BA cabin crew to strike
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Home
You're right, even without a Strike and before Mixed Fleet was born, BA occaisionaly had to wet lease Short Haul aircraft and crews because of crew "sickness " during Wimbledon and other social events in the summer!!
Joined: May 2007
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From: row 8
I haven't read through all of the posts on this thread, but would be interested to answers to the following questions:
1. What did the strikers/union gain from the first series of strikes?
2. Surely the people joining BA as Mixed Fleet Crew knew the terms and conditions and salary before they signed their contracts, do what justification for then going on strike because the pay is too low?
1. What did the strikers/union gain from the first series of strikes?
2. Surely the people joining BA as Mixed Fleet Crew knew the terms and conditions and salary before they signed their contracts, do what justification for then going on strike because the pay is too low?
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Between a rock & a hard place.
I understand that MFU reached a potential settlement on financial terms but was unable to recommend the deal because BA would not remove the loss of staff travel and loss of bonus from the agreement.
The information from MFU about current strikes references the right not to be punished for undertaking legal action. If correct, this is why many people believe that BA could have averted the current strike at very little cost.
As for knowing what one signed up for, anecdotal evidence suggests that MF crew are not earning what was advertised. I cannot confirm if that is the case, merely that it is what is suggested in answer to the question.
The information from MFU about current strikes references the right not to be punished for undertaking legal action. If correct, this is why many people believe that BA could have averted the current strike at very little cost.
As for knowing what one signed up for, anecdotal evidence suggests that MF crew are not earning what was advertised. I cannot confirm if that is the case, merely that it is what is suggested in answer to the question.
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: mids
And it would be relatively simple court case to get them back and they would also get damages.
In this case CC did have it in their contracts that going on strike would mean they would loose their concessions so it perfectly legal.
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From: Between a rock & a hard place.
I understand that the difference is slight but significant. Staff travel is not a contractable right rather than being an employers term of contract that it will be removed.
Joined: Sep 2010
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From: UK
The problem is that during the big BASSA strikes BA did the same and removed pay and concessions. Then in order to return to some kind of normality rescinded this and there was no loss to crew.
It seems that the new management see this as weakness and will stand firm no matter what in order to send a strong signal to others who may contemplate taking action.
The strikes seem to be having very little, if any, real effect on BA so I guess they will continue to play hard ball.
It seems that the new management see this as weakness and will stand firm no matter what in order to send a strong signal to others who may contemplate taking action.
The strikes seem to be having very little, if any, real effect on BA so I guess they will continue to play hard ball.
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Between a rock & a hard place.
I suppose it depends on how one defines 'little effect'.
From a passenger point if view it is correct to state very little effect. From a company point if view the debate remains open. This doesn't equate to a failure on behalf of the union. The target was disruption to BA not its customers.
From a passenger point if view it is correct to state very little effect. From a company point if view the debate remains open. This doesn't equate to a failure on behalf of the union. The target was disruption to BA not its customers.
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: US
There is the old adage that if you don't know history, you may be doomed to repeat it. Crew who were not around during the BASSA/BA weenie roast should have been well served to do their own research on how BA and Willie handle cabin crew strikers.
It could have saved them a great deal of loss and heartbreak if they'd done deep research and tried any other way possible. If all else failed and strike was imminent, then crew needed to be aware what they were up against. I'm afraid that some crew, who may have still been in 6th form last time Willie took on a cabin crew union, just didn't know what would happen.
He's played another blinder. He's made missing crew unremarkable and basically unneeded.
PC767, you hit the nail on the proverbial. Little effect though isn't quite correct--I'd go so far as to say Willie has delivered to a great number of his premium pax a BETTER service on strike than without one.
The Qatar wet leased aircraft have a genuine wider comfier premium seat up front--not the narrow economy seat with just a table in the middle seat.
Reports coming in from veteran BA travelers in CE are extolling their wonderful experiences during the strike, saying the Qatar crews are fantastic, many of the pilots flying them are British anyway, the food service is of a much higher caliber and served with panache and professionalism by Qatar crew (compared to BA's CE food service), and they are even getting their pre-flight champagne service during loading. Value ADDED not lost.
Some report friendly banter over the strike with Qatar crew and overall the cabin atmosphere is reported to be jovial.
