BA cabin crew industrial strike?
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BA cabin crew industrial strike?
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BA Industrial Action?
Was sent this email yesterday. I am no authority on this but it made interesting reading.
Please read and pass onto all crew.
All taken from the bassa website.
just in from spending time in the BASSA stable. What I´m about to
post is from the horses mouth......
1) As of Feb 1st the upperdeck Psr is gone. The ultimate goal is
have a 2 more gone by the end of 2007 leaving 1 CSD & 1 Psr on
longhaul aircraft. The CSD role is also being looked at. Do we need
one??
2) CC89 reps are totally behind the BASSA action they are being
held back by AMICUS who insist they must go to the enth degree to
find a solution.
3) SFG been told BA can no longer afford downtown hotels. Airport
hotels are being sort.
4) BALPA are not supporting us on our T&C´s issues. Pensions are
our common denominator.
5) Car stickers and other items will available shortly at BASSA´s
expense. (Thank you Chief Wigwam for the idea).
6) No big figures for severance. Statutory Minimum.
7) T5 report time 1hr 10 before dept. Arrival 30mins.
This will take SFO, LAX & NRT (new routing) out of LR and make them
night stops.
Quote from Mark Hassel: "Unions are history. Those were the old
days. Negotiation is good but if you don´t agree will walk right
through you. This will happen before our move to T5"
I don´t know about you but that quote has got my blood boiling, let
alone the issues we´re going to be balloted on.
As a union we need 80% (office figure not mine) return to stop the
BA train from steamrolling our T&C´S. It´s already started!!!
If there´s still anyone out there who thinks it won´t affect them.
Think on, Heathrow One Fleet is around the corner. VOTE YES for
industrial action and protect our futures.
This thread is for those people who have been asked to visit
the BASSA website by colleagues so as to find out about the
upcoming strike.
Whilst I am by no means an authority on whats happening, this is
what I understand about the current situation.
1. HOW HAS IT COME TO THIS??
BA and BASSA meet regularly, BA tell BASSA its proposals and plans.
Normally what happens is they both negotiate, BA say what they want
us to do and BASSA act on our behalf and agreements are made. One
of the most recent examples of this is the Standby block, the
starting hours, the hotel accomodation the night before an 0700
start blah blah blah. Previous examples of this include Box
Payments, MBT's, Back to Backs etc. These are things that BASSA
have negotiated on our behlaf.
The last time BA and BASSA met, BA outlined plans of what they
wanted to do next, preparing us for T5. After this meeting BASSA
had one of the quarterly meetings with its members and took a vote.
The vote was if BA try and impose such and such, are we prepared to
vote for industrial action?? There was a unanmous YES. So, BA and
BASSA met again and tried to iron out the problems. BA would not
budge and, acting in our interests BASSA did the same. Talks broke
down and now we are being sent the voting slip to support
industrial action.
2. WHAT BA WANT US TO DO
Reading this forum you can get some idea of what BA are asking for,
some of it is speculation we will find out EXACTLY what it is in
due course. Remember this, there will always be a bigger picture
behind what they are seeking to do now. There will be more and more
until they have got us eventually on
1. Hourly/Daily rate to replace allowances, boxes and overtime,
BA Industrial Action?
Was sent this email yesterday. I am no authority on this but it made interesting reading.
Please read and pass onto all crew.
All taken from the bassa website.
just in from spending time in the BASSA stable. What I´m about to
post is from the horses mouth......
1) As of Feb 1st the upperdeck Psr is gone. The ultimate goal is
have a 2 more gone by the end of 2007 leaving 1 CSD & 1 Psr on
longhaul aircraft. The CSD role is also being looked at. Do we need
one??
2) CC89 reps are totally behind the BASSA action they are being
held back by AMICUS who insist they must go to the enth degree to
find a solution.
3) SFG been told BA can no longer afford downtown hotels. Airport
hotels are being sort.
4) BALPA are not supporting us on our T&C´s issues. Pensions are
our common denominator.
5) Car stickers and other items will available shortly at BASSA´s
expense. (Thank you Chief Wigwam for the idea).
6) No big figures for severance. Statutory Minimum.
7) T5 report time 1hr 10 before dept. Arrival 30mins.
