BA Cabin Crew Strike Threats (Merged)

[Seat62K]

Ancient Observer,

I think you may be wrong in referring to the CAA data as "average pay"; they are for "average expenditure", which I think probably includes employers' NI and pension contributions.

The data I have seen do not tell us the full-time/part-time mix of cabin attendants so need to be treated with caution.

[manintheback]

I still cant believe for one minute that anyone thinks this strike will go ahead, the first sign of a back down by both parties was announced this morning with a meeting at 1530 GMT today.

Strike will be suspended pending further talks....just wait and see.

I think BA want the strike. Bassa have made a huge mistake to strike for such a long period and over Xmas. Should have waited and carried out on-going tactical action.

Its the endgame. Bassa know that if BA win or the airline goes belly up - either way same result for Bassa - the end. BA believe they have to take care of Bassa once and for all to allow the airline to prosper. Its winner take all and no fudging.

I believe Walsh will press the nuke button on those who go out on strike and suffer the inconveniance of limited legal actions later - by the time that happens he will probably have got a new job anyway and who knows what new laws the next government might bring in to negate employee legal actions anyway - assuming its the Tories, they tend to be rather pro employer.

[lowcostdolly]

Manintheback I think you are right. WW is fearless here. Furthermore I think he will sack these people not for going on strike but for an "irretrievable breakdown in the working relationship". Given BA have tried to engage I don't think he will have too much of a problem on this and it is a valid reason for dismissal.

However even if he fails on this and is deemed guilty of unfair dismissal at tribunal does he care about the nominal payouts he will have to make at some distant point in the future? I don't think so compared to what he will save on the T&C's of these people now. And let's not forget about the huge hold pool of prospective CC BA has. None of which have any T&C's to date....

I could be wrong of course but in the meantime BA are fast loosing custom and I have just guarenteed my Xmas.....by booking with another carrier.

Are there any real winners here

[atmosphere]

Confused

Ok, So I have been looking at the BBC website, I know they are not the best at getting aviation related stories correct BUT

They say 1million pax will be affected with 650 flights cancelled.

1,000,000pax / 650cancellations = 1538 / flight ? What planes do BA have again

Also they are saying 650 flights canx thats only 54 a day? that makes no sense either.

So does anyone actually know the full extent of the impact of this strike, because I think someone has got the number wrong, or maybe I am wrong, but would like clarification either way.

BBC News - British Airways meets union for strike talks

I fully support a strike by BA, it's about time someone finally buggered things up for the overpaid, underworked crew, spend the day working for a normal airline and I bet you go back to BA with your tail between your legs!
If there is any BA left!

[fly12345]

Poll: Who's to blame for the British Airways strike? | Business | guardian.co.uk

[El Grifo]

As I said earlier on the thread, Standard operating procedures in practice.

BA need to cut cabin Staff costs and they have chosen the well worn path.

Watch the space

[Scumbag O'Riley]

Originally Posted by lowcostdolly

...Furthermore I think he will sack these people not for going on strike but for an "irretrievable breakdown in the working relationship".

I reckon you could be on the right track in that he will have crunched the numbers and worked out whether it is cheaper to keep them on or fire them. He doesn't have to come up with a clever way to get rid of them though. If they don't turn up for work they are in breach of contract and can be dismissed. It will be an unfair dismissal if in the first 12 weeks, and loss of earnings and compensation will be ordered by a tribunal. He will have worked out what the payback period will be if he hires new staff at a lower salary. I reckon he will be quids in within five years, a short timeframe when you look at how may years it's going to take to top up that pension fund.

Given BA have tried to engage I don't think he will have too much of a problem on this and it is a valid reason for dismissal.

Well, all we know is what the two sides are telling us, and I would be surprised if either were telling the truth.

are there any winners here

From a passengers point of view it would be nice to see BA reduced in size, I think passengers would win if that happened, they have abrand spanking new terminal at LHR and it is a shame to have it wasted on this lot.

[atmosphere]

Globespan just went bust, and you are about to strike! ridiculous!

[dubh12000]

Poll: Who's to blame for the British Airways strike? | Business | guardian.co.uk

Some very deluded comments there under the Poll. I love the one about Willie Walsh destroying Aer Lingus after 9/11. Jesus wept....

