BA Strike - Your Thoughts & Questions
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Just a few of the reader comments from this morning's Times.
It certainly doesn't reflect what's coming out from Sky viewers on email and text. The majority seem to condemn BASSA and call on BA to sack the strikers and give the jobs to people who deserve them.
If only it were that simple.
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Lot's of CC are turning up for work
Presumably many of these are the same CC who voted overwhelmingly (twice) to strike.
No surprise that they are, really. WW having played his ace card to withdraw, permanently, the awesome 10% travel deal that CC enjoy, the outcome was almost inevitable.
If he had played that card at the start, the entire Operation Survival would probably have been unecessary.
Presumably many of these are the same CC who voted overwhelmingly (twice) to strike.
No surprise that they are, really. WW having played his ace card to withdraw, permanently, the awesome 10% travel deal that CC enjoy, the outcome was almost inevitable.
If he had played that card at the start, the entire Operation Survival would probably have been unecessary.
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I have a few questions about the real reason for the strike on both sides.
If BA is so desperate to save money, how is it that it can find money to train people to do extra jobs, ie CC, then can use staff from offices to call 1000´s of people to inform them of flight changes. Then the BIG one, how can they justify chartering 23 a/c (some with crew) just to break a strike?
The unions are also head in sands, they want to stay in power by flexing muscles. But I agree negotiation is the only way forward. Which side union/management is refusing or lying?
If this employee is telling the truth, (why wouldn´t she?), it does actually seem to be bullying and intimidation from both sides.
BBC News - BA strike blame 'lies with those at the top'
If BA is so desperate to save money, how is it that it can find money to train people to do extra jobs, ie CC, then can use staff from offices to call 1000´s of people to inform them of flight changes. Then the BIG one, how can they justify chartering 23 a/c (some with crew) just to break a strike?
The unions are also head in sands, they want to stay in power by flexing muscles. But I agree negotiation is the only way forward. Which side union/management is refusing or lying?
If this employee is telling the truth, (why wouldn´t she?), it does actually seem to be bullying and intimidation from both sides.
BBC News - BA strike blame 'lies with those at the top'
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If BA is so desperate to save money, how is it that it can find money to train people to do extra jobs, ie CC, then can use staff from offices to call 1000´s of people to inform them of flight changes.
Then the BIG one, how can they justify chartering 23 a/c (some with crew) just to break a strike?
The unions are also head in sands, they want to stay in power by flexing muscles. But I agree negotiation is the only way forward. Which side union/management is refusing or lying?
If this employee is telling the truth, (why wouldn´t she?), it does actually seem to be bullying and intimidation from both sides.
BASSA, on the other hand, threaten to make life a misery for anyone who doesn't play it their way.
They are a cancer on the airline and need to be surgically removed if it is to survive.
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A point just raised on "flyertalk" ... There were suggestions that the Teamsters in the USA, and indeed other foreign Unions, would carry out some sort of "sympathy action". Has anyone heard anything about that happening?
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STANDTO
It would be unfortunate if the whole airline 'went down the tubes' as you hope. I don't work for them but I do know there are a lot of good people there who pull out the stops on a daily basis. There will always be the odd 'clown' anywhere and it may be possible that you might have encountered one that then hardened your disposition towards that airline. I agree with a lot of what you wish for but not that it goes down the tubes. For me there has always been a guaranteed bottom line to the product they provide and it would be so very sad if this current dispute hastened the end of BA but I doubt that. It's a complicated endeavour to run an airline and there does have to be some degree of 'bureaucracy' to keep things stabe and that everyone on the front line is not making it up as they go along - same anywhere really. Asking the person at the bottom of the chain to put his or her neck on the block to facilitate something going against the rules seems fair enough but if they say no, then why bear a grudge? Like I say, there are some great people there, doing there utmost, don't wish them out of a job.
TURIN - Good post
Ted
TURIN - Good post
Ted
Last edited by teddybear44; 21st Mar 2010 at 11:47.
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Two-Tone-Blue:
I've been keeping my eyes open regarding that issue in news reports and so far the only thing I've seen are words of support.
