LSM,
I find it rather confusing too. As they say, "there's none so queer as folk."


PS. I make the best Tiramisu!;)

Betty Girl,

There is a big difference betweening discriminating and using a persons judgement!

BA must have a list of those people who did not turn up for work because they required that info to stop that persons pay. It has been deemed to be totally acceptable to have such a list - otherwise they would not know who to deduct the appropriate level of pay from. That info should be available for appropriate use to other departments in BA.

If the info that two 'strikers' got jobs as CSMs is correct I am VERY disappointed as I believe it sends totally the wrong message. I sincerely hope that the matter is pursued and appropriate 'action' taken.

I know one from the "regular" fleet who got the CSM role. I guess this person has seen the light, so to speak. People can change their minds, and although I don't neccessarily understand their decision, I wish them the very best of luck.

It is illegal to share "blacklists" of employees between employers. I do no think it is illegal to have a list of your own staff who went on strike. How did they know who's pay to dock or staff travel to stop without a list. I am sure if it was clearly illegal unite would have had something to say about it.

In short it is ok for a company to know which of its staff went on strike, but not to start passing that list around to other companies.

Sporran,

That's the whole point, you can only hold a list for a specific reason ie. pay deductions and in BA's case staff travel removal. You are not allowed to use a list of strikers to discriminate against them and I believe promotion is used as an example of this in the legislation.

Are you saying that had the pilots gone on strike a couple of years ago that none of the FOs would be allowed to go for Captain in the future. I know that it never came to a situation where any pilots had to actually strike but many did vote to.

Large companies like BA don't use managers recommendations for promotion because that system can be inherently unfair. The system starts off by requiring a particular skill set. Then the candidate gets an interview and if they can answer the questions and do a presentation and perform well in various scenarios, they get the job. No one would have known in the interview if they had striked or not. That is the way all large companies work.

Whether you think it is right or wrong, it is definitely illegal to discriminate against any one that went on strike.

Personally, I don't see any problem with someone who voted for and took IA over the management wanting to impose change, based upon ill-informed information and bias from the Union, and then applying for another role. Perhaps that person, with 20/20 hindsight, realised how inappropriate the action was and decided that change was required.

As long as that person is fully aware and self briefed as to what the conditions, terms and rules of the new position are and agree to abide by them then what happened historically is irrelevant.

Good luck to them, I look forward to flying with the new crew as well as the 'old'!

Thanks Wirbelsturm,

I have a great relationship with all the pilots on the airbus and I really hope it continues.

One of my fears is that pilots will be dissapointed if it is not a Mixed Fleet crew they are working with and I would hate that to happen.

I am pleased that you will still look forward to flying with us oldies, although I have heard that it is a real mix of older and younger crew on Mixed Fleet too.

Many thanks

Like Wiblesturm, I too believe that someone should be able to change their mind as the situation changes and evolves. It is perfectly reasonable for someone to believe that there was a real justification for striking to then to change their mind. This is not a bad thing, it is something that as flying crew we are taught in CRM training. Events change, holding an inflexible viewpoint is not always a good thing.

The press (and political) attitude that someone has performed a U-turn and has therefore demonstrated weakness or that to change one's mind is somehow aberrant behaviour has no place in reality. It may well be good to have a consistent opinion, but only if events do not invalidate it.

I would welcome an ex-striker as a member of MF. I think it takes more personal, moral courage to admit that you got something wrong and change it, than to shamelessly blunder on stubbornly, refusing to accept you were wrong.

Thank heavens I am perfect and never get things wrong;)

Betty Girl, after only 2 days of MF, I'm afraid your fears are already coming true. Pilots are already eulogising about how much better MF are to work with. I am afraid the bad apples in your ranks are dragging down the reputations of the majority.

P-T Gamekeeper,
That's very sad but I hope all the pilots that I fly with will still enjoy my flights.

The pilots can't really be blamed for that reaction! :ok:

I guess it is a refreshing change to get a working relationship, right from the start of the working day, that one expects and can account for. It creates the correct professional atmosphere, is more pleasant to operate in, and consequently makes the entire trip easier, even if outside influences conspire to delay or otherwise interfere with the schedule. I hasten to add that many of the legacy crew do the same, ..... but a notable portion of them don't. This latter group are a pain in the arse, but on the whole can just be given a good ignoring!