluskey, the prospective next general secretary of Unite, who informed the receptive crowd that it was Unites intention to alleviate the stress of industrial action by offering interest free loans to the few crew that would find the strike financially crippling.Lennie went on to say that Unite had gathered a war chest of £750,000 for the intention of softening the blow of industrial action.
We are at a point now where we need to try and sort out who we can offer the loan to. If you have applied to unite for this loan, we will need a little more information to help the process.
We need you to provide documented evidence of severe financial hardship. This will be by providing us with 2 consecutive bank statements, giving all your out goings, plus copies of your last two pay slips, plus copies of your strike pay advise. Only people that took part in industrial action can apply.
I know we may have your payslips already for the strike pay, but please forgive us, as this is a different claim and we need the copies to support this new request.
You may find it helpful to support your request, by submitting as much evidence as possible, as we will need to decide who to give the loans to, and who we cannot. We need to make it clear that we will not be providing loans to everyone that applies for it, so it is in your best interest to be as free with your supporting information as possible.
We also need to impress on applicants, that this loan from your union will be accompanied by a legal framework that will surround its repayment structure.
Please contact [email protected] or write to S Harris, Unite House, 99 New Rd, Harlington, Middx, UB3 5BQ
This is one of the latest Bassa 'news' items. Just noticed who is sorting out the loans, none other than Steve Harris. Nice to see Bassa have got him sorted in the Unite offices. Just find it an irony that Mr. Harris is looking after £750k of loans!! Only could this happen with Unite/bassa
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Just something that has been bugging me recently:
I received a ballot form from UNITE about the latest offer this week, despite cancelling my subscription in January. But, I was 'kicked out' of the BASSA internet forum SIX WEEKS after cancelling my membership.
So someone, somewhere must know who is actually in the union and who is not.
Has this happpened to anyone else?
Yes same thing happened to me although I've only left Bassa recently. Spoke to another crew who left in March and same thing. And they want people to trust them!! Unbelievable
I received a ballot form from UNITE about the latest offer this week, despite cancelling my subscription in January. But, I was 'kicked out' of the BASSA internet forum SIX WEEKS after cancelling my membership.
So someone, somewhere must know who is actually in the union and who is not.
Has this happpened to anyone else?
Yes same thing happened to me although I've only left Bassa recently. Spoke to another crew who left in March and same thing. And they want people to trust them!! Unbelievable
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No say to which routes are transferred to Mixed fleet
Bottom line - management take operational responsibility, and not this outdated dinosaur of a union.
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BA have just opened another web chat for crew. Just in case any crew posting here, like Slide Bustle, wanted to ask a question it is open untill 1PM today.
Last edited by Betty girl; 15th Jul 2010 at 10:47.
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- The arbitrary and unfair dismissal of our Branch Secretary
- Disciplinary proceedings to be continued against other members of the Branch Committee
- The suspension and sacking of 70 of our cabin crew colleagues for trivial offences
Bassa keep quoting how members are wrongly treated by BA, but this grievance procedure is agreed with all unions and each individual would be represented by a union rep, yet their cases are still ongoing. This tells me that either :
1. the cases are valid under the terms of the grievance procedure.
2. the union are failing to protect/represent their members correctly.
3. its all fabricated to scaremonger
or maybe all 3 !!!!!
I suspect that its No 2, as this has been the case in all aspects of the dispute.
- Disciplinary proceedings to be continued against other members of the Branch Committee
- The suspension and sacking of 70 of our cabin crew colleagues for trivial offences
Bassa keep quoting how members are wrongly treated by BA, but this grievance procedure is agreed with all unions and each individual would be represented by a union rep, yet their cases are still ongoing. This tells me that either :
1. the cases are valid under the terms of the grievance procedure.
2. the union are failing to protect/represent their members correctly.
3. its all fabricated to scaremonger
or maybe all 3 !!!!!
I suspect that its No 2, as this has been the case in all aspects of the dispute.
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Just for everyone's info, Mr. Holley was unsuccessful in his tribunal for unfair dismissal this week. There are many times in this country when the law of the land seems to be unfair and the accused seems to get away with all kinds of misdemeanors. But in this case they got it right 100%.