This will take SFO, LAX & NRT (new routing) out of LR and make them
night stops.
Quote from Mark Hassel: "Unions are history. Those were the old
days. Negotiation is good but if you don´t agree will walk right
through you. This will happen before our move to T5"
I don´t know about you but that quote has got my blood boiling, let
alone the issues we´re going to be balloted on.
As a union we need 80% (office figure not mine) return to stop the
BA train from steamrolling our T&C´S. It´s already started!!!
If there´s still anyone out there who thinks it won´t affect them.
Think on, Heathrow One Fleet is around the corner. VOTE YES for
industrial action and protect our futures.
This thread is for those people who have been asked to visit
the BASSA website by colleagues so as to find out about the
upcoming strike.
Whilst I am by no means an authority on whats happening, this is
what I understand about the current situation.
1. HOW HAS IT COME TO THIS??
BA and BASSA meet regularly, BA tell BASSA its proposals and plans.
Normally what happens is they both negotiate, BA say what they want
us to do and BASSA act on our behalf and agreements are made. One
of the most recent examples of this is the Standby block, the
starting hours, the hotel accomodation the night before an 0700
start blah blah blah. Previous examples of this include Box
Payments, MBT's, Back to Backs etc. These are things that BASSA
have negotiated on our behlaf.
The last time BA and BASSA met, BA outlined plans of what they
wanted to do next, preparing us for T5. After this meeting BASSA
had one of the quarterly meetings with its members and took a vote.
The vote was if BA try and impose such and such, are we prepared to
vote for industrial action?? There was a unanmous YES. So, BA and
BASSA met again and tried to iron out the problems. BA would not
budge and, acting in our interests BASSA did the same. Talks broke
down and now we are being sent the voting slip to support
industrial action.
2. WHAT BA WANT US TO DO
Reading this forum you can get some idea of what BA are asking for,
some of it is speculation we will find out EXACTLY what it is in
due course. Remember this, there will always be a bigger picture
behind what they are seeking to do now. There will be more and more
until they have got us eventually on
1. Hourly/Daily rate to replace allowances, boxes and overtime,
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You and I know that BASSA ballot papers will be dropping onto doormats from 18th December, the ballot willl be counted on 12th January and a TGWU branch meeting will follow on the 15th January.
They are facts, not rumour or speculation. Yes things are sensitive, doesn't mean you need wrapping up in cotton wool....
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British Airways Cabin Crew are set to vote overwhelmingly for strike action. This could take place anytime from the end of January through to the end of March but a strike is most likely to happen sometime in February.
British Airways Cabin Crew would like it to be known that they absolutely do not want to go on strike. As Cabin Crew, all we want to do is our very best to look after the travelling public, conveying each and every one of you as comfortably and as safely as we possibly can from A to B. Obviously there are occasions when circumstances conspire against us, both for you the public and us as your crew, but it is often these very circumstances when our passengers appreciate most that they are with a British Airways Cabin Crew. This is borne out by us constantly exceeding every customer service target British Airways have ever set for us and also the clutch of industry awards we win every year - including this year where thanks to our hard work and the votes of you our customers, we walked away with the Best Cabin Crew award.
However, things are not all rosy with the current management of British Airways. Historically, we have always had a proper business relationship with our management. As with any commercial environment or business scenario, there has to be an appropriate level of give and take on both sides in order for anything to work. However, our new management team have a lot of ‘new brooms’ and wish to make a lot of changes. They have approached these changes by refusing to speak to our representatives, declaring their intention to introduce the changes without discussion and openly stating that “we will walk right through you.”
These changes are both to our working agreements and to our employment contracts, including but not limited to cuts in pay, no pay increases at all after a certain time, cuts in promotion opportunities, less rest between flights, removal of working position choice and BA ignoring the wording of their own sickness policy when applying it to Cabin Crew. This certainly has health and safety implications.
These changes go beyond simply working harder in a changing commercial and security conscious environment. They will affect our lives outside work, our take home pay and most importantly our family life outside of work. They will also have a knock on effect to you, our passengers.
We are still trying to get our management to talk to us but they are telling us “we have nothing to talk about”. Unfortunately at the moment we are not seen as people - and we are just like every one of you, doing the best job we can to earn a living and go home to our families, we are seen as expendable staff numbers. And whilst on board, we see you going about your business, travelling to see friends or going on holiday with your families, our current management see you simply as pound signs in seats.