When an airline delivers better, higher quality service during a strike to many of their highly valued premiums, then a union needs to wake up and smell the roses and try another method to get justice for its workers.
This method currently in play is not the way. But for gasping dinosaurs like Unite, they only have one arrow in their quiver--strikes.
I'm sorry for all involved on the crew side. It's awful. You've been led badly. BA are playing hard ball yet again and they are in this for keeps. Deep pockets and full planes going out.
They may eventually cave, but only after maximum point has been made about what happens if you strike. We'll see.
It could have saved them a great deal of loss and heartbreak if they'd done deep research and tried any other way possible. If all else failed and strike was imminent, then crew needed to be aware what they were up against. I'm afraid that some crew, who may have still been in 6th form last time Willie took on a cabin crew union, just didn't know what would happen.
He's played another blinder. He's made missing crew unremarkable and basically unneeded.
PC767, you hit the nail on the proverbial. Little effect though isn't quite correct--I'd go so far as to say Willie has delivered to a great number of his premium pax a BETTER service on strike than without one.
The Qatar wet leased aircraft have a genuine wider comfier premium seat up front--not the narrow economy seat with just a table in the middle seat.
Reports coming in from veteran BA travelers in CE are extolling their wonderful experiences during the strike, saying the Qatar crews are fantastic, many of the pilots flying them are British anyway, the food service is of a much higher caliber and served with panache and professionalism by Qatar crew (compared to BA's CE food service), and they are even getting their pre-flight champagne service during loading. Value ADDED not lost.
Some report friendly banter over the strike with Qatar crew and overall the cabin atmosphere is reported to be jovial.
When an airline delivers better, higher quality service during a strike to many of their highly valued premiums, then a union needs to wake up and smell the roses and try another method to get justice for its workers.
This method currently in play is not the way. But for gasping dinosaurs like Unite, they only have one arrow in their quiver--strikes.
I'm sorry for all involved on the crew side. It's awful. You've been led badly. BA are playing hard ball yet again and they are in this for keeps. Deep pockets and full planes going out.
They may eventually cave, but only after maximum point has been made about what happens if you strike. We'll see.
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,092
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QR wet-lease to be extended to end of July
Don't know the answer to VC10s Q above, but ......
Application to extend the QR wet-lease right through to 31 July.
http://publicapps.caa.co.uk/docs/33/2229.pdf
Comments by close of play Thursday
Application to extend the QR wet-lease right through to 31 July.
http://publicapps.caa.co.uk/docs/33/2229.pdf
Comments by close of play Thursday
Joined: Nov 2007
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 537
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From: Between a rock & a hard place.
There is the old adage that if you don't know history, you may be doomed to repeat it. Crew who were not around during the BASSA/BA weenie roast should have been well served to do their own research on how BA and Willie handle cabin crew strikers.
It could have saved them a great deal of loss and heartbreak if they'd done deep research and tried any other way possible. If all else failed and strike was imminent, then crew needed to be aware what they were up against. I'm afraid that some crew, who may have still been in 6th form last time Willie took on a cabin crew union, just didn't know what would happen.
He's played another blinder. He's made missing crew unremarkable and basically unneeded.
PC767, you hit the nail on the proverbial. Little effect though isn't quite correct--I'd go so far as to say Willie has delivered to a great number of his premium pax a BETTER service on strike than without one.
The Qatar wet leased aircraft have a genuine wider comfier premium seat up front--not the narrow economy seat with just a table in the middle seat.
Reports coming in from veteran BA travelers in CE are extolling their wonderful experiences during the strike, saying the Qatar crews are fantastic, many of the pilots flying them are British anyway, the food service is of a much higher caliber and served with panache and professionalism by Qatar crew (compared to BA's CE food service), and they are even getting their pre-flight champagne service during loading. Value ADDED not lost.
Some report friendly banter over the strike with Qatar crew and overall the cabin atmosphere is reported to be jovial.
When an airline delivers better, higher quality service during a strike to many of their highly valued premiums, then a union needs to wake up and smell the roses and try another method to get justice for its workers.
This method currently in play is not the way. But for gasping dinosaurs like Unite, they only have one arrow in their quiver--strikes.
