BA CC industrial relations (current airline staff only)
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Dear Bettygirl
I'm not sure what's "crass" about Mixed Fleet and the hats issue. The Mixed Fleet crew look great in their hats. They are being paid half of what existing crew get. E/F and W/W crew have been given the option of being issued hats providing they give up their trousers and stick to skirts, so they have had the choice - but haven't taken it up. So what's the problem with hats?
Would you be content if the new crew were just paid the lesser amount with absolutely nothing to give them pride in the new initiative? I draw your attention to an earlier post of mine when I stated my satisfaction that the new fleet is not having to fly with existing crew, the majority of whom are superb but with a sufficiently large minority to ruin morale amongst the new, enthusiastic, happy and motivated flight attendants.
Everyone in the new fleet wants to work in harmony with you but you seem to be putting up barriers to this - and it doesn't seem to make sense.
Would you be content if the new crew were just paid the lesser amount with absolutely nothing to give them pride in the new initiative? I draw your attention to an earlier post of mine when I stated my satisfaction that the new fleet is not having to fly with existing crew, the majority of whom are superb but with a sufficiently large minority to ruin morale amongst the new, enthusiastic, happy and motivated flight attendants.
Everyone in the new fleet wants to work in harmony with you but you seem to be putting up barriers to this - and it doesn't seem to make sense.
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Pointingpilot,
I think you are right. This is one huge big mess and as a non striker I believe Bassa and Amicus have done us all a great big disservice by not negotiating properly in the beginning.
The very sad thing is, that there are great crew on both sides of the argument and we are actually just pawns in a bigger game being played out by the unions and BA. Daily I am shocked by the lack of knowledge of some crew of what is actually going on. Many are blindly going with whatever the union tells them which seems to change on a daily basis.
Now we are all being taunted by Mixed Fleet which has been introduced in the most provocative way possible. Their new desks being placed in the most prominant position possible in the Crew Report Centre right in the centre, next to the ops desk. The use of the Hat to make them look better than us current crew. Total brainwashing during the training that seems to have made the majority of Mixed Fleet CSMs actually believe that they are somehow special, even though at least 5 of them actually went on strike and at least 3 of them for the full 22 days.
But hey ho life goes on. I just wish that those that are not crew could understand just how hard this is for all crew, whether they striked or not. Most of us continue to give great service to our customers and the pressure of not being able to talk openly about how you feel, for fear of upsetting someone else with differing views, is immense and has been going on now for over a year. I as a non union member have been unable to have any say in the matter for a year now and that has now become true for union members too. We are all just pawns.
I think you are right. This is one huge big mess and as a non striker I believe Bassa and Amicus have done us all a great big disservice by not negotiating properly in the beginning.
The very sad thing is, that there are great crew on both sides of the argument and we are actually just pawns in a bigger game being played out by the unions and BA. Daily I am shocked by the lack of knowledge of some crew of what is actually going on. Many are blindly going with whatever the union tells them which seems to change on a daily basis.
Now we are all being taunted by Mixed Fleet which has been introduced in the most provocative way possible. Their new desks being placed in the most prominant position possible in the Crew Report Centre right in the centre, next to the ops desk. The use of the Hat to make them look better than us current crew. Total brainwashing during the training that seems to have made the majority of Mixed Fleet CSMs actually believe that they are somehow special, even though at least 5 of them actually went on strike and at least 3 of them for the full 22 days.
But hey ho life goes on. I just wish that those that are not crew could understand just how hard this is for all crew, whether they striked or not. Most of us continue to give great service to our customers and the pressure of not being able to talk openly about how you feel, for fear of upsetting someone else with differing views, is immense and has been going on now for over a year. I as a non union member have been unable to have any say in the matter for a year now and that has now become true for union members too. We are all just pawns.
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Wheezyjet,
That is just not true at all. We have at no time been offered to wear the hat.
I don't know if you are a pilot or a Mixed Fleet crew member but I don't think any crew are not being nice to Mixed Fleet crew. The hat is making Mixed Fleet crew stick out like a sore thumb and it is BA that have done that.
Uniform is uniform by nature so we should all either be in the hats or all not in the hats and if you can't see that or somehow see it as a reward for being paid less there is little point in me discussing it with you and you actually prove my point about how badly Mixed Fleet has been implemented.
I don't actually think it is fair on these new crew to be wearing this big beacon on their heads marking them out the way it does. I have noticed even Flight Crew staring at them!!!
That is just not true at all. We have at no time been offered to wear the hat.