I find it amazing that so few crew know that DH was/is entitled to 3% of the members contributions/month equating in a sum of £72k for him per year since 1997. Straight into his back pocket. On top of that he got his £42k/year basic from BA and around £15k/ year for 'office' duties from Bassa/Unite. Thats more than a lot of longhaul captains earn. Yet the militants still believe he is hard done by, and some in the past have even wanted to set up a donation fund for him as he has been sacked. What can one say!!!
An aside here is how much money went into the Steve Harris fund and how much was donated into the PR fund earlier this year and how much was actually spent. Also where does the near £2M/year go that is given by the members each year into Bassa? Where is the audit on what is spent kept? Probably N.Korea!! Its all a mystery.
I find it amazing that so few crew know that DH was/is entitled to 3% of the members contributions/month equating in a sum of £72k for him per year since 1997. Straight into his back pocket. On top of that he got his £42k/year basic from BA and around £15k/ year for 'office' duties from Bassa/Unite. Thats more than a lot of longhaul captains earn. Yet the militants still believe he is hard done by, and some in the past have even wanted to set up a donation fund for him as he has been sacked. What can one say!!!
An aside here is how much money went into the Steve Harris fund and how much was donated into the PR fund earlier this year and how much was actually spent. Also where does the near £2M/year go that is given by the members each year into Bassa? Where is the audit on what is spent kept? Probably N.Korea!! Its all a mystery.
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Giza, Be prepared for 3 1/2 weeks of hard slog. Half way through mine and stuff is thrown at you, you will have to do loads at home just to keep up. It's not hard, just intense. Enjoy 
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Yep - nearing the end of mine. Hard, intense graft. But at the same time, lots of fun and very rewarding on many levels.
Had many instructors through the course - and I can honestly say they are all absolutely fantastic. Nothing too much trouble - everything is explained, but read your books, make sure your alarm clock is reliable and keep the mobile OFF (not silent).
Had many instructors through the course - and I can honestly say they are all absolutely fantastic. Nothing too much trouble - everything is explained, but read your books, make sure your alarm clock is reliable and keep the mobile OFF (not silent).
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Two years ago, BA Pilots were marching on Waterside over concerns that OpenSkies would be the thin edge of the wedge regarding the impostition of new low pay contracts.
This year, many of these pilots have worked as cabin crew to break a lawful and legitimate strike, yet now BALPA General Secretary Jim McAuslan is warning BA that it has set up a "mutuality agreement" with Iberia's pilots union to protect their own T&C's! I think this is called hypocrisy.
To people like gizza here, would you take a full time cabin crew job on £11,000 a year plus £2.40 an hour? I don't think so. Go back to your ground job before you make yourself redundant
This year, many of these pilots have worked as cabin crew to break a lawful and legitimate strike, yet now BALPA General Secretary Jim McAuslan is warning BA that it has set up a "mutuality agreement" with Iberia's pilots union to protect their own T&C's! I think this is called hypocrisy.
To people like gizza here, would you take a full time cabin crew job on £11,000 a year plus £2.40 an hour? I don't think so. Go back to your ground job before you make yourself redundant
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Duggie
You don't seem to get it........ these are the actions of a proper & progressive union that is looking after its members interests.
The merger of IB & BA will bring future challenges to the relationship between management & it's workforce. It is only proper that a union looks forward to see what the future threats are to it's members. In this case BALPA has been talking to it's Iberian cousin about the potential threats ans benefits of the merger. They will then be more prepared when that future arrives.
Tell me, how much prepertion work has BASSA done about the IB /BA merger - or will it be the usual shock horror / we never saw this coming / how can they do this to us / its the pilot's fault / spout lies type reaction - that is the BASSA way
You don't seem to get it........ these are the actions of a proper & progressive union that is looking after its members interests.
The merger of IB & BA will bring future challenges to the relationship between management & it's workforce. It is only proper that a union looks forward to see what the future threats are to it's members. In this case BALPA has been talking to it's Iberian cousin about the potential threats ans benefits of the merger. They will then be more prepared when that future arrives.
Tell me, how much prepertion work has BASSA done about the IB /BA merger - or will it be the usual shock horror / we never saw this coming / how can they do this to us / its the pilot's fault / spout lies type reaction - that is the BASSA way
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Duggie, do you actually know how much a new starter ground staff might earn?