I'm sorry for all involved on the crew side. It's awful. You've been led badly. BA are playing hard ball yet again and they are in this for keeps. Deep pockets and full planes going out.
They may eventually cave, but only after maximum point has been made about what happens if you strike. We'll see.
It could have saved them a great deal of loss and heartbreak if they'd done deep research and tried any other way possible. If all else failed and strike was imminent, then crew needed to be aware what they were up against. I'm afraid that some crew, who may have still been in 6th form last time Willie took on a cabin crew union, just didn't know what would happen.
He's played another blinder. He's made missing crew unremarkable and basically unneeded.
PC767, you hit the nail on the proverbial. Little effect though isn't quite correct--I'd go so far as to say Willie has delivered to a great number of his premium pax a BETTER service on strike than without one.
The Qatar wet leased aircraft have a genuine wider comfier premium seat up front--not the narrow economy seat with just a table in the middle seat.
Reports coming in from veteran BA travelers in CE are extolling their wonderful experiences during the strike, saying the Qatar crews are fantastic, many of the pilots flying them are British anyway, the food service is of a much higher caliber and served with panache and professionalism by Qatar crew (compared to BA's CE food service), and they are even getting their pre-flight champagne service during loading. Value ADDED not lost.
Some report friendly banter over the strike with Qatar crew and overall the cabin atmosphere is reported to be jovial.
When an airline delivers better, higher quality service during a strike to many of their highly valued premiums, then a union needs to wake up and smell the roses and try another method to get justice for its workers.
This method currently in play is not the way. But for gasping dinosaurs like Unite, they only have one arrow in their quiver--strikes.
I'm sorry for all involved on the crew side. It's awful. You've been led badly. BA are playing hard ball yet again and they are in this for keeps. Deep pockets and full planes going out.
They may eventually cave, but only after maximum point has been made about what happens if you strike. We'll see.
For many passengers, travelling Qatar might just be the reminder they need that BA is also taking them for a ride. I was also under the impression that BA MF crew were highly commended for being young, enthusiastic and friendly.
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Middlesesx
All this talk of WW, where is Alex Cruz, he is the CEO of BA and one can only presume must be on an extended holiday, unless someone knows better? Our guests do indeed check in at T5 with the residents and rumour is, it is all very friendly including a bit of banter!
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: London (Babylon-on-Thames)
He's played another blinder. He's made missing crew unremarkable and basically unneeded.
"Show me the ******* money" as Willie Walsh once said.
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: se england
Skipness One has it right
This is a fiasco for BA since while they can maintain schedules it shows up what a rubbish outfit BA have become under WW leadership (He appointed Cruz so he is the one to blame) .
Cuz approach is all short term with no plan whatsoever for growing the airline and protecting the brand.In fact like many Mckinsey monkeys he seems to feel the brand reputation never goes away no matter how much you trash it -experience shows you can live off the brand for a while but when the backlash starts it goes down hill very very quickly.
Cheap fuel is propping up BAs numbers not product or service or efficient operation and when the next recession kicks in and there is much reduced J travel people will go for the airline with decent Y offerings and BA are surely deficient there. Sad but this once great company has just got to 'top of descent'
This is a fiasco for BA since while they can maintain schedules it shows up what a rubbish outfit BA have become under WW leadership (He appointed Cruz so he is the one to blame) .
Cuz approach is all short term with no plan whatsoever for growing the airline and protecting the brand.In fact like many Mckinsey monkeys he seems to feel the brand reputation never goes away no matter how much you trash it -experience shows you can live off the brand for a while but when the backlash starts it goes down hill very very quickly.
Cheap fuel is propping up BAs numbers not product or service or efficient operation and when the next recession kicks in and there is much reduced J travel people will go for the airline with decent Y offerings and BA are surely deficient there. Sad but this once great company has just got to 'top of descent'
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: EU
Longest strike in aviation history
The ongoing dispute between British Airways and it's Cabin Crew, is now the longest period of strike days in aviation history and will reach 70 days of strike action by the 15th August.
With the reported numbers of crew taking part in the action growing week by week, their resolve does not appear to be weakening.
But everything is still fine, its having no effect.....
With the reported numbers of crew taking part in the action growing week by week, their resolve does not appear to be weakening.
But everything is still fine, its having no effect.....