At the moment, a strike is the only way we have of standing up for ourselves and forcing our management to open proper discussions regarding our contracts and our future employment. This can all be avoided with the application of a reasonable attitude and a dose of common sense from British Airways management, but anyone who followed the recent ‘cross wearing’ debacle will know that those qualities seem to be more lacking, the higher up the British Airways management tree you climb.
Should a strike happen and should you be caught up in the chaos it will cause, British Airways Cabin Crew humbly and sincerely apologise to you and ask for your patience and understanding whilst we try to get our managers to speak to us(!)
If you have non-changeable travel plans with British Airways from January to March next year, you can write to our chief executive Willie Walsh at
British Airways plc
Waterside
PO Box 365
Harmondsworth
UB7 0GB
Or e-mail customer relations using this link:
http://www.britishairways.com/travel...l/public/en_gb
Please urge him to treat his employees properly or simply provide him with your thoughts on British Airways current management style.
Thank you for your time
British Airways Cabin Crew
Just received this from a travel agent friend, interesting month for BA with pilots planning action at the same time?
British Airways Cabin Crew would like it to be known that they absolutely do not want to go on strike. As Cabin Crew, all we want to do is our very best to look after the travelling public, conveying each and every one of you as comfortably and as safely as we possibly can from A to B. Obviously there are occasions when circumstances conspire against us, both for you the public and us as your crew, but it is often these very circumstances when our passengers appreciate most that they are with a British Airways Cabin Crew. This is borne out by us constantly exceeding every customer service target British Airways have ever set for us and also the clutch of industry awards we win every year - including this year where thanks to our hard work and the votes of you our customers, we walked away with the Best Cabin Crew award.
However, things are not all rosy with the current management of British Airways. Historically, we have always had a proper business relationship with our management. As with any commercial environment or business scenario, there has to be an appropriate level of give and take on both sides in order for anything to work. However, our new management team have a lot of ‘new brooms’ and wish to make a lot of changes. They have approached these changes by refusing to speak to our representatives, declaring their intention to introduce the changes without discussion and openly stating that “we will walk right through you.”
These changes are both to our working agreements and to our employment contracts, including but not limited to cuts in pay, no pay increases at all after a certain time, cuts in promotion opportunities, less rest between flights, removal of working position choice and BA ignoring the wording of their own sickness policy when applying it to Cabin Crew. This certainly has health and safety implications.
These changes go beyond simply working harder in a changing commercial and security conscious environment. They will affect our lives outside work, our take home pay and most importantly our family life outside of work. They will also have a knock on effect to you, our passengers.
We are still trying to get our management to talk to us but they are telling us “we have nothing to talk about”. Unfortunately at the moment we are not seen as people - and we are just like every one of you, doing the best job we can to earn a living and go home to our families, we are seen as expendable staff numbers. And whilst on board, we see you going about your business, travelling to see friends or going on holiday with your families, our current management see you simply as pound signs in seats.
At the moment, a strike is the only way we have of standing up for ourselves and forcing our management to open proper discussions regarding our contracts and our future employment. This can all be avoided with the application of a reasonable attitude and a dose of common sense from British Airways management, but anyone who followed the recent ‘cross wearing’ debacle will know that those qualities seem to be more lacking, the higher up the British Airways management tree you climb.
Should a strike happen and should you be caught up in the chaos it will cause, British Airways Cabin Crew humbly and sincerely apologise to you and ask for your patience and understanding whilst we try to get our managers to speak to us(!)
If you have non-changeable travel plans with British Airways from January to March next year, you can write to our chief executive Willie Walsh at
British Airways plc
Waterside
PO Box 365
Harmondsworth
UB7 0GB
Or e-mail customer relations using this link:
http://www.britishairways.com/travel...l/public/en_gb
Please urge him to treat his employees properly or simply provide him with your thoughts on British Airways current management style.
Thank you for your time
British Airways Cabin Crew
Just received this from a travel agent friend, interesting month for BA with pilots planning action at the same time?