I don't know if you are a pilot or a Mixed Fleet crew member but I don't think any crew are not being nice to Mixed Fleet crew. The hat is making Mixed Fleet crew stick out like a sore thumb and it is BA that have done that.
Uniform is uniform by nature so we should all either be in the hats or all not in the hats and if you can't see that or somehow see it as a reward for being paid less there is little point in me discussing it with you and you actually prove my point about how badly Mixed Fleet has been implemented.
I don't actually think it is fair on these new crew to be wearing this big beacon on their heads marking them out the way it does. I have noticed even Flight Crew staring at them!!!
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It does strike me as a touch brazen to introduce hats on Mixed Fleet so soon as it seems to serve little purpose other than to isolate the crew. I'm not sure I can agree that legacy crew are not being hostile to the new recruits though. There was open gloating on both crew forums today that one of the Mixed Fleet crew members had been taken ill at work. It was most unseemly, and even though the moderates eventually waded in it did remind me that we have to work with some of the dregs of society.
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i think they hats look great. They have always looked great with the uniform.
On Bill Francis' latest chat he said that if current crew wanted hats then it could be introduced but would require a change in uniform entitlement and I imagine it would have to go to the union for consultation.
On Bill Francis' latest chat he said that if current crew wanted hats then it could be introduced but would require a change in uniform entitlement and I imagine it would have to go to the union for consultation.
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Yellowpen,
I think there are a few nasty posters on these sites but I don't think they are representative of the literally 1000's of crew that don't post. They are mostly the militant minority on Bassa and Crew forum.
As a non union member and having been banned from the crew forum for explaining why I worked, I don't have access to these sites. Just out of interest because I don't think you are cabin crew, how do you get to see what is being said on those two forums? I notice that a lot of pilots seem to have access.
Anyway I just think it is human nature to look at people that are dressed differently and I feel it is really unfair on these new crew as much as I feel it is rubbing the noses in the dirt of the loyal crew, that came to work during the strike and now are being made to feel like second class citizens. No longer valued by BA or many of the Flight Crew if some of the posters on this sight are to be believed.
I think there are a few nasty posters on these sites but I don't think they are representative of the literally 1000's of crew that don't post. They are mostly the militant minority on Bassa and Crew forum.
As a non union member and having been banned from the crew forum for explaining why I worked, I don't have access to these sites. Just out of interest because I don't think you are cabin crew, how do you get to see what is being said on those two forums? I notice that a lot of pilots seem to have access.
Anyway I just think it is human nature to look at people that are dressed differently and I feel it is really unfair on these new crew as much as I feel it is rubbing the noses in the dirt of the loyal crew, that came to work during the strike and now are being made to feel like second class citizens. No longer valued by BA or many of the Flight Crew if some of the posters on this sight are to be believed.
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Pointinpilot,
Yes you are right the hats do look great and that is why it has become such an issue I think. It is being used like a reward because it was previously only being used for VIP flights.
And yes Bill Francis did say that he would consider us having the hat but he did not offer up any way we could actually go about accepting it and I am pretty sure that having a hat or not is not a union matter. If it is then the world really has gone bonkers.
Yes you are right the hats do look great and that is why it has become such an issue I think. It is being used like a reward because it was previously only being used for VIP flights.
And yes Bill Francis did say that he would consider us having the hat but he did not offer up any way we could actually go about accepting it and I am pretty sure that having a hat or not is not a union matter. If it is then the world really has gone bonkers.
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I think you may be being a bit harsh on yourself Betty. I think most flight crew still greatly value those crew who are company minded and a pleasure to work with, whether they went on strike or not. Broad brush generalisations are for the simple minded and most of us don't assume striker=bad, non-striker=good simply because we know there are plenty of toxic personalities who did not strike and plenty of excellent crew who did. The problem we face, and I suspect most other staff in other BA departments, is that nobody is banging the drum for the moderates. They are, understandably, rather more meek than the militant nutters and so don't get the praise they deserve but the derision they don't. Sadly I think it's only when the moderates 'step up to the plate' en masse that this dispute will come to a close. That may require the PCCC to come out into the open but the moderates need a rallying point to restore their reputation. The solution to the BASSA idiocy can only come from within.
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Thank you for that Yellowpen.
Yes you are right and maybe some of the crew that have remained in Bassa will see now that Bassa are basically looking out only for themselves in all of this and hopefully some will now leave.
And yes I think the PCCC will come out soon and then crew will realise that they are not management but ordinary loyal crew trying to make things better.
