Flight/Ground Ops, Crewing and Dispatch A forum for the people who are engaged in operational control/flight dispatch/crewing and their colleagues airside in ramp dispatch, load control and ground handling, to discuss issues directly related to keeping their aircrew and aircraft operational.

BA Ground Staff In The Regions

Old 8th Mar 2007, 06:13
  #21 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Manchester
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Jarvis apparently BA did not have sufficient crew's to operate that flight, so they did what any other airline would do they ADHOC another to operate it, bit of an insult using FlyBe i know but you know how BA operates you have been there long enough mate!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (thats what we were told yesterday anyway)
paul01942 is offline  
Old 8th Mar 2007, 11:11
  #22 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: BHX
Age: 44
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Doh!

Paul
so they did what any other airline would do they ADHOC another to operate it, bit of an insult using FlyBe i know
As the FOD said previously Flybe and BA Connect are the same company now. Why would they want to adhoc anybody? They just use one of their own aeroplanes and crew, which happen to be painted in a different colour. How is it an insult to service your own route with your own aircraft? Why pay somebody else to do it when you can do it yourself?
G-FLYB is offline  
Old 8th Mar 2007, 16:44
  #23 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: inverness
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Do you know that if you accept a new job within the 90 day period BA don't have to pay you redundancy - be careful
airfrump is offline  
Old 8th Mar 2007, 20:53
  #24 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: EGCC
Age: 74
Posts: 979
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Quoting airfrump - "Do you know that if you accept a new job within the 90 day period BA don't have to pay you redundancy - be careful"

Quite correct, I got made redundant 5 years ago and was fortunate enough to have an potential employer who was prepared to wait a couple of weeks for my services. Otherwise after 17 years with my former company I would have lost out on quite a large redundancy payment. As it worked out I was technically unemployed for 1 day (New Years Day).

But be warned, some employers will do anything to get out of making giving that deserved 'farewell' payment.

Scottie Dog
Scottie Dog is offline  
Old 8th Mar 2007, 21:48
  #25 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Fradley
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
BAR BHX Ground Staff

We were basically told today that if we do not check in the Flybe services that are using the Emb 145's from 25th March we will not get our retention money and face disciplinary.

However they certainly gave me the impression if we leave anytime within the 90 days consultation period we will receive the basic severance but lose out on the retention payment.

There seems to be a great divide in who wants to learn the Flybe computer systems so it should be an interesting few weeks ahead.

No definate date was given though for how long we would be doing Flybe check-in/boarding.
stupot7783 is offline  
Old 9th Mar 2007, 09:00
  #26 (permalink)  
red17
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Treaclecat is talking the truth. Manx Regional provide great handling services for BACON. Flybe could do a lot worse than to use them.
 
Old 9th Mar 2007, 09:21
  #27 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: BHX
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
There is no doubt that Manx Regional did a very good job for BACON. However, they belong to Eastern and Eastern WILL be the next target for a Flybe take over. Might as well employ a new third party handler now, so that you are not shooting yourself in the foot when you make the Eastern ground handling staff redundant in the future.
aspaceman is offline  
Old 12th Mar 2007, 12:59
  #28 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Manchester
Age: 49
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Flt Ops Director

"Swissport completed the pushback as BA do not have the correct equipment to push back a Dash 8 Q400"

Flt Ops Director, not sure where your getting your info from but thats not correct, in fact we weren't even asked if we had the correct equipment, I was told from a swissport employee that flybe wouldn't lets us handle it!

That what I mean by insult to injury, its bad enough losing the work and our jobs but we are contracted to handle BAConnect till March 24th so we should.

Now I am guessing you work for flybe?
can you explain?

Jarvis
MancRed is offline  
Old 12th Mar 2007, 13:59
  #29 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Manchester
Age: 49
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Flt Ops Director

Thanks for your reply and explination, this information can now be used when this event no doubt happens again, it will make things a lot clearer for our staff.

Please note we will continue to operate as normal until the 24th March, I am not there to see your services disrupted for any reason.

please feel free to PM me if you want?
MancRed is offline  
Old 12th Mar 2007, 14:08
  #30 (permalink)  
red17
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
aspaceman you got it wrong. How would it make sense to use another handling agent. MR provides other advantages to T3 besides handling. And you are ruling out any expansion of the IOM base

Last edited by red17; 13th Mar 2007 at 14:36.
 
Old 12th Mar 2007, 14:33
  #31 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: BHX
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Red17
And who pray does own Manx Regional then eh? Is it not Eastern? Who is T3? I would like to see MR do the job because they are good - no need to be insulting! But It will be a business decision at the end of the day

Be a good chap and edit your last insult out!
aspaceman is offline  
Old 12th Mar 2007, 14:40
  #32 (permalink)  
red17
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
T3 is Eastern, like BA is British Airways. T3 don't own Eastern. Manx Regional is a seperate company and all it has in common is that it shares some senior management. Its like saying Euromanx own Flight Support. So when flybe dispose of them then where will flight support go?? LOL
 
Old 13th Mar 2007, 08:48
  #33 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Posts: 311
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
As a long time observer of BA and LHR Unions treatment of Regional Ground Staff, my views are as follows:

Whenever there was a problem at LHR the Unions would 'demand' support from the regions, however whenever a problem at one of the regional airports the Heathrow Unions appeared uninterested.