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A BA strike. That would be a new idea. As there is either a strike by the airline, (or it's caters) every year, would it not be better to simply have a post saying "BA not on strike this year". ********IF THIS EVER SHOULD HAPPEN************
"Non-Changeable travel plans"? All my plans are non-changeable, that's why I never fly BA any more.
Good luck with whatever. No doubt all the famillies with crying children stranded in the terminals yet again will be very supportive of you.
By the way comrades, it's 2006, not 1976.
And why exactly would I need the address of BA head office "to write to Wille Walsh"? Do you think passengers will write on your behalf? No, they just change plans and travel with someone else. The world doesn't revolve around you.
"Non-Changeable travel plans"? All my plans are non-changeable, that's why I never fly BA any more.
Good luck with whatever. No doubt all the famillies with crying children stranded in the terminals yet again will be very supportive of you.
By the way comrades, it's 2006, not 1976.
And why exactly would I need the address of BA head office "to write to Wille Walsh"? Do you think passengers will write on your behalf? No, they just change plans and travel with someone else. The world doesn't revolve around you.
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Cabin crew strike
Having read their reasons why, I am simply at dispare. Why do they think a strike will resolve this.
The pension problem won't go away because they go on strike, nor will it help solve it, the opposite is more likely because of lost revenue. After all, why should the cabin crew get special treatment on their pensions ?
Another reason was the removal of the CSD from short-haul: Well, I personaly think CSD's on S/H is a bit of a joke, as is the CSD role in general to be honest. They simply aren't needed, all they do is reset the IFE, and for the no-doubt high wage they get, they don't manage a lot of people.
The removal of the purser's from the 747 fleet is not exaclty a reson to strike, and it shows by the fact that they have to combine all of these wants becuase they simply won't stand up alone.
Just remind the cabin crew of the fact that they've had a pretty easy time, no job cuts and not too harsh a pay cuts (if any).
Wrightbrothers
The pension problem won't go away because they go on strike, nor will it help solve it, the opposite is more likely because of lost revenue. After all, why should the cabin crew get special treatment on their pensions ?
Another reason was the removal of the CSD from short-haul: Well, I personaly think CSD's on S/H is a bit of a joke, as is the CSD role in general to be honest. They simply aren't needed, all they do is reset the IFE, and for the no-doubt high wage they get, they don't manage a lot of people.
The removal of the purser's from the 747 fleet is not exaclty a reson to strike, and it shows by the fact that they have to combine all of these wants becuase they simply won't stand up alone.
Just remind the cabin crew of the fact that they've had a pretty easy time, no job cuts and not too harsh a pay cuts (if any).
Wrightbrothers
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Well another bunch of informed comments about something most of you know nothing about.
Just please try to remember that not all of us are on blue chip salaries and need to protect what we have, tis simple human nature after all.
Let the flaming of reason commence!
Just please try to remember that not all of us are on blue chip salaries and need to protect what we have, tis simple human nature after all.
Let the flaming of reason commence!
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So right now we have 4 strikes lining up. Crew late Jan ownwards. Pilots some time after, Baggage handlers similar, and then the annual summer walk out. Me thinks advance booking with any other airline might just be a good idea next year.
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Dear Paddy
2003 - check in strike, disrupted my plans badly
2004 - threat of industrial action meant I had to rescedule flights to avoid uncertainty, wasted effort when I oculd have been billing clients
2005 - GG fiasco, paid club prices, got a brown bag just like discounted economy pax, what a rip off
2006 - suitcase broken enroute to Brussels, ground staff very unhelpful - mind you I only paid GBP444.50 for the ticket, what could I expect; failure to provide premium service = rip off, IMHO
2006 - just been charged £552 for a one way Y ticket LGW-TUN what a rip off
And BA has also reduced premium luggage to a 23kg limit.
To be perfectly honest, I couldn't care less whether your lot (BA) disappear up your **** in 2007
This is mutual death wish behaviour.
2003 - check in strike, disrupted my plans badly
2004 - threat of industrial action meant I had to rescedule flights to avoid uncertainty, wasted effort when I oculd have been billing clients
2005 - GG fiasco, paid club prices, got a brown bag just like discounted economy pax, what a rip off
2006 - suitcase broken enroute to Brussels, ground staff very unhelpful - mind you I only paid GBP444.50 for the ticket, what could I expect; failure to provide premium service = rip off, IMHO
2006 - just been charged £552 for a one way Y ticket LGW-TUN what a rip off
And BA has also reduced premium luggage to a 23kg limit.