I think I probably am getting a bit too upset about the hat but as someone that has always worked hard for BA and given my all and always been loyal, the way Mixed Fleet has been started up, has had the effect of making me feel like I am on the scrap heap now.
When I go into the CRC and see the Mixed Fleet being made to feel so special it does make me feel that BA don't value my contribution anymore. I think it is a huge mistake for BA to make people like me feel this way and I can tell you, it is the more moderate crew like me that have been most affected by the way Mixed Fleet has been brought in.
It could have been done in a much more subtle way, which would have been better for Mixed Fleet crew and would not have upset the more moderate crew like me and there are huge numbers that feel as I do.
Yes you are right and maybe some of the crew that have remained in Bassa will see now that Bassa are basically looking out only for themselves in all of this and hopefully some will now leave.
And yes I think the PCCC will come out soon and then crew will realise that they are not management but ordinary loyal crew trying to make things better.
I think I probably am getting a bit too upset about the hat but as someone that has always worked hard for BA and given my all and always been loyal, the way Mixed Fleet has been started up, has had the effect of making me feel like I am on the scrap heap now.
When I go into the CRC and see the Mixed Fleet being made to feel so special it does make me feel that BA don't value my contribution anymore. I think it is a huge mistake for BA to make people like me feel this way and I can tell you, it is the more moderate crew like me that have been most affected by the way Mixed Fleet has been brought in.
It could have been done in a much more subtle way, which would have been better for Mixed Fleet crew and would not have upset the more moderate crew like me and there are huge numbers that feel as I do.
Last edited by Betty girl; 12th Nov 2010 at 09:43.
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Bettygirl, I'm really sorry to tell you but some of your fears are true. Whenever a group behaves badly be they football supporters, youths, nations (think Germans in the war or North Korea) then the public perception is of the worst aspects.
Any bad group will have moderates or people opposed but the overall group image is what counts.
During the worst trading spell in recent history the cabin crew as a group refused to negotiate, refused to make cuts, had a hissy fit and then went on strike! (While everyone else pulled together and made cuts)
Prior to that was a refusal to hand out hot towels and the massive inflexibility of the snow disruption.
Was that your fault Bettygirl?
No doubt it wasn't, but the union and it's followers are responsible.
The rest of the airline and the world now see crew as spoilt and selfish.
Sad fact but true.
New fleet is seen as a breath of fresh air and the only potential end to all this, sadly given the latest union u-turn I think it's probably true.
It would take a wholesale change of attitude from current crew and unions before things can start to change.
Do you see that happening anytime soon?
If crew/unions had acted responsibily to start with or at least at some point during the last year we wouldn't be in this situation.
The bottom line is that the crew community is split, demotivated, bitter and vilified. No other work group is like that so does that point to BA or BASSA as being the cause?
Any bad group will have moderates or people opposed but the overall group image is what counts.
During the worst trading spell in recent history the cabin crew as a group refused to negotiate, refused to make cuts, had a hissy fit and then went on strike! (While everyone else pulled together and made cuts)
Prior to that was a refusal to hand out hot towels and the massive inflexibility of the snow disruption.
Was that your fault Bettygirl?
No doubt it wasn't, but the union and it's followers are responsible.
The rest of the airline and the world now see crew as spoilt and selfish.
Sad fact but true.
New fleet is seen as a breath of fresh air and the only potential end to all this, sadly given the latest union u-turn I think it's probably true.
It would take a wholesale change of attitude from current crew and unions before things can start to change.
Do you see that happening anytime soon?
If crew/unions had acted responsibily to start with or at least at some point during the last year we wouldn't be in this situation.
The bottom line is that the crew community is split, demotivated, bitter and vilified. No other work group is like that so does that point to BA or BASSA as being the cause?
Last edited by plodding along; 12th Nov 2010 at 11:41.
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Well this is the problem, particularly on this site, that people tar all crew with the same brush.
The truth is that most crew continue to be professional and charming to our passengers, whether they striked or did not strike and savings have been made by the removal of crew on the aircraft. I do realise that this was not agreed by Bassa but a lot of cabin crew worked and have been totally loyal to BA and are happy working to the new crew compliments.
Why is Mixed Fleet so special in the eyes of so many. I know of at least 5 newly promoted CSMs who actually striked!!!! I did not strike and I have a great relationship with all the airbus pilots I fly with and all the Turnaround Managers and ground staff. I would always be nice to new crew joining BA and have actually encouraged some young main crew to go for the job of CSM. I did not for one moment realise that Mixed Fleet would be being used to put down all the loyal hardworking crew, like it is being and quite frankly it is not fair, on the Mixed Fleet crew either, that they are being used like this by BA.
