Newspapers today
 

Interesting pieces in todays Newspapers...
From The Times
Brendan Barber, General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress, is expected to intervene today, urging both sides to return to the negotiating table. A negotiated settlement would have to include assurances that existing cabin crew could continue to work on their current long-haul routes, which offer generous allowances to bolster basic pay. Also, their rest days would have to be protected, Unite national officers be given a formal role in the company, 38 staff suspended for alleged intimidation be reinstated, travel discounts be returned to strikers and an anti-victimisation clause be written into BA contracts.
There is little prospect of Willie Walsh, BA’s chief executive, acquiescing. He is adamant that management has a right to set company policy.

..............And they still have a shopping list !!!!

And from The Daily Mail

At a Unite rally at Heathrow yesterday, the mood was despondent. Many of the mainly female BA cabin crew said they wanted to return to work and added they would not take part in Saturday's strike.
Sue Jones, 42, who has worked at BA for nine years, said: 'We've got our point across and the union even wants to get back to the negotiating table. At the end of the day, we know there's got to be cost- cutting, but we just want job protection.'
Another 37-year- old air stewardess, who did not want to be identified, said: 'Of course I want to be back in work and, to be honest, I don't think there will be more strikes on Saturday
'I'm just glad to have a job. By striking there's less of a chance that my job will be there in the future. I will definitely be back working if the strikes continue.'
The scale of the strike-breaking cheered the City, which had been watching the action nervously.


Read more: British Airways strike: Cabin crews lose will to fight | Mail Online

I've yet to catch BA lying, unlike Unite. If Unite had offered a 'no extra cost pay deal' I'm sure BA would be interested. Sadly all Unite have offered are some temporary pay cuts (to be repaid at a later date) and some middle east back to backs.

Deleted messages
 

Can I ask the mods why people who are seemingly pro BASSA have so many of their posts deleted.

I'm VCC and despise BASSA, but not having access to their forum i find it v useful to get their opinions on here. If only to try and persuade them they're wrong, so they can perhaps go back and tell their blinkered friends. (wishful thinking).

What happened to Cymmons msg???

Mod edit: Engage Brain before posting please

Eddy
 

Eddy - Yesterday, you said you were going to post your account of the day you were striking.
I'm genuinely interested to hear your story. Please can you post it ? I'm sure i won't be the only one keeping an eye out for that.

As for ST, again - wait till the end of the week to see the outcome of that one. There's no quick and easy way to block 100s (assuming it is 100s) of peoples access to ST.

Did i read it correctly that WW is doing another webcast tomorrow ?

Considering it was done this afternoon and the letters have been posted, maybe it's quicker to do than you thought. :oh:

Sheer Hypocrisy!
 

I heard from a colleague who operated during the weekend. On their return flight they had a commuter who was traveling in uniform. The commuter was apparently throwing dirty looks at all the operating crew.

I don't understand the mentality of someone who but for luck has not had to choose whether to cross the picket line or not but still expects to commute to work on BA aircraft/ST and criticize the operating crew who may be non-union members, people who voted NO from day one or just people with mortgages to pay.

Another case of double standards from the Union who only knows how to say 'NO'.

Crew who have, are and will operate throughout these periods of BASSA incovenience - I have the deepest of respect for you all and I hope all FD colleagues will do whatever we can now and in the future to keep you flying with us! :D

Is that true ? If so, great. i just know its not as easy as flicking a switch - well it is but you have to do it X times so it looks like someone has been busy today

WW is doing another webcast tomorrow?
 

Yes he is Arthur. 13.30 from memory - but it's not on the web just transmitted round various areas from Wts Theatre. The other places get a view of his PowerPoint pres and the audio via a speakerphone.

How about...
 

For all those who chose to work during strike days, would it not be a good idea to start a new union? Maybe it won't be as strong as BASSA, etc but surely members would be more willing to reach a fairer outcome through negotiating, as they have more of a 'common sense' understanding and empathy of the company's position and industry difficulties, and don't have the history of stubborn union/company battles and petty arguements.

Who's in?

Six :cool:

Crew who have, are and will operate throughout these periods should hang their heads in shame. A large portion of the membership are fighting to retain jobs and minimise the depth of the pay cuts so they can retain employment opportunities into the future not only for themselves but for the crews of the future.