To be perfectly honest, I couldn't care less whether your lot (BA) disappear up your **** in 2007
This is mutual death wish behaviour.
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Well Finals...im sorry as I was fully responsible for all of those things. Heres a 20pence coin, call someone who cares. If BA have caused so much inconvenience to you as you claim then I think you are a muppet to continue flying with them. You also clearly dont give a rats arse about jo public like myself who just happens to wear a uniform so again, i lack sympathy for you, but you have none for me or any of my colleagues so no love lost eh?
BA are in business to make money...Im in the business of making money also, I will do my utmost to protect my livelyhoods terms and conditions and if that means "LEGALLY" disrupting a few thousand peoples travel plans for a few days because the bullys that wish to reduce my pay refuse to negotiate then so be it.
I too dont like BA (as in the management) at the moment and I have to work for the gits. I do however like my job (as a BA crew member as I feel its people, that is the non management people are the best in the industry and make me proud to fly for this airline which is not even my national one) and will do what I can to save it. Its unfortunate that the very nature of the industry will cause widespread disruption but Im sure all of you would do the exact same thing if you were in my position and the position of 15000 of my colleagues...and dont say you would not. This is not just about the pensions deficit. We have tried every other avenue possible, this is a long time coming!!!
My recommendation to all of you...we'll miss you on our flights, but dont book BA in the near future...Hit the managers where it hurts...THE COMPANIES PROFITS = THEIR LOST BONUS!!!!
BA are in business to make money...Im in the business of making money also, I will do my utmost to protect my livelyhoods terms and conditions and if that means "LEGALLY" disrupting a few thousand peoples travel plans for a few days because the bullys that wish to reduce my pay refuse to negotiate then so be it.
I too dont like BA (as in the management) at the moment and I have to work for the gits. I do however like my job (as a BA crew member as I feel its people, that is the non management people are the best in the industry and make me proud to fly for this airline which is not even my national one) and will do what I can to save it. Its unfortunate that the very nature of the industry will cause widespread disruption but Im sure all of you would do the exact same thing if you were in my position and the position of 15000 of my colleagues...and dont say you would not. This is not just about the pensions deficit. We have tried every other avenue possible, this is a long time coming!!!
My recommendation to all of you...we'll miss you on our flights, but dont book BA in the near future...Hit the managers where it hurts...THE COMPANIES PROFITS = THEIR LOST BONUS!!!!
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Paddy
I think you're missing the point entirely. Those of us who fly for business are doing it for specific reasons, we go somewhere and we do the stuff we're supposed to do and then we come home. The airline that takes us there is one of many we can choose from, as a minimum we expect them to provide us with the promised travel on the time and date specified on the ticket. If they don't do this then we get upset, if we are aware, in advance, that they probably won't do this then we'll choose someone else.
From a human point of view most of us business travellers may agree with your position along with your reasoning, just as you may sympathise with our position when we are screwed by our management. At the end of the day it all comes down to business decisions, your industry is highly competitive and there are probably too many airlines competing for too little business. You are also competing with airlines who's staff T&Cs are probably much worse than yours (though I don't know, I'm guessing)
The laws of economics are extremely cruel and in todays world they are applied ruthlessly in the employment market, positions where there is an oversupply of good quality staff carry lower T&Cs. Those where it is more difficult to recruit attract higher T&Cs.
Personally I wish you luck with your struggle, even though BA may pay more than some airlines I don't think anyone becomes CC for the money. That said a strike will damage your business, BA will lose revenue. As a business traveller I would not entertain the idea of buying a ticket for a time period where there was a possibility of a strike.
Best of luck.
I think you're missing the point entirely. Those of us who fly for business are doing it for specific reasons, we go somewhere and we do the stuff we're supposed to do and then we come home. The airline that takes us there is one of many we can choose from, as a minimum we expect them to provide us with the promised travel on the time and date specified on the ticket. If they don't do this then we get upset, if we are aware, in advance, that they probably won't do this then we'll choose someone else.