FYI, i joined BA full time on £9.34k + £2,100pa fixed shift pay. Proper 37.5 hours per week full time, no time for extra jobs, 5am starts, night shifts, 14 hour long days and 11pm finishes, no allowances.
But i knew that when i joined, and if i didn't want to work for that amount, i would have gone elsewhere. Not wanting to earn that forever, i did what i had to do, and progressed through the company. I'm not unique, many others are just like me. And pleading cabin crew poverty when other work sections can earn just as little, doesnt engender any sympathy!
FYI, i joined BA full time on £9.34k + £2,100pa fixed shift pay. Proper 37.5 hours per week full time, no time for extra jobs, 5am starts, night shifts, 14 hour long days and 11pm finishes, no allowances.
But i knew that when i joined, and if i didn't want to work for that amount, i would have gone elsewhere. Not wanting to earn that forever, i did what i had to do, and progressed through the company. I'm not unique, many others are just like me. And pleading cabin crew poverty when other work sections can earn just as little, doesnt engender any sympathy!
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Duggie,
you are confusing the actions of individuals with those of the union. BALPA has never condoned or promoted pilots acting as VCC, they have stayed neutral on the issue. Individual pilots have volunteered as have many members of UNITE from other parts of the company.
So from the dictionary:
"hypocrisy - when someone pretends to believe something that they do not really believe or that is the opposite of what they do or say at another time"
So who are you accusing of hypocrisy? BALPA? They have never supported VCC. Individual Pilots? - they, individually, would have had to say something and act in a different fashion. For an example of this look at the CC who voted for a strike and then went to work.
Finally
Hurling abuse around like this hardly adds weight to your argument, but does reveal you to be a troll.
you are confusing the actions of individuals with those of the union. BALPA has never condoned or promoted pilots acting as VCC, they have stayed neutral on the issue. Individual pilots have volunteered as have many members of UNITE from other parts of the company.
So from the dictionary:
"hypocrisy - when someone pretends to believe something that they do not really believe or that is the opposite of what they do or say at another time"
So who are you accusing of hypocrisy? BALPA? They have never supported VCC. Individual Pilots? - they, individually, would have had to say something and act in a different fashion. For an example of this look at the CC who voted for a strike and then went to work.
Finally
To people like gizza here, would you take a full time cabin crew job on £11,000 a year plus £2.40 an hour? I don't think so. Go back to your ground job before you make yourself redundant
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Just to answer misrepresentative comments about BALPA's so called "neutral stance" in the cabin crew dispute, an Airbus Captain had to resign as a BALPA rep because he was compromising allegedly BALPA's position and actually flew as cabin crew during the first dispute to Boston. Now I wonder if he agrees with BALPA taking such a hositle position towards any future action by BA on his T&C's?
Anyone who takes a job as cabin crew under the new T&C's (£11,000 a year plus £2.40 an hour) must be desperate. Whilst the crew you fly with can afford to go out, you will have to bring your own food with you on trips. You will always be at the bottim of the seniority list and will get the most unpopular positions every trip. If the flight is delayed, you get nothing extra, whilst the rest of the crew will be on overtime.
Once you have been to New York or wherever a couple of times, the novelty will wear off. You will last 6 months before you realise that BA are taking the p*ss and you are merely slave labour. If you are intelligent enough, you should be able to find a better job paying more money with superior T&C's elsewhere. To anyone who accepts the new T&C's, you know what you are letting yourself in for.
Anyone who takes a job as cabin crew under the new T&C's (£11,000 a year plus £2.40 an hour) must be desperate. Whilst the crew you fly with can afford to go out, you will have to bring your own food with you on trips. You will always be at the bottim of the seniority list and will get the most unpopular positions every trip. If the flight is delayed, you get nothing extra, whilst the rest of the crew will be on overtime.
Once you have been to New York or wherever a couple of times, the novelty will wear off. You will last 6 months before you realise that BA are taking the p*ss and you are merely slave labour. If you are intelligent enough, you should be able to find a better job paying more money with superior T&C's elsewhere. To anyone who accepts the new T&C's, you know what you are letting yourself in for.