This was compunded by Managment who 'hardly noticed' their regional assets unless it was time for a round of cost cutting.

With outsourcing now almost a religious mantra in UK Industry, it was perhaps inevitable that Ground Handling in the regions would be a target awaiting the right moment

The takeover by Flybe of BA Connect, as this provided from the company viewpoint the ideal opportunity to 'tidy up' the entire situation.

Perhaps the only surprise is that they didn't bite the Gatwick bullet at the sametime, although I suspect they are next on the list.

Finally a very long time ago when I and my then team spent a week at the NEC we had many reasons to be grateful to BA BHX for providing the BHX end of our support lifeline.
During this short period I learned enough of their situation as a station to realise their problems were effectively ignored by the Company and from their (gaurded) comments, that this appeared to apply to most other regional airports on the BA network.

As they obviously cared and from observation provided excellent service both in the terminal and on the ramp (as well as providing help 'above and beyond' to us cuckoos) this seemed a short sighted approach by Management.

Good People should matter, high standards of service must matter, but it appears Companies never learn the cost, until both have gone.
Opssys is offline  
Old 13th Mar 2007, 09:28
  #34 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Middlesesx
Posts: 2,075
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Cannot agree with you entirely as another long term observer. The BA ground staff at all UK airports have always been a militant bunch usely trying to hold the company to ransome. I would say that they have had a very good run for their money and it was clear toa all that their roles were time expired. Many sections at LHR / LGW have been 'tuped' yeasr ago and the same unions you mention did nothing for them either. It is only a matter of time before LGW find themselves outsourced as many of them think that BA owes them a living. Sad times.
HZ123 is offline  
Old 13th Mar 2007, 10:46
  #35 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Samsonite Avenue
Posts: 1,538
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Arived at MAN on Sunday afternoon and had to do a double take when I saw a member of Swissport staff driving the jetty to the door. Perhaps BA were so short of dispatchers they needed a hand or perhaps the changeover is slowly taking place?

Best wishes to all the BA ground staff who have been affected. From those dispatchers who I have chatted to it seems as if your treatment has been nothing short of shameful! Hope you all find greener grass!
Mister Geezer is offline  
Old 13th Mar 2007, 11:22
  #36 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Manchester
Age: 49
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Swiisport have been employed for a number of years to meet BA aircraft and put the jetty on if required they actually have a name there called "teds"
MancRed is offline  
Old 13th Mar 2007, 12:13
  #37 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Posts: 311
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Re HZ123's post
Cannot agree with you entirely as another long term observer. The BA ground staff at all UK airports have always been a militant bunch usely trying to hold the company to ransome. I would say that they have had a very good run for their money and it was clear toa all that their roles were time expired.
From your profile your in a better position than I to observe the recent state of play (especially that not seen by the Customer).

It is only a matter of time before LGW find themselves outsourced as many of them think that BA owes them a living. Sad times.
i agree ir is a matter of time before LGW is outsourced and I accept that it is probable that many (and I think more prevalent in some sections/departments than others) BA owe them a living.

But from 1987 (Airtours Re-organisation) closely followed by the BCAL Ground Handling integration and subsequently the elements of DanAir.
Gatwick has been through 'interesting times'.

After such a series of 'major events' any organisation requires time to recover (say two/three years), but for 20 Years Gatwick staff have been an almost never ending cycle of FUD (Fear Uncetainty and Doubt) over the future that has impacted all Departments, whether Engineering, or Ground Services, or Passenger Service .

This sort of 'cloud of endless concern' saps morale and motiviation and is passed along to new staff within a short time.

There were several times when 'stong leadership' and a positve direction from management could have reversed this and many individual managers did indeed try, but then changes in the Gatwick Strategy would undo their work.

But it appears there is a clear Corporate Strategy and that is to outsource, so even if Gatwick was entirely staffed by Highly Motivated Company People, then it wouldn't really matter as the Bottom Line (even with the different contracts for different staff doing the same job) means outsourcing looks better on the balance sheet.
Opssys is offline  
Old 13th Mar 2007, 14:00
  #38 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: inverness
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
T3 Eastern dont own M R. 100% TOSH

Red 17 you are talking absolute tosh. I can guarantee that Manx Regional is a 100% wholly owned subsidiary of Eastern Airways.
airfrump is offline  
Old 13th Mar 2007, 14:38
  #39 (permalink)  
red17
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Can some one please clear this up... who is going to be handling the combined BE/BACON operation in MAN??
 
Old 13th Mar 2007, 14:53
  #40 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: BHX
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Red 17

You have edited yesterdays post today

aspaceman you got it wrong. How would it make sense to use another handling agent. MR provides other advantages to T3 besides handling. And you are ruling out any expansion of the IOM base
Last edited by red17 : Today at 14:36.
To quote yesterdays - 'I have got my facts right mate'

Any expansion of the IOM base will be by Flybe. Euromanx are the first direct target and Eastern will be next. They will shut up shop in the IOM and a new 3rd party handler will be used. Business is business - people don't matter. Not how I would like to see it but how it is.
aspaceman is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.