[Rusland 17]

Originally Posted by atmosphere

Ok, So I have been looking at the BBC website, I know they are not the best at getting aviation related stories correct BUT

They say 1million pax will be affected with 650 flights cancelled.

1,000,000pax / 650cancellations = 1538 / flight ? What planes do BA have again

Also they are saying 650 flights canx thats only 54 a day? that makes no sense either.

And directly below those figures on the BBC website it states "Source: BA". So blaming the BBC for the figures is unreasonable.

Perhaps it's 650 flights per day? That would make more sense, averaging out at 128 passengers per flight.

[Anansis]

Perhaps it's 650 flights per day? That would make more sense, averaging out at 128 passengers per flight.

Given the fact that Heathrow has a departure every two minutes at its peak, and half the slots belong to BA, I'd say you are right.

[mrangar]

Lesson to SLF

I usually book on British Airways to travel between the US and India because:
1. Convenient connections from Heathrow
2. Efficient cabin crew who are very helpful when travelling with children - None of the singapore airlines glamour but you all get the job done well!
3. Price isn't the cheapest but it is reasonable
4. Terminal 5 has significantly reduced connection pains through Heathrow

Next time, all these factors are going to be trumped by one - Does the airline have militant unions that are unreasonable and willing to put their passengers through hell for their demands to be met?
I'm afraid that answer is going to remove BA from my list of probable airlines as long as BASSA exists in its current form.

Thanks,

A Frequent BA SLF

[sea oxen]

1,000,000pax / 650cancellations = 1538 / flight ? What planes do BA have again

Check out their seat pitch in their longhaul economy

I do not mind that they are (seemingly) the best-paid of the bunch. Someone has to be. However, undermining the company for which they work in such a sensitive manner will make me shy away from them as my carrier of choice, despite having been an ardent fan in the past.

If WW is right and he breaks them, the passengers will eventually return - most are just farewhores anyway. And even when I travel on business these days, I am compelled to be a farewhore too.

It is saddening, however, to think how many people have had their plans thrown into jeopardy, especially as this is not exactly the least expensive time of year to fly.

SO

[chippy63]

Suggs,
I agree with you. I'm a BA gold card holder, do most of my flights from LGW, and find the people excellent.

[OCCR]

Good on you BA Cabin crew.
Im with you all the way!
Good luck, and good on you for having the balls to do it.
I have only slightly read this thread and from my observations you deserve every red cent for putting up with some of these pr..........

[crewmeal]

I bet many people who have commented on here earn far more than BA crew do. Has anyone stopped to work out how BA salaries are structured?

1. Basic pay is anything from £12k upwards - (this may include increments) so if you don't fly for any reason that is all you will get.

2. Allowances which are based on the cost of living of the Country you fly to.

3. Overtime, again depending on the length of the flight which is only triggered after 9 hours I guess. When I flew for BA my take home pay varied anything from £1000 - £1500 per month

Compare that with industry then it's not too different. Basic salary + overtime + bonus + other perks.

The other thing that comes to mind is that Virgin consider you over the hill around 35 and put you out to grass! In BA you can fly until you retire. In BA you will have earned your increments like most Companies.

Am I far off the mark?

[wiggy]

Yep, you're pretty wide of the mark, because the strike isn't about pay....

[Scumbag O'Riley]

So why is BA constantly telling us how much cabin crew are paid?

[kaikohe76]

BA Cabin Crew

Perhaps it might help if Ryanair made a bid to take over BA. Just think about it folks, if the so called` World's favourite Airline` keeps going the way it is at present, it will have few pax & may well cease to exist.

[Capot]

Good on you BA Cabin crew.
Im with you all the way!
Good luck, and good on you for having the balls to do it.

I suspect an alc-fuelled wind-up; but here's another message for the brave lads and lasses. Who in Unite's headquarters will join you in the dole queue, when BA downsizes or goes out of business as a direct consequence of your suicide strike? Why not ask them about that. And about why they've manipulated you into a strike.

I'll wave cheerily to your pickets on the way in to LHR, (twice over the strike period, rebooked as soon as a risk of disruption loomed) but it's a "goodbye for ever" wave. If the tactic was to get passengers mad enough to force the management's hand, it's gone spectacularly wrong. They are not going to force anyone's hand, they are simply going elsewhere, and they will never come back.

Calling it all off now won't make any difference. Nor will any decision about legality. The damage is done. You might as well take the 12 days off unpaid while they write out the P45s.