The members who have respected the democratic decision to make this stand also have mortgages to pay and are making this stand for the benefit of all (including the strike breakers). To break rank and assist the airline and its overpaid managers only prolongs the process. The tag of a strike breaker is one you will wear for the rest of your lives and take in to your grave. The dirty looks on flights and comments at social functions will continue forever.

Excellent idea! So good in fact, that some have already done as you suggest: www.professionalcrewcouncil.com :ok:

The IT dept have been working on this all day

and those that choose to intimidate (even at social functions) will not last long in BA. They will be long gone when those that stood strong and supported the company (also their democratic right) will be happy in the knowledge that BA is still around to pay their mortgages etc...

My report of operating over the strike days is on the previous thread.

I also worked today, the first of the non-strike days, so thought I'd just give a quick view.

I was a little apprehensive about going in, not sure how things would be. Still some support staff at crew car park, on bus (still with frosted windows) and at CRC. More management in CRC than is usual. Calm atmosphere.

In all honesty, it seemed to me to be just like a normal day. Except that not one single word was heard from anyone I came in contact with regards STRIKE / BASSA / UNITE / WW / BF. Refreshing! I honestly do not know, nor do I have even the merest hint as to what the 8 crew I worked with did over the strike days.

Masked Goatrider
Spare us the rhetoric. The benefit of all? You are kidding, right? Shall I explain that to the passengers? I am happy for both sides to come on here and give their view. But at least back it up with some FACTS. Can you explain why you are on strike? No BASSA quotes please. Just a simple explanation as to why you need to strike.
And I assure you that any dirty looks or comments on my flights will be regarded as bullying and harassment - you know, the stuff you keep accusing BA of doing. People who take this stuff into a customer service job needing to be looking for a new career path.

Not all of us who chose to work at the weekend are gloating. For most it was a hard decision. I do not revel in people losing staff travel and have empathy for those who elected to exercise their right to strike.

Bullying and harrassment goes both ways. I want to go to work and just get on with it and not be subject to pro Bassa or pro company propaganda. Somewhere inbetween the rhetoric being thrown out by Unite and BA is the truth but I doubt that any of us know what that is.

Glamgirl neither you nor your new organisation are going to win that many supporters by being so obviously delighted in punishment meted out to your fellow crew members. By all means have a differing view point but do it with tact and diplomacy. There may come a time when you have a real battle with WW and I hope you're up to the task.

BA never intended or mentioned a pay cut. The Union offered the company to cut crew pay, without consulting crew first.

You could also argue that those who broke the strike kept revenue coming in, for the benefit of all including the strikers. No revenue, no airline, no job. Wouldn't be easy, 13,000 crew flooding the market for work at the same time.

Yes you can clearly tell a strike breaker from a striker by looking at them.
Masked Goatrider, I'm sure you'll be one of those throwing dirty looks at 'social functions', and on flights, as you are crew, commuting from Melbourne??? :rolleyes:

The standing ovations from passengers in T5 must have been quite intimidating for the crew.

:mad:

Six

Glamgirl
 

Gg wrote:

Seriously, there is no way I would bring my children to such a place with such an atmosphere. I can only imagine the language around the pickets and that's something I wouldn't want to expose my kids to. At least these parents should have the decency and common sense to get a childminder.

I thought the children at BFC was fantastic and you imagined wrong about the language, on the contrary the atmosphere was brilliant!!

An absolutely great end to the three days, the third being the most well attended - roll on next weekend. :ok:

So what impact will the announcement of our schedule for the week end have? The complete schedule being flown by BA metal at LGW cannot go unnoticed by Unite surely? :rolleyes:

Indeed, typical BASSA tactics/reaction to try and say that the LGW operation is being sold off!!

So I just wander if those waivering and rostered for this week-end will take time to really think about what has been announced. The schedule contains no phantom flights, they are all there for people to see and book onto.

I foresee that we will be able to stand up a number of flights from freighters into commercial operations on top of what has been announced as I know that the assumptions of crew numbers upon which the schedule is based are very conservative.

I just hope that crew will take time to think that this is real proof that the strikers are in the minority and not the other way round