BA Strike - Your Thoughts & Questions
Fair enough, clearly a close decision but Unite won on this occasion 
No lets see how they do in the strike. I wonder if more CC members than last time will be willing to risk losing ST in a magnanimous attempt to get it reinstated for those who lost it last time?
No lets see how they do in the strike. I wonder if more CC members than last time will be willing to risk losing ST in a magnanimous attempt to get it reinstated for those who lost it last time?
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No Mariner, they are only allowed to strike over the reason in the initial ballot.
If there's any of them left come June, they can ballot for a strike over ST or disciplinaries.
If there's any of them left come June, they can ballot for a strike over ST or disciplinaries.
Nope, they voted to strike over imposition, but an individual's reasons to strike having held a lawful (it finally seems) ballot are entirely up to them.
Unite say the BA offer is acceptable if ST is replaced and disciplinaries dropped. Ergo the strike is now solely about these two issues - the original reason for the ballot is irrelevant.
Unite say the BA offer is acceptable if ST is replaced and disciplinaries dropped. Ergo the strike is now solely about these two issues - the original reason for the ballot is irrelevant.
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Mariner,
Protection against the strike for the initial ballot ends on June 12th.
It doesn't matter why they think they're striking, they need another ballot to strike past then and enjoy some measure of legal protection.
Added: They'd already stated that they were going to do another ballot.
But there seems to be some confusion over they've won an appeal or they've won the right to appeal.
Protection against the strike for the initial ballot ends on June 12th.
It doesn't matter why they think they're striking, they need another ballot to strike past then and enjoy some measure of legal protection.
Added: They'd already stated that they were going to do another ballot.
But there seems to be some confusion over they've won an appeal or they've won the right to appeal.
Agreed Chico. I also agree (to an extent) with Baggers.
Personally, I can't see BA handing out P45's to the strikers come June. Despite what BASSA say, I consider that WW would still prefer a negotiated agreement even if it does leave the rabid BA haters in place (why the heck don't they leave if its so bad!)
Difficult negotiating with someone who only says no but that's what WW gets paid for.
Personally, I can't see BA handing out P45's to the strikers come June. Despite what BASSA say, I consider that WW would still prefer a negotiated agreement even if it does leave the rabid BA haters in place (why the heck don't they leave if its so bad!)
Difficult negotiating with someone who only says no but that's what WW gets paid for.
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Difficult negotiating with someone who only says no but that's what WW gets paid for.
Juggling HR is only part of his job.
If he can find a way of cutting costs and bringing the airline back to profitability, neither of those parties are going to care too much about the fate of a bunch of overpaid, underworked, troublemaking BASSA CSDs and pursers.
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Apologies if this has been asked and answered elsewhere on this thread (I've done a bit of speedreading but may have missed it).
As it is the union that has organised the strike, why is it that only some airports are affected?
When the strike was due to start on the 18th, BA was saying that flight from LGW would be unaffected, and that most of the stoppages would be at LHR.
(and a big
for the crew that will still be working throughout the strike period)
As it is the union that has organised the strike, why is it that only some airports are affected?
When the strike was due to start on the 18th, BA was saying that flight from LGW would be unaffected, and that most of the stoppages would be at LHR.
(and a big
for the crew that will still be working throughout the strike period)
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419
Big question 419, with a big answer and lots of history involved.
The small answer version is that the CC at Gatwick although able to strike are choosing (for the greater part) not to.
----
On another note, I'm pleased with todays ruling, for two reasons.
Firstly it was not a just ruling to grant the injunction in the first place, not really. And were I involved in IA that I supported I would not want these sort of hunt for the tiny error rulings to become the norm.
Secondly, if the CC want to walk towards the cliff, let em. Take the pain and the bad PR now I say for the benefit of the future welbeing of the company, it's staff and pax and deal with the trouble makers now. I dont want them looking after me when flying with BA and my partner is certainly sick of working with them on board.
The small answer version is that the CC at Gatwick although able to strike are choosing (for the greater part) not to.
----
On another note, I'm pleased with todays ruling, for two reasons.
Firstly it was not a just ruling to grant the injunction in the first place, not really. And were I involved in IA that I supported I would not want these sort of hunt for the tiny error rulings to become the norm.