From a human point of view most of us business travellers may agree with your position along with your reasoning, just as you may sympathise with our position when we are screwed by our management. At the end of the day it all comes down to business decisions, your industry is highly competitive and there are probably too many airlines competing for too little business. You are also competing with airlines who's staff T&Cs are probably much worse than yours (though I don't know, I'm guessing)
The laws of economics are extremely cruel and in todays world they are applied ruthlessly in the employment market, positions where there is an oversupply of good quality staff carry lower T&Cs. Those where it is more difficult to recruit attract higher T&Cs.
Personally I wish you luck with your struggle, even though BA may pay more than some airlines I don't think anyone becomes CC for the money. That said a strike will damage your business, BA will lose revenue. As a business traveller I would not entertain the idea of buying a ticket for a time period where there was a possibility of a strike.
Best of luck.
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but dont book BA in the near future
Don't worry, I won't be troubling you in the near future, as I get excellent service from Emirates and Lufthansa/Swiss on long haul and Air Malta and Lufthansa on short, but BA has the monopoly on the LGW-TUN route, so no choice there.
So this year reads 104 sectors (mainly C/J/F) so far, 7 with BA.
And how many times have I needed to reschedule on any other airline due to industrial action? Nada.
I rest my case.
PS. I wouldn't do what you are intending to do, whatever you think, because I wouldn't get into your position in the first place and I have the track record to demonstrate it, 16 years working for myself.
Don't worry, I won't be troubling you in the near future, as I get excellent service from Emirates and Lufthansa/Swiss on long haul and Air Malta and Lufthansa on short, but BA has the monopoly on the LGW-TUN route, so no choice there.
So this year reads 104 sectors (mainly C/J/F) so far, 7 with BA.
And how many times have I needed to reschedule on any other airline due to industrial action? Nada.
I rest my case.
PS. I wouldn't do what you are intending to do, whatever you think, because I wouldn't get into your position in the first place and I have the track record to demonstrate it, 16 years working for myself.
91 UK-EU business class sectors so far this year, with another 5 still to go.
Number with ba? ZERO. Main reasons being the lingering stigma of the 'Dirty Tricks' era - and to avoid like the plague having to travel from that slum known as LHR.
Went to Madrid a couple of times; BHX-MUC-MAD. My LH business class ticket was €200 cheaper than my colleague's - and he flew baConAir direct from MCR in Gitmo Bay class luxury on some EMB 145 to a terminal miles from anywhere....
ba was once at the top. But now it has no real unique selling point - it lost that when Skippy killed Concorde.
However, I can understand the CC's case. A friend, who was once a stew on BEA Tridents, said that her working day might typically be Manchester to Paris, a night on the town in a nice hotel, then Paris to Manchester the next morning.
Compare that with the slavery of today!
Mind you, tales from the DC-7C and Stratocruiser era would make any of today's CC green with envy. But many wouldn't even get through selection!
Number with ba? ZERO. Main reasons being the lingering stigma of the 'Dirty Tricks' era - and to avoid like the plague having to travel from that slum known as LHR.
Went to Madrid a couple of times; BHX-MUC-MAD. My LH business class ticket was €200 cheaper than my colleague's - and he flew baConAir direct from MCR in Gitmo Bay class luxury on some EMB 145 to a terminal miles from anywhere....
ba was once at the top. But now it has no real unique selling point - it lost that when Skippy killed Concorde.
However, I can understand the CC's case. A friend, who was once a stew on BEA Tridents, said that her working day might typically be Manchester to Paris, a night on the town in a nice hotel, then Paris to Manchester the next morning.
Compare that with the slavery of today!
Mind you, tales from the DC-7C and Stratocruiser era would make any of today's CC green with envy. But many wouldn't even get through selection!
Paxing All Over The World
My personal sympathies to those who find their T&Cs being steadily reduced but that is what is happening across the whole of the UK in almost all areas of work. It has certainly happened in the IT world.
There will no sympahty or support from the public for any strike by any section of BA staff. The only sympathy that would be available, I reckon, is for doctors and nurses. No one else will be deemed to be having a hard time. That is because most regular people are having a hard time.
Yes, I know that the mgmt are lining their pockets with bonus' and will make even more if they reduce your T&Cs but that is the real world. A strike will affect all of you in the short term and all of you in the longer term.