Perhaps Unite/BASSA realize how poorly that would be viewed by the public.
I've been keeping my eyes open regarding that issue in news reports and so far the only thing I've seen are words of support.
Perhaps Unite/BASSA realize how poorly that would be viewed by the public.
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Teamsters
Hi T-T-B.
The BA strike isn't exactly hitting the headlines over here. There are no indications that BA flights are being delayed departing US airfields so I guess that as with much Unite rhetoric, so much hot air.
Interestingly the on line check in for tonight's TPA-LGW isn't allowing early check in although the departure time is according to schedule.
The BA strike isn't exactly hitting the headlines over here. There are no indications that BA flights are being delayed departing US airfields so I guess that as with much Unite rhetoric, so much hot air
.Interestingly the on line check in for tonight's TPA-LGW isn't allowing early check in although the departure time is according to schedule.
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TED
You are right. On re-reading it is a little harsh. What I was trying to extol was a 'phoenix from flames' re-birth. Hit the reset button and develop an airline that is fit for purpose.
As a traveller, I jut couldn't risk booking with BA in any case these days. The disruption of having a cancelled flight just adds to the overall misery of air travel in the 21st century.
Here's hoping some good will come of this shambles
As a traveller, I jut couldn't risk booking with BA in any case these days. The disruption of having a cancelled flight just adds to the overall misery of air travel in the 21st century.
Here's hoping some good will come of this shambles
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Three executives who work with my husband flew BA yesterday (two different flights).
All reported, after much initial apprehension, that the flights were very pleasant with friendly crew. One mentioned in particular the work of the ground staff in setting a positive tone.
Well done BA.
All reported, after much initial apprehension, that the flights were very pleasant with friendly crew. One mentioned in particular the work of the ground staff in setting a positive tone.
Well done BA.
PPRuNe Secret Agent!
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According to BBC News 24, nearly half of the flights cancelled have been re-instated due to so many Cabin Crew not supporting the industrial action...
Truth or Propagander?!?
Truth or Propagander?!?
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I've largely ceased to rely on Media info, as they never seem to check facts properly [cf Unite's claim of 20 ac parked up at Cardiff, which they all happily regurgitate as fact].
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Originally Posted by Two-Tone-Blue
I've largely ceased to rely on Media info, as they never seem to check facts properly [cf Unite's claim of 20 ac parked up at Cardiff, which they all happily regurgitate as fact].
Unite said a number of planes had been stacked up at airports, including 85 parked planes at Heathrow, 20 at Cardiff and 20 in Shannon.
BA experience Sat
I flew BA from Hamburg to LHR on Sat.
The flight was fairly full, and from a passenger perspective absolutely fine. On landing at LHR it seemed to me that there were more non-BA livery planes than usual at T5. Within T5 it seemed slightly less busy than usual. I am not a frequent/regular BA user so I can't be too sure on either point but it certainly was not an amazing number of non-BA planes, or an amazingly empty T5. If I had not known from the media that there was a strike on then I would not have even thought that there was something unusual at all.
The previous week I had to change an Expedia booking of BA in order to get to Hamburg (due to some weather problems that stranded me in Denver with Delta). The Expedia link to the BA website went better than I have ever seen it and I was able to modify my booking with no extra cost at all. I do not know if this is usual or if it was a sweetener to cope with the industrial action dsisruption but it was greatly appreciated by me. I run my own small business and any additional costs are most unwelcome (especially as I was actually travelling on something that was essentially a pro bono mission). It would be good to know if this was usual or unusual as it would affect my booking choices in the future (I always book cheapest ticket type, but not necessarily cheapest airline/route/time).
I had a bad spell with BA about 5-10 years ago that made me not prefer them and it is only recently that I have started considering them in my travel planning. From what I have seen over the last couple of weeks I will consider them more frequently in the future - especially if prices reduce more as otherwise it can be hard to justify to myself vs the locos.
Hope this is factual enough to be of help.