Secondly, if the CC want to walk towards the cliff, let em. Take the pain and the bad PR now I say for the benefit of the future welbeing of the company, it's staff and pax and deal with the trouble makers now. I dont want them looking after me when flying with BA and my partner is certainly sick of working with them on board.
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Baggersup, the usual group of Unite members joined by some Right to Work supporters were protesting outside the court today, whilst I have not seen the report you mention I would suggest it's them making the number up. Oh, and press of course.
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419: an oversimplified answer is that the Gatwick staff accepted changes to their T&Cs a couple of years ago – the alternative was the closure of the BA base there. BASSA did not fight very hard on their behalf.
The imposition of changes that the strike is supposed to be about broadly brings manning levels at LHR down to where they already are at Gatwick.
Despite being the ‘poor relation’, the LGW people do seem to be considerably more well-adjusted than their LHR brethren (and their customers seem to appreciate it too).
The imposition of changes that the strike is supposed to be about broadly brings manning levels at LHR down to where they already are at Gatwick.
Despite being the ‘poor relation’, the LGW people do seem to be considerably more well-adjusted than their LHR brethren (and their customers seem to appreciate it too).
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Difficult negotiating with someone who only says no but that's what WW gets paid for.
Juggling HR is only part of his job.
If he can find a way of cutting costs and bringing the airline back to profitability, neither of those parties are going to care too much about the fate of a bunch of overpaid, underworked, troublemaking BASSA CSDs and pursers.
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Bullying
I'm confused. I've just seen a picture of the opentop bus with placards
- Bullying is BAd for business -
Why then are they wanting their bullies re-instated?
Incidentally if they are wearing their BA Tabards is this a breach of the rules?
- Bullying is BAd for business -
Why then are they wanting their bullies re-instated?
Incidentally if they are wearing their BA Tabards is this a breach of the rules?
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Latest from BASSA: -
My Bold - they should tread careful here, tax liability could be the result of this one, and that would hurt, lots.
Source: - http://uniteba.com/
Staff Travel
Unite's lawyers have written to BA on behalf of all individual members of cabin crew who currently have, or who at some future date, may have their travel concession withdrawn as a result of taking part in lawful industrial action.
The union's letter states that this disciplinary sanction was imposed in flagrant disregard for the company's own internal disciplinary procedure EG901. Furthermore, we are exploring the potential contractual nature of staff travel.
The union goes on to argue that by ignoring the procedure staff were denied the opportunity to establish the facts, to state their case and challenge BA's action. Furthermore withdrawing staff travel concessions as a sanction against exercising a right to strike is potentially a breach of the European Convention of Human Rights.The union is demanding an immediate response from BA on these issues.
Unite's lawyers have written to BA on behalf of all individual members of cabin crew who currently have, or who at some future date, may have their travel concession withdrawn as a result of taking part in lawful industrial action.
The union's letter states that this disciplinary sanction was imposed in flagrant disregard for the company's own internal disciplinary procedure EG901. Furthermore, we are exploring the potential contractual nature of staff travel.
The union goes on to argue that by ignoring the procedure staff were denied the opportunity to establish the facts, to state their case and challenge BA's action. Furthermore withdrawing staff travel concessions as a sanction against exercising a right to strike is potentially a breach of the European Convention of Human Rights.The union is demanding an immediate response from BA on these issues.
Source: - http://uniteba.com/
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Honestly you couldn't make this strike saga up could you? if a screen writer came up with this as a story line it would be rejected as to far fetched. I personally see this appeal as a good thing for BA.
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Snas:
I agree. If Unite is foolish enough to argue that staff travel is contractual, and heaven help them if they do win in court, the tax man cometh.
Do the BASSA membership EVER stop and say "Wait, this may not be a good thing?".
I agree. If Unite is foolish enough to argue that staff travel is contractual, and heaven help them if they do win in court, the tax man cometh.
Do the BASSA membership EVER stop and say "Wait, this may not be a good thing?".