I thank Yellow pen for his more balanced view but I just wish that it were more common. It is just so sad that many crew feel so disheartened right now and a lot of us have been totally loyal to BA.
The truth is that most crew continue to be professional and charming to our passengers, whether they striked or did not strike and savings have been made by the removal of crew on the aircraft. I do realise that this was not agreed by Bassa but a lot of cabin crew worked and have been totally loyal to BA and are happy working to the new crew compliments.
Why is Mixed Fleet so special in the eyes of so many. I know of at least 5 newly promoted CSMs who actually striked!!!! I did not strike and I have a great relationship with all the airbus pilots I fly with and all the Turnaround Managers and ground staff. I would always be nice to new crew joining BA and have actually encouraged some young main crew to go for the job of CSM. I did not for one moment realise that Mixed Fleet would be being used to put down all the loyal hardworking crew, like it is being and quite frankly it is not fair, on the Mixed Fleet crew either, that they are being used like this by BA.
I thank Yellow pen for his more balanced view but I just wish that it were more common. It is just so sad that many crew feel so disheartened right now and a lot of us have been totally loyal to BA.
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I am the same as Betty girl, I have a good working relationship with the flight crew I work with. I have no hesitation going in and out of the flight deck and feel that some Pursers are quite happy for me to do flight deck service. I still ask, crew permitting, if I can go in the flight deck for take off and landing, much to the dislike of some, but it is always welcomed by the flight crew.
I have a number of flight crew friends and although I get a good bit of rip taking over the whole BASSA thing out of work, they know my position and no serious conversation ever ensues.
I realized at several points in the time leading up to this whole situation going pop, that my trust and confidence in BASSA was starting to wain and I started to doubt my level of commitment to the cause. I remember having several conversations with some very hard line members that re-affirmed my thoughts and when November rolled up last year, I realized that I no longer wanted to be part of something that I did not believe in. So I left. The easiest thing I have done. E-mail to BASSA and a phone call followed by an e-mail to payroll.
I have a number of flight crew friends and although I get a good bit of rip taking over the whole BASSA thing out of work, they know my position and no serious conversation ever ensues.
I realized at several points in the time leading up to this whole situation going pop, that my trust and confidence in BASSA was starting to wain and I started to doubt my level of commitment to the cause. I remember having several conversations with some very hard line members that re-affirmed my thoughts and when November rolled up last year, I realized that I no longer wanted to be part of something that I did not believe in. So I left. The easiest thing I have done. E-mail to BASSA and a phone call followed by an e-mail to payroll.
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Mixed Fleet would be being used to put down all the loyal hardworking crew, like it is being and quite frankly it is not fair, on the Mixed Fleet crew either, that they are being used like this by BA.
Mixed fleet was off the table last year if current crew had been prepared to reduce their costs.
We are not so shallow as to hate all crew personally, I just said that as a GROUP the image of current crew is very poor because of the group behaviour.
The working relationship with current crew is ok on a daily basis if the crew are nice like yourselves. Alas if you asked most people behind closed doors what they thought of crew in general you might not like the answer.
If that upsets you and the many other hard working loyal crew then do something about it!
BASSA is only still in existence and still fighting a lost cause because so many crew are still supporting them.
Why do crew not resign, force a change to the bassa strategy and then rejoin if and when they represent the wants and needs of the community as a whole?
This can't be blamed on BA, everything so far is as result of BASSA and it's inflexibility.
Oh, and hats would be a union thing, BA can't just force everyone to wear one, not everyone would want one.
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Do all of you think that causing the loyal crew that did not strike to feel that the company no longer values them is a good thing.
Did not the company say it would take 10 years for Mixed Fleet to grow to 40%. Are you all actually suggesting that you want the majority of your cabin crew including the 50% that did not strike to have low moral and feel second best.
Would it not be better for OUR airline if BA made us all feel valued particularly the 50% of cabin crew that have up until now been on BA's side and not alienate all of us totally.
I totally backed BA and have been against the way Bassa have handled this from day one and so have many crew but I can tell you that the way Mixed Fleet crew are being told they are 'the elite' and made to feel that way by being given the hat and fawned over is having a very bad effect on many loyal crew like me.
