BA Strike - Your Thoughts & Questions
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Phil Rigg
Bassa/Unite have not handled negotiations competently. BA has been at the table for 13 months with precious little to show for the time and effort. The union DID NOT sit down and have meaningful discussions throughout this period. The exception being when Woodley became involved. IMHO the problem lies with the Bassa leadership whom Unite have great difficulty in keeping in check.
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The quicker BA management start employing agency staff who are unable to strike, the quicker they can rid themselves of unionised crew who clearly do not see the dire financial straits the airline is in.
They're deluding themselves if they think the Govt will step in to rescue BA if it hits the wall.
They're deluding themselves if they think the Govt will step in to rescue BA if it hits the wall.
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I'm hoping that BA survive this strike but the union get replaced - I think all the lies and propaganda they are peddling is unproffesional and childish, and the BA staff should leave them and not pay them any more money!
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Sky news reporting this morning that the 20 aircraft at Cardiff and Shannon are not so and are Unite fabrications.
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From the Sky News website
The union has this morning claimed that more than 140 BA aircraft were standing idle at Heathrow, but this figure was disputed by a Sky News source which said it was closer to 36.
Does'nt give much credibility to Unite does it?
Does'nt give much credibility to Unite does it?
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A reliable source has told me that BA are recording the claims made by Unite and intend to use them in a future court case. Apparently, if they can prove that untrue statements affected the finances of the airline, then they have a valid claim against Unite.
Can anyone with legal knowledge say whether this is possible?
Can anyone with legal knowledge say whether this is possible?
Lastly, why are all the Unite Officials from Liverpool....
Answer:
Who else would employ them?
( and before anybody starts more "scouser" jokes. I am a "Scouser")
and so I can recognise a dyed in the wool socialist who prefers striking to working when I see one!
They have no interest whatsoever in their members, only their own "careers", and their socialist dogma!!
Answer:
Who else would employ them?
( and before anybody starts more "scouser" jokes. I am a "Scouser")
and so I can recognise a dyed in the wool socialist who prefers striking to working when I see one!
They have no interest whatsoever in their members, only their own "careers", and their socialist dogma!!
On Scouse TU officials
One minor point before we all get in to slagging off Scouse TU officials.
If you are old enough to remember Militant and its dire influence on Merseyside, It was the traditional TU Officials in the T & G, G & M and the other "private sector" TUs that got rid of Militant.
After that, most of the FTOs decided to represent other places.
If you are old enough to remember Militant and its dire influence on Merseyside, It was the traditional TU Officials in the T & G, G & M and the other "private sector" TUs that got rid of Militant.
After that, most of the FTOs decided to represent other places.
In contrast to BA’s often-surly cabin crew, Virgin’s staff shine brightly and they work for half the pay
Off-thread slightly, and forgive me if this has been covered elsewhere, but a question for pilots working as CC: Have you got an arrangement with Security allowing you to bring your own water and food to work TFN?
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BA strike leader urges fresh talks
35 mins ago
The leader of striking British Airways cabin crew has made a fresh appeal for talks to end their dispute, which he said had cost the airline tens of millions of pounds. Skip related content
Tony Woodley, joint leader of Unite, also mounted another attack on the company for trying to "browbeat" its staff into accepting worse pay and conditions.
Mr Woodley, addressing a rally of striking union members at a football ground near Heathrow airport, said it was the "economics of the madhouse" for BA to be spending money on contingency plans to deal with a three-day strike by thousands of cabin crew, which ends at midnight on Monday, rather than seeking to resolve a bitter row over cost-cutting.
The dispute is costing BA tens of millions of pounds, with flights leaving empty of passengers and aircraft being leased from other firms at an estimated cost of £300,000 a time, he claimed.
He said: "The economics of the madhouse should now be put to one side. We need to reach a sensible, fair deal, to get this company up and running again, to get passengers flying again, to get all of the planes off the ground."
Mr Woodley, who has appealed to the BA chairman and "sensible" members of the board to intervene in the row, said the dispute was "extremely serious", adding that the only way to resolve it was for negotiations to resume.
It is understood that Mr Woodley has contacted TUC general secretary Brendan Barber about restarting talks which collapsed last week after BA tabled an offer Unite complained was worse than a previous one, which they could not recommend or even put to members.
To cheers from striking cabin crew, Mr Woodley said: "It is important to remain strong and determined to get a settlement you know is fair. Keep your heads up."
Business group London First, whose members include many of London's internationally-based businesses, said the capital's reputation as a centre for global trade was being damaged by the strike.
Chief executive Baroness Valentine said: "Despite the best efforts of BA management and many staff to continue to put the interests of passengers first, the strike is reminiscent of a best-forgotten era. The message from BA's London-based business customers to both sides is: Get back to the negotiating table, and to union members: Get back to work in the meantime."
35 mins ago
The leader of striking British Airways cabin crew has made a fresh appeal for talks to end their dispute, which he said had cost the airline tens of millions of pounds. Skip related content
Tony Woodley, joint leader of Unite, also mounted another attack on the company for trying to "browbeat" its staff into accepting worse pay and conditions.
Mr Woodley, addressing a rally of striking union members at a football ground near Heathrow airport, said it was the "economics of the madhouse" for BA to be spending money on contingency plans to deal with a three-day strike by thousands of cabin crew, which ends at midnight on Monday, rather than seeking to resolve a bitter row over cost-cutting.
The dispute is costing BA tens of millions of pounds, with flights leaving empty of passengers and aircraft being leased from other firms at an estimated cost of £300,000 a time, he claimed.
He said: "The economics of the madhouse should now be put to one side. We need to reach a sensible, fair deal, to get this company up and running again, to get passengers flying again, to get all of the planes off the ground."
