We all know that Unite is not always accurate with its figures.
Unite claim on their website a membership of 2 million – the TUC has the Unite membership listed at 1,557,892 – only ½ million adrift – just a small membership database problem.
It would therefore seem quite reasonable to take any of their figures with a pinch of salt!
An interesting FT article (last year) - Exclusive: Unite “loses” 300,000 members | Westminster Blog | FT.com

leiard:

Very interesting article and one I hadn't come across yet. Thank you.

And since you inspired me to look around I also found this article which states that Unite's numbers may be even lower than those listed in your linked article.
Is Unite overstating its membership figures? – Telegraph Blogs

Duncan Holly - Duggie Fashion
 

I hope the mods will continue to allow DH to post on the CC thread even though he is no longer an active CC member after his sacking......


:ok:


please mods? ;-)

BASSA members.
 

A few weeks ago on the other thread it was suggested that Pay Office would know the number of BASSA members having union membership dues deducted at source. It was payday yesterday, time for a recount methinks.

'I hope the mods will continue to allow DH to post on the CC thread even though he is no longer an active CC member after his sacking......'

I disagree completely!
To allow an ex active crew member to continue to post or to start posting, no matter how discredited or otherwise their abilities to communicate rational thought, would be to set a precedent which could have serious consequences. The scenario of honorary posters rears its ugly head with the probable starting line for endless infantile and fallacious arguments among members of PPrune as to who might be more honorary than whom. If you are removed from the privilege of the House of Lords by the lose of your peerage, you may not speak from its benches. That is surely the law?

Note the strike pay was increased from £30 to £45 per day. Duncan wanted £50 and Tony agreed to £45.

Cavortingcheetah speaks with much wisdom. If they have been cast out of the tribe then they should seek pastures new upon which to spread their seed and manure.

Sacked Staff
 

Given the reasons why DH was sacked - (ignoring any weasel words about the use of the word 'Sacked') - and the potential for others to also be Sacked, Fired or Dismissed for similar or worse actions - I would suggest that the last thing needed by BA is for these individuals to continue to have the ability to drip their poisonous venom onto an official CC site and continue to have an influence on the operations and CC staff.

They should be removed from the official thread and if they wish, attempt to post here - if they can withstand the responses given (including expressions of mirth!!).

One thing that appears to be forgotten most of the time - these people are fighting to retain their control over a business operation that was netting somewhere in the region of £1.8m per annum - the're not playing softball!!

British Airways divides workers over pay and perks | Business | The Guardian?

It may be of interest that 'DuggieFashion' has made a comment on the story - scroll to the end of the story.

My heavens. I've just finished reading the latest message from Duncan Holley and BASSA.

http://www.pprune.org/cabin-crew/418...f-only-80.html

Can these people ever be professional? I don't think I can read a message from BASSA in the future without the theme music from Benny Hill playing in my mind.

Diplome, in the defence of the post...........................

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Litebulb:

lol. I think I just got your post. :):):)

Me too. I didnt think I could have a lower view of the BASSA reps, until know.

I've never seen such unprofessional :mad: clearly written by an equally unprofessional :mad: in all my working life.

My partner left the union back in Feb, I'm so very, very glad she did. This is supposed to be serious stuff concering a business and employees welbeing and that of their familes. BASSA think it is clearly a joke.

I'm at a complete loss..

Regardless that the latest item from BASSA was described as gallows humour. The whole article is a regurtitation of the BASSA official line. It wasn't funny, it just came across as desperate and sad.

I am at a loss at what the article was aiming to achieve or who it was aimed at.

Snas:

It is interesting to me how BASSA members seem to be in denial regarding how these sort of messages reflect on them personally.

It only further degrades the opinion of passengers and the public regarding BASSA members and they aren't at a high point right now.

Its tantamount to wearing a shirt that says "I'm with Stupid"...but the arrow points up.

Unions
 

As it stands in the UK, unions are vital. Employment law is just not, or is it not just? We are only a 100 years on from the Master and Servants act.

But why give the current Government reason to legislate? The 60's and 70's were like a kid with a new toy, but then Mrs T (mum) stepped in and sent us to bed. We just have not grown up and we are not as cute as Peter Pan, but we do seem to live in a fictional world at times.

It's fair to say that other unions are having to tread carefully, very carefully, after some of the recent court rulings involving Unite. BASSA are not doing the union movement any favours at the moment!

west lakes
 

It is easily fixed. Give works councils the same rights as unions. Just legislate the ICE regs to INE (negotiation rather than effective consultation), with legal obligations.

I would pay an increase in NI (proportionate to salary) to fund legal representation, as long as it was not a half baked deal. Get rid of SOSR and ETO, with legal support restricted to a fixed cost on both sides, with ACAS mediation a compulsory measure. This wine is good!

LB
 

It's probably fairer to say that unions need to maintain sensible relations with employers rather than thinking they are invunerable.

The saddest bit is that some BASSA members have taken one step too far (possibly as a result of never having seen any comebacks for union actions) and got into the realms of illegal acts.

Lets just say that particular union. I still stand by what I said a long time ago, BASSA have been an extemporary union. What fantastic T&C's they have achieved and maintained over the years. But they have been outdone here. In my opinion, Mr Walsh is out to bust BASSA, but it is the failing of the said union, not to at least protect existing members terms, even if the condition may have got a bit tougher. There was a pay rise in it some where, if the fight had been smarter.