There will no sympahty or support from the public for any strike by any section of BA staff. The only sympathy that would be available, I reckon, is for doctors and nurses. No one else will be deemed to be having a hard time. That is because most regular people are having a hard time.
Yes, I know that the mgmt are lining their pockets with bonus' and will make even more if they reduce your T&Cs but that is the real world. A strike will affect all of you in the short term and all of you in the longer term.
Last edited by PAXboy; 17th Dec 2006 at 03:17. Reason: typographical
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Now...I am NOT in favour of this particular strike for many, many reasons, and I was not around when the other ones happened in 1997 etc however I do not understand why everybody else in the world can strike and when it touches any part of BA the general public goes completely nuts with anger etc. I blame the 
daily mail for this, which way too many people read as if it were the bible (or the quran, for par condicio).
When talks between the workforce and the management break down, things become difficult. BA management are renown for not being very approachable and let's say how things are, BA in most cases (including with cabin crew of the new LGW fleet) give employees nothing more than the minimum legal requirement. (leave...maternity leave...etc etc) and take as much as they can (280duty hours on SH in the month of may despite 5 days of leave anyone else?!?) Those lucky ones that have had better T&Cs in the last few years are probably right to fight to keep their few priviledges.
Anybody else in the same situation would do exactly that. Workers-management relations have always been difficult in BA. Willie behaves like he's a dictator, well guess what he and his monkeys might have the power but the employees have the numbers on their side.
Having said that I feel for all those passengers who might have their travel plans disrupted
if that means you'll take your business somewhere else then be it, maybe that will make some bells ring up in waterside.
daily mail for this, which way too many people read as if it were the bible (or the quran, for par condicio). When talks between the workforce and the management break down, things become difficult. BA management are renown for not being very approachable and let's say how things are, BA in most cases (including with cabin crew of the new LGW fleet) give employees nothing more than the minimum legal requirement. (leave...maternity leave...etc etc) and take as much as they can (280duty hours on SH in the month of may despite 5 days of leave anyone else?!?) Those lucky ones that have had better T&Cs in the last few years are probably right to fight to keep their few priviledges.
Anybody else in the same situation would do exactly that. Workers-management relations have always been difficult in BA. Willie behaves like he's a dictator, well guess what he and his monkeys might have the power but the employees have the numbers on their side.
Having said that I feel for all those passengers who might have their travel plans disrupted
if that means you'll take your business somewhere else then be it, maybe that will make some bells ring up in waterside.
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With respect Flybywire, the last 3 years have been no notice wildcat strikes that left a heck of alot of people stuck at airports around the world for days if not weeks on end. I had the unique privilege of sitting in the first class lounge at T1 when everyone disappeared 2 seasons ago - no notice, no information, nothing nut a sudden disappearance of staff. All that occured was BAA security appearing around 3 hours later throwing us all out. Any sympathy that may have been had disappeared for whats happened in the past, not whats about to happen in the future.
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manintheback....whatever, If you read my post you see that I have stated I am not in favour of it and I certainly won't strike. Full stop. However maybe people like yourself - booking on another airline - are what willie needs to realise he has to drop his attitude of a dictator and that it's time to stop giving huge bonuses to those managers who will be paid if they succeed in convincing the workforce to accept the new t&cs.
If the strike you're talking about is the gate gourmet one, it was an unforeseen, illegal strike and most of us "normal" BA people worked REALLY hard (I did extra work as a volunteer on the ground in the terminals on my days off for no money, despite I am a cabin crew and from another base, and with me thousands of other people) while management did very little from their offices in waterside.
I am not looking for empathy or sympathy, I am just stating the facts. If it were not BA and if the Daily Mail didn't exist (or if people realised that it's the worst form of pseudo-journalistic rubbish) things would be different.
If the strike you're talking about is the gate gourmet one, it was an unforeseen, illegal strike and most of us "normal" BA people worked REALLY hard (I did extra work as a volunteer on the ground in the terminals on my days off for no money, despite I am a cabin crew and from another base, and with me thousands of other people) while management did very little from their offices in waterside.
I am not looking for empathy or sympathy, I am just stating the facts. If it were not BA and if the
Daily Mail didn't exist (or if people realised that it's the worst form of pseudo-journalistic rubbish) things would be different.