Last edited by Diplome; 20th May 2010 at 13:52. Reason: spelling
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As has been mentioned elsewhere one big problem that the strikers and militants are building up for themselves is their plumeting image. They are coming across as self obsessed, pathalogically hostile to the company they work for and totally uninterested in their customers.The latter will ask themselves; "Are these my kind of people? Do I really want to fly with them- or risk flying with them?". The simple answer is "No".The rational choice of how to travel/not to travel is then obvious.
It appears that despite all the efforts of many who want to make a success of it, do a good job and enjoy it, BA may, because of the vicious antipathy of a minority of staff be incapable of reinventing itself. That being so it may be at the end of its life cycle and the shareholders best served by the winding up of the company, sale of assets and the return of any residual profits to them. Game over.
It appears that despite all the efforts of many who want to make a success of it, do a good job and enjoy it, BA may, because of the vicious antipathy of a minority of staff be incapable of reinventing itself. That being so it may be at the end of its life cycle and the shareholders best served by the winding up of the company, sale of assets and the return of any residual profits to them. Game over.
Last edited by Skylion; 20th May 2010 at 13:51. Reason: spelling correction
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ABBA Effect
I don't think CC need to strike next week, the damage to BA is already done as customers will be deserting the airline for more reliable airlines.
My company is clamping down on travel, but even so, where necessary BA are definitely off the list. It seems the Star Alliance airlines are the preference now for all trips. As a large US corporate that spends $millions each year on flights, others like us taking their "business" travel elsewhere is going to hurt BA, especially on the US routes.
I have one personal route left to fly with BA in June and I am hoping that additional IA dates are not brought in to ruin this special trip. I was booked to go out next week originally, but with that flight now cancelled I had no option but to change. Thankfully for me, I am not reliant on being away over the school holidays like thousands of other families are. I hope they all get away.
As for the summer, it was a case of ABBA and I'm booked elsewhere as I cannot afford for my family holiday to be ruined by a rediculous strike.
BA - Unite, sort it out one way or another before it's too late.
My company is clamping down on travel, but even so, where necessary BA are definitely off the list. It seems the Star Alliance airlines are the preference now for all trips. As a large US corporate that spends $millions each year on flights, others like us taking their "business" travel elsewhere is going to hurt BA, especially on the US routes.
I have one personal route left to fly with BA in June and I am hoping that additional IA dates are not brought in to ruin this special trip. I was booked to go out next week originally, but with that flight now cancelled I had no option but to change. Thankfully for me, I am not reliant on being away over the school holidays like thousands of other families are. I hope they all get away.
As for the summer, it was a case of ABBA and I'm booked elsewhere as I cannot afford for my family holiday to be ruined by a rediculous strike.
BA - Unite, sort it out one way or another before it's too late.
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Interesting a few posts back about the potential PR disaster ... not sure I agree. I think that people have very short memories and my experience so far is that passengers want BA to continue flying with CC who are committed to the airline and the passengers and not to be held to ransom by some dinasour union.
The more of this that goes to the courts, especially the European courts, the more it becomes a long playing lottery. And the less BA can shape events. From what I have seen so far WW has said what he will do and then done it. Interesting in the Times that he said "During the last strike, we flew more than 80 per cent of our customers. I am considering plans to raise that number towards 100 per cent should the need arise.I sincerely hope it does not." .... I think it is clear that come the end of the 12 week protection that something will happen. Compulsory redundancies? New contracts (sign or leave) ? Who knows. But ironically for BASSA, I think we'll find that come mid-June football rather than unions will be the main news .... convenient timing for WW to do what he needs to do with the press far more interested in Englands route to world cup glory .......
The more of this that goes to the courts, especially the European courts, the more it becomes a long playing lottery. And the less BA can shape events. From what I have seen so far WW has said what he will do and then done it. Interesting in the Times that he said "During the last strike, we flew more than 80 per cent of our customers. I am considering plans to raise that number towards 100 per cent should the need arise.I sincerely hope it does not." .... I think it is clear that come the end of the 12 week protection that something will happen. Compulsory redundancies? New contracts (sign or leave) ? Who knows. But ironically for BASSA, I think we'll find that come mid-June football rather than unions will be the main news .... convenient timing for WW to do what he needs to do with the press far more interested in Englands route to world cup glory .......