But hey, if you want an unhappy workforce, fine. I am just saying it, how it is! I just don't understand why the whole introduction could not have been handled a lot better. It serves absolutely no purpose to upset the crew that are on side as well as the Bassa followers.
Did not the company say it would take 10 years for Mixed Fleet to grow to 40%. Are you all actually suggesting that you want the majority of your cabin crew including the 50% that did not strike to have low moral and feel second best.
Would it not be better for OUR airline if BA made us all feel valued particularly the 50% of cabin crew that have up until now been on BA's side and not alienate all of us totally.
I totally backed BA and have been against the way Bassa have handled this from day one and so have many crew but I can tell you that the way Mixed Fleet crew are being told they are 'the elite' and made to feel that way by being given the hat and fawned over is having a very bad effect on many loyal crew like me.
But hey, if you want an unhappy workforce, fine. I am just saying it, how it is! I just don't understand why the whole introduction could not have been handled a lot better. It serves absolutely no purpose to upset the crew that are on side as well as the Bassa followers.
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No we don't!
That's the whole point, we want you guys to move on so just sign the new deal, do your job and look forward to a good future in a prosperous company...
Oh wait, you can't sign the deal because the unions won't let you.
Can you seen a common problem here?
Tell BASSA what you want, sign a deal, ask for hats and it's problem solved, alas when will you realise that this a political power struggle between unions and management?
BASSA is killing you guys so stop feeding it.
Mixed fleet is here because of bassa, blame them and sort them out for all our sakes.
That's the whole point, we want you guys to move on so just sign the new deal, do your job and look forward to a good future in a prosperous company...
Oh wait, you can't sign the deal because the unions won't let you.
Can you seen a common problem here?
Tell BASSA what you want, sign a deal, ask for hats and it's problem solved, alas when will you realise that this a political power struggle between unions and management?
BASSA is killing you guys so stop feeding it.
Mixed fleet is here because of bassa, blame them and sort them out for all our sakes.
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Plodding along,
You know perfectly well that I have signed the agreement.
I know that there are crew that also want to sign it now but we have all just become pawns in a much bigger union game and many will be disappointed that they can't vote.
There are unfortunately still many that want still to reject the offer and introducing these new crew into this situation in this very provocative manner just does not help anything.
I am not suggesting that Mixed Fleet did not need to go ahead in the light of Bassa's resistance to change but what I am saying it could have been done in a much nicer way for both current crew like me and for the poor new Mixed Fleet crew who do stick out like a saw thumb and it is unfair for them.
You know perfectly well that I have signed the agreement.
I know that there are crew that also want to sign it now but we have all just become pawns in a much bigger union game and many will be disappointed that they can't vote.
There are unfortunately still many that want still to reject the offer and introducing these new crew into this situation in this very provocative manner just does not help anything.
I am not suggesting that Mixed Fleet did not need to go ahead in the light of Bassa's resistance to change but what I am saying it could have been done in a much nicer way for both current crew like me and for the poor new Mixed Fleet crew who do stick out like a saw thumb and it is unfair for them.
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MF, hats etc..
IMHO What has been completely overlooked / ignored by BASSA, but recognized by everyone else in BA, is that we are a business that can no longer rest on our past glories. We have to modernize, evolve and improve, just to stand still against the competition, be it low cost, or gulf carriers.
This whole dispute is about BA being able to effect change on board, without the condescending approval of BASSA, usually at a price that makes change untenable. BA tried to engage BASSA and get a change to the dysfunctional relationship of old, but BASSA couldn't hack it, and BA have now understandably opted to push BASSA so far into the margins it becomes irrelevant, and BA can get on with evolving it's product and standards.
MF is simply the cabin service standard that BA wants for todays business environment, and yes, it looks quite different from what we have at the moment.
Before anyone leaps down my throat - I am NOT saying they are better than existing crew, but I will say that they are not burdened with the bitterness, vitriol and hatred for the business that pays their wages, as a significant number of existing crew are. Let's face it, the bitter and twisted hardliners simply drag down morale amongst the rest of the crew, and this has a tangible effect on board.
Having flown with MF I can tell you they are dedicated to doing the very best job they can for our customers, and take great pride in their new role, despite their lower earnings. Having experienced the positive and happy atmosphere on board, I am certain all the legions of dedicated hard working legacy crew would jump at the chance to work in that sort of atmosphere, but the mindset of the 1970's won't let them.