The flight was fairly full, and from a passenger perspective absolutely fine. On landing at LHR it seemed to me that there were more non-BA livery planes than usual at T5. Within T5 it seemed slightly less busy than usual. I am not a frequent/regular BA user so I can't be too sure on either point but it certainly was not an amazing number of non-BA planes, or an amazingly empty T5. If I had not known from the media that there was a strike on then I would not have even thought that there was something unusual at all.
The previous week I had to change an Expedia booking of BA in order to get to Hamburg (due to some weather problems that stranded me in Denver with Delta). The Expedia link to the BA website went better than I have ever seen it and I was able to modify my booking with no extra cost at all. I do not know if this is usual or if it was a sweetener to cope with the industrial action dsisruption but it was greatly appreciated by me. I run my own small business and any additional costs are most unwelcome (especially as I was actually travelling on something that was essentially a pro bono mission). It would be good to know if this was usual or unusual as it would affect my booking choices in the future (I always book cheapest ticket type, but not necessarily cheapest airline/route/time).
I had a bad spell with BA about 5-10 years ago that made me not prefer them and it is only recently that I have started considering them in my travel planning. From what I have seen over the last couple of weeks I will consider them more frequently in the future - especially if prices reduce more as otherwise it can be hard to justify to myself vs the locos.
Hope this is factual enough to be of help.
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Not exactly the most wonderful story for striking Cabin Crew.
Do these people not understand that you don't HAVE to talk to the press?
Late-night revelry of the BA cabin crews - Telegraph
Do these people not understand that you don't HAVE to talk to the press?
Late-night revelry of the BA cabin crews - Telegraph
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Apparently the parked aircraft at both Cardiff and Shannon are a myth
Mythbusters (albeit hearsay) BA Parking at Shannon? - boards.ie
(Also hope it's OK to link to another forum like this.)
(Also hope it's OK to link to another forum like this.)
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Nice one STANDTO
Thanks for that. I know myself what it's like when it turns to clag and how frustrating it is. During the January weather probs, I checked in, went through the security and in that time they shut down the best part of the short haul program including my flight and then all of us passengers trooped out in our thousands to try again later. I just had to suck it up. I did struggle to understand why it was so, since it was, by that time, blue skies etc but it seems that complex crewing agreements and logistics on the ground contribute to frustrate the best efforts to operate at times like that. This is why they need to modernise and I think the man at the top is right in what he is doing. That being said there are so many people on the front lines who see themselves as 'company' men and women and who give of their utmost accordingly. Maybe you don't get that committment everywhere and he should value that too. Like you I'm hoping for better things. Cheers.
Ted
Ted
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Cymmon
The real reason for the strike.
I can see similarities with the miners’ strike 20 years ago. They objected to the closure of pits that were not economically viable. The management dug in and the dispute was about the ‘right to manage’.
BA union agreements dating back to the days when the airline was a government run bureaucracy stipulate that the unions must be consulted on the minutiae of their operations. So when competitive economic pressure requires a reduction in the number of crew on a flight, the union digs its heels in. Once again, the dispute is about the ‘right to manage’.
Mrs Thatcher saw what was coming, stock piled coal, and appointed Ian McGregor as the man to take on the NUM. I’m sure the BA board also saw what was coming and appointed Willie Walsh as the man to take on the union. This dispute was going to happen sooner or later and the stakes are very high indeed. Either the union will have to back down or BA will not survive the modern era.
I can see similarities with the miners’ strike 20 years ago. They objected to the closure of pits that were not economically viable. The management dug in and the dispute was about the ‘right to manage’.
BA union agreements dating back to the days when the airline was a government run bureaucracy stipulate that the unions must be consulted on the minutiae of their operations. So when competitive economic pressure requires a reduction in the number of crew on a flight, the union digs its heels in. Once again, the dispute is about the ‘right to manage’.
Mrs Thatcher saw what was coming, stock piled coal, and appointed Ian McGregor as the man to take on the NUM. I’m sure the BA board also saw what was coming and appointed Willie Walsh as the man to take on the union. This dispute was going to happen sooner or later and the stakes are very high indeed. Either the union will have to back down or BA will not survive the modern era.