How much more of their members money are they going to waste on ridiculous ads in papers that the public just see as a desperate attempt to win favour? The last 'Brutish Airways' campaign was a complete disaster if it's purpose was to 'enlighten' the good british public, because they still think that BA cabin crew are a bunch of self serving, greedy waiters/waitresses and this desperate inaccurate rubbish will only cement those beliefs with the public and media.

I'm a little bit sick of being tarred with the same brush as these militants. This ad is written as though it's the 'voice' of all BA crew not a small majority who have backed themselves into a corner and now have nowhere to turn.....but sadly everyone has had enough and nobody is listening anymore.

Personally, I think BA this week have offered the strikers a lifeline as their Union could have once again got them sacked. This IMO was an opportunity missed. BA should have let them strike and then offered them the choice to sign the deal or leave as they had been unprotected? Now the saga continues, but then theres always the next ballot I guess because as sure as day follows night that too will be ILLEGAL. :ugh:

Who paid?
 

So was the advert paid for by Unite or did the money come from the mysterious slush fund at "BASSA Limited*"?:=

*founded 13 Jan 2011 in Chandler's Ford, Hants.

vctenderness
 

If what you say is true, it's incredible. Surely the BASSA membership know this, and if so, why can they not see that BASSA is rotten to the core with corruption? BASSA seem unwilling to release details of their accounting, which should also give cause for alarm bells to be ringing. DH is not an employee of BA, and yet he claims to be fighting for the best interests of crew.....of course he's not just stoking the fire because he's bitter at losing his job is he?

The problem is, so much damage is needlessly being done to BA and all of its employees by allowing such a twisted union to continue their campaign.

I can assure you 100% this is true!

The BASSA reps kept their heads down and mumbled about being 'bullied' by the wicked BA management and to try and cleanse their souls gave the scheduler a little job on the payroll as a thank you.

They actually got found out because it was the schedulers honeymoon and he arranged for a number of them to be on the (very nice, lucrative) trip and extend the usual courtesy to him and his blushing bride!

Problem was a couple of the other crew members didn't see it like that and dobbed them in:ok:

The biggest laugh of all is that the ad has been run in the Daily Mail, UNITE must have money to burn.

BASSA hate this newspaper, can't see it getting any sympathy from Mail readers, nor in the Mirror, maybe the Guardian, but lets face it their one reader is not going to make much difference!!

Elsewhere its claimed the ad is responsible for IAGs share price fall, obviously the BASSA members don't read the financial press, Air France have just announced an unexpected third quarter loss, meanwhile BASSA continue their economic warfare:mad::mad::mad:

Maybe time for the overwhelming MAJORITY to bombard Red Len with letters,copied to BASSA and other interested parties as to their true thoughts and feelings, or, at least a letter countersigned by the MAJORITY.

I just cannot see an end in sight to this ridiculous, farcical situation.

Our very future threatened by a minority militant group. How can this be?

I wonder if BA lawyers are looking at the use of the BA tail-fins in this piece of propaganda?

You need permission to use it in any kind of advert and I'm pretty sure that would not be forthcoming.

Ho hum back to the High Court:hmm:

an idea for BASSA members ...
 

Please think hard about what you will (if anything) gain with a strike vote in the next ballot

An idea. Maybe with your next ballot, each member that votes for strike could also please send in their 90 day notice resignation letter to BA, thus letting everyone move on from this tiresome and now boring situation.

Voting for strike obviously means you don't like BA, so maybe you could please go now and leave the rest of us to improve and grow what is a great airline to work for

This situation is beyond a joke and these adverts BASSA has just placed in the press are at best, puerile

..and at worst?

I'd love to know Lightbulb's take on the advert.

That BA has not gone nuclear with Unite, so far, is compelling. The re-ballot allows more contingency planning.

I wonder how the bonus payment, if issued, will be distributed?

nurj :}

By the way, 'The Team' in the cabin, yesterday, comprised 4 blokes, and a damned good job they did too. Not a Mum (single or otherwise) in sight. :D

nurjio
 

Well, I would like to see if the Mail is arguing with itself!

I have been researching on what you can get booted out of a union for, so I will keep my thoughts to myself on this issue. Nuff said?

I would suggest that every NON MEMBER that gets a ballot paper, sends it to his/her manager...Then all these pieces of paper can be presented in court by BA, as evidence.