Mr Woodley, who has appealed to the BA chairman and "sensible" members of the board to intervene in the row, said the dispute was "extremely serious", adding that the only way to resolve it was for negotiations to resume.
It is understood that Mr Woodley has contacted TUC general secretary Brendan Barber about restarting talks which collapsed last week after BA tabled an offer Unite complained was worse than a previous one, which they could not recommend or even put to members.
To cheers from striking cabin crew, Mr Woodley said: "It is important to remain strong and determined to get a settlement you know is fair. Keep your heads up."
Business group London First, whose members include many of London's internationally-based businesses, said the capital's reputation as a centre for global trade was being damaged by the strike.
Chief executive Baroness Valentine said: "Despite the best efforts of BA management and many staff to continue to put the interests of passengers first, the strike is reminiscent of a best-forgotten era. The message from BA's London-based business customers to both sides is: Get back to the negotiating table, and to union members: Get back to work in the meantime."
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"A reliable source has told me that BA are recording the claims made by Unite and intend to use them in a future court case. Apparently, if they can prove that untrue statements affected the finances of the airline, then they have a valid claim against Unite.
Can anyone with legal knowledge say whether this is possible?"
Can't say, but I would guess that the same argument would also apply to:
A CC member who does not strike, but can prove detriment if they are eventually stuck with poorer terms than originally offered by BA, or
A striking CC member who argues that they only struck because of the misinformation put out by Unite, and suffer consequences of strike action
Can anyone with legal knowledge say whether this is possible?"
Can't say, but I would guess that the same argument would also apply to:
A CC member who does not strike, but can prove detriment if they are eventually stuck with poorer terms than originally offered by BA, or
A striking CC member who argues that they only struck because of the misinformation put out by Unite, and suffer consequences of strike action
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I flew on one of the charters this morning, great service, I was very very pleased to get out to my week of meetings with customers.
I would say T5 was slightly quieter than a normal Monday morning, at least the BA lounge seemed quieter.
I would say T5 was slightly quieter than a normal Monday morning, at least the BA lounge seemed quieter.
Dunhovrin
question for pilots working as CC: Have you got an arrangement with Security allowing you to bring your own water and food to work TFN?
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Fantastic service from a great crew
We've just flown overnight TPA-LGW in J. It was about 2/3 full.
Despite landing 25 minutes late at TPA due headwinds, we were still airborne on time. Therefore I deduce that the Teamsters' union went out of their way to assist in a very speedy turn round.
The Captain set the tone for the flight by giving a rousing welcome to the pax & proudly announcing that the aircraft was crewed by a fully operational Gatwick crew, no volunteers required. He was also pleased to announce that we SLF were to receive a full meals service. This happened very speedily despite quite choppy clear air turbulence.
During the flight, surely a record at 7.5 hrs, I was able to have a lengthy chat with the purser about the present situation with Bassa. Time & space will not allow me to repeat the words used & opinion expressed; suffice to say that there is NO sympathy or understanding for or of Bassa's position.
Throughout the flight as always the service was both friendly & efficient.
One of our cases was unfortunately damaged at LGW during unloading. It was very quickly sorted out at the BA desk in the arrivals hall; a new one is on the way. Both BA staff members were totally scathing about the strike. They pointed out that they had taken their cuts a year ago so fail to see why LHR CC should be an exception. Again I won't repeat how they described grey haired CSDs!
As a result of our latest flight we are more than ever supportive of BA & the excellent crews & personnel. I cannot see any way in which Bassa & Unite can be allowed to bring down this great airline.
Despite landing 25 minutes late at TPA due headwinds, we were still airborne on time. Therefore I deduce that the Teamsters' union went out of their way to assist in a very speedy turn round.
The Captain set the tone for the flight by giving a rousing welcome to the pax & proudly announcing that the aircraft was crewed by a fully operational Gatwick crew, no volunteers required. He was also pleased to announce that we SLF were to receive a full meals service. This happened very speedily despite quite choppy clear air turbulence.
During the flight, surely a record at 7.5 hrs, I was able to have a lengthy chat with the purser about the present situation with Bassa. Time & space will not allow me to repeat the words used & opinion expressed; suffice to say that there is NO sympathy or understanding for or of Bassa's position.
Throughout the flight as always the service was both friendly & efficient.
One of our cases was unfortunately damaged at LGW during unloading. It was very quickly sorted out at the BA desk in the arrivals hall; a new one is on the way. Both BA staff members were totally scathing about the strike. They pointed out that they had taken their cuts a year ago so fail to see why LHR CC should be an exception. Again I won't repeat how they described grey haired CSDs!
As a result of our latest flight we are more than ever supportive of BA & the excellent crews & personnel. I cannot see any way in which Bassa & Unite can be allowed to bring down this great airline.
My wife is flying MRS - LGW tomorrow morning and the flight is being operated by Astreus. I have tried to log on to BA.com to manage the booking and print the boarding pass, but the site will not allow it. It looks like a case of turning up at Marseilles in the morning and hoping for the best.
Mrs S will be very disappointed if...
a, The flight is cancelled.
b, Bruce Dickinson is not the captain!
Mrs S will be very disappointed if...
a, The flight is cancelled.
b, Bruce Dickinson is not the captain!
Myself and family are doing a long haul flight on Thursday. On the BA website it states that no warm food will be provided on the flight. We will survive, however could someone explain why if catering and ground handling are working normally and said meals only have to be heated by pressing a button by cabin crew, why is is unlikely that there will be warm meals onboard ?
Any answers appreciated.
SHJ
Any answers appreciated.
SHJ