The fundamental error in this dispute has been for BASSA to allow emotion to dominate. That is to say, 'we hate CC89', 'we hate WW', 'we hate scabs', 'we hate pilots' etc. They will NEVER win a negotiation in the modern era without dealing in facts, they spectacularly failed to do that across the board, from signing a confidentiality agreement so they could see the state of BA's finances, to dreaming up cost savings that were based on pure fantasy, to wishing judges were in the pocket of BA and so on.
So to the nub of my post.... Nobody likes to be sidelined, or to feel second best, or to lose, or back the wrong horse, but in a business the size of BA that's simply irrelevant. MF is the standard of uniform, look, service, professionalism and demeanor that BA, our employers, and the business that pays our mortgages, wish to see onboard in 2011 and beyond. Frankly thinking BA are simply trying to tick you off by giving them hats, or a desk in any particular location in CRC is nonsense. If there desk was by the coffee shop, would that be better or worse? Or the same?
Time to stop viewing the world in emotional terms, and get real. BA is a business that MUST evolve. You can join in and be a part of it, or sulk in the corner and have a miserable time. Or leave.
This whole dispute is about BA being able to effect change on board, without the condescending approval of BASSA, usually at a price that makes change untenable. BA tried to engage BASSA and get a change to the dysfunctional relationship of old, but BASSA couldn't hack it, and BA have now understandably opted to push BASSA so far into the margins it becomes irrelevant, and BA can get on with evolving it's product and standards.
MF is simply the cabin service standard that BA wants for todays business environment, and yes, it looks quite different from what we have at the moment.
Before anyone leaps down my throat - I am NOT saying they are better than existing crew, but I will say that they are not burdened with the bitterness, vitriol and hatred for the business that pays their wages, as a significant number of existing crew are. Let's face it, the bitter and twisted hardliners simply drag down morale amongst the rest of the crew, and this has a tangible effect on board.
Having flown with MF I can tell you they are dedicated to doing the very best job they can for our customers, and take great pride in their new role, despite their lower earnings. Having experienced the positive and happy atmosphere on board, I am certain all the legions of dedicated hard working legacy crew would jump at the chance to work in that sort of atmosphere, but the mindset of the 1970's won't let them.
The fundamental error in this dispute has been for BASSA to allow emotion to dominate. That is to say, 'we hate CC89', 'we hate WW', 'we hate scabs', 'we hate pilots' etc. They will NEVER win a negotiation in the modern era without dealing in facts, they spectacularly failed to do that across the board, from signing a confidentiality agreement so they could see the state of BA's finances, to dreaming up cost savings that were based on pure fantasy, to wishing judges were in the pocket of BA and so on.
So to the nub of my post.... Nobody likes to be sidelined, or to feel second best, or to lose, or back the wrong horse, but in a business the size of BA that's simply irrelevant. MF is the standard of uniform, look, service, professionalism and demeanor that BA, our employers, and the business that pays our mortgages, wish to see onboard in 2011 and beyond. Frankly thinking BA are simply trying to tick you off by giving them hats, or a desk in any particular location in CRC is nonsense. If there desk was by the coffee shop, would that be better or worse? Or the same?
Time to stop viewing the world in emotional terms, and get real. BA is a business that MUST evolve. You can join in and be a part of it, or sulk in the corner and have a miserable time. Or leave.
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Plodding Along,
You oversimplify at the expense of a large number of crew who have done nothing but steadfastly support BA throughout this dispute. Many have signed the agreement as they were no longer members of the union through choice at the time the deal was offered. Unionised members couldn't be offered it by dint of legal restrictions on offering incentives to operate outside the union remit. That the union itself has not put the majority of offers made to the members directly is not the fault of Betty Girl and the many crew like her.
I'd suspect, like my wife, those that left the union did so knowing that there was no way of changing BASSA/Amicus from within when such a stentorian core of reps/members would resist anything other than the retention of the status quo. It doesn't mean, however, that those who went to work deserve anything less than a fair modicum of respect.
MrB
You oversimplify at the expense of a large number of crew who have done nothing but steadfastly support BA throughout this dispute. Many have signed the agreement as they were no longer members of the union through choice at the time the deal was offered. Unionised members couldn't be offered it by dint of legal restrictions on offering incentives to operate outside the union remit. That the union itself has not put the majority of offers made to the members directly is not the fault of Betty Girl and the many crew like her.
I'd suspect, like my wife, those that left the union did so knowing that there was no way of changing BASSA/Amicus from within when such a stentorian core of reps/members would resist anything other than the retention of the status quo. It doesn't mean, however, that those who went to work deserve anything less than a fair modicum of respect.
MrB