Petermcleland

FYI, that was done last time by a number of crew including my best friend. BA are on top of this believe me

VCtenderness

I can concur with the above. Also the lady rep NM who was sacked by BA in early Jan, now also has a job at Unite


Also here is the latest 'blog' from DH.

Just some personal observations from me -

There is no way in this country any union could conduct a ballot that is 100% safe - it simply isn't possible.
Whereas before, judges when looking at injunctions would accept a margin of error, that is increasingly becoming a thing of the past. Blame the political hold on the judiciary for this, not the unions.

Even though legal advice taken following BA's letter to the ERBS seriously cast doubt on BA being successful in the High Court there was enough grey area to make it sensible to reballot. Another month of uncertainty hurts BA more than us.

An example of how ludicrous things are becoming - One of the problems surrounded a website report back from Amicus's branch meeting, held a week before the ballot closed, which said how the membership reiterated their opinion that any overall settlement must include the initial crew complement imposition. I gather BA insisted that this "report back" from a meeting had tainted the ballot (as if) and crew would now believe they were voting on crew complements. As we have already had a strike on this issue then the 12 week protection period would be exhausted and going out again BA would be able to dismiss instantly claiming the strike was continuous. Extremely tenuous I know and also highly debateable but BA are exploiting every loophole - so much so it is dangerous to even report back what members say at branch meetings.

What now? Well we said it will be a war of attrition and that is what it has become. Keep voting yes, keep the faith and keep going.

interesting debate.
 

Ancient Observer
 

But we have and on SO MANY occasions for years:ugh: You are met with a blank look, and then severe questioning as to WHY you need to see them. Yes I knew it was my right as a member, but easier said that done. It needs someone to take them on legally on the account front IMO

Interesting that this 'Bassa Ltd' was founded at Eastleigh - Hants, just a few miles from where DH resides.

Yellow Pen - great post re the advert. Spot on especially about the caring crew and 12 days of xmas!!. I believe the timing of this advert is interesting. Could have been done for months now, but the synical side of me believes it was probably conjured up by Len and DH to keep the baying hordes from making too much noise over the C**k up of yet another ballot. Coincidence??

If Unite cant get all the members of it's chior to sing the same song, tainting a ballot, again...

...perhaps, for once, placing the clear reason for the ballot on the actual ballot itself might help prevent another repeat of this comedy.

Is there any reason to not do this, I know what words have to be included on the document but I'm not certain there is any regulation preventing additions.

Could someone not use the "Freedom of Information Act" to force BASSA to reveal their accounts. I have seen this used against British Waterways to good effect, or does it only work with government departments?

I've just read the comments from Juantrip re 'First Fleet'. For me it is interesting as I absolutely loathed the fact that suddenly I had become something called 'Legacy' Where did that come from? Whether we like it or not names conjure up concepts of ourselves and for me 'Legacy' has some negative conotations. When I read that posting from the originator mooting 'First Fleet' I totally disagree with his superiority conceptualisation it smacks too much of hostility,,,,,however,,,,, the actual term works better for me, its chronologically correct and doesn't make me feel 'a left over'.
Now I am not a union member, left 2 years ago. I can see how a label will now be taken and used in a negative manner. Recall how the St George's cross was 'stolen' by BNP in the 70's and 80's. (this isn't nearly as big as that) but if I now call myself 'first fleet' will I be tarred with the union brush.
In some ways a lot of this ongoing problem lies with this type of problem. When a company moves on if it doesn't take its staff with them how do those staff feel. A lot of people who did strike that I talk to feel, for want of a better word, abandoned.
I am happy and prepared to change, I actually like change, I also like being empowered and being aware that labels are a useful tool I am now 'First Fleet'.

FOI requests are only for public institutions such as Government, the MOD, NHS and the quangos that exist (hence British Waterways being included). Even then you can't be forced to reveal information that may be commercially sensitive.

FOI requests can't be used against private concerns like unions or companies in terms of them revealing information.

Bigby,

Why don't you get yourself a label and have 'Worldwide Fleet' or 'Eurofleet' on it.

That says just as much about who you are and is not offensive to anyone else.

I like you, do not like this lable of 'legacy' or 'heritage' but BA have never used these terms, they are only used on sites like this, predominantly by pilots and passengers picking up on these terms, they are not commonly used by cabin crew.

Be proud of who you are and don't fall into this trap of using labels to make others feel inferior or intimidated as this silly term 'first fleet' will do.