According to the BAA, almost 200000 less passengers used LHR when the strikes were on. That is a large number.

So is losing £150 Million. I wonder how much the new group organisation will impact on the decision process. Despite WW saying he was going to carry on with it.

Litebulbs' figure is the most important perhaps for BA on here in a long time.

The silent defectors for the past two years are what is going to hurt BA in the long run--which has been caused by this lack of IA resolution.

A few friends came over to my place for a Downton Abbey viewing Sunday night, (okay let the mocking begin), as it's showing in the US now, and a few were talking about going to the UK in the spring. They know I do it regularly and just came back on BA. So asked me a couple of questions about flights and pricing.

They all knew about the continual strikes and asked about the current strike ballot (which hasn't been generally reported in the US unless one looks for it). But I mentioned it.

One friend said to the others, oh nobody I know uses BA anymore. They're always going on strike....they're a mess.

There are folks who remember the 1997 BA fiasco and all the rest, as long time travellers.

So there are four people who travel a great deal internationally who just dismiss BA outright as a travel provider. I think there are alot more than Litebulbs' BAA 200,000 specific to the strike dates who may have just silently moved on. Not with any rancor but just because they can't be bothered to deal with an uncertain carrier, no matter how Walsh promises to deliver.

Most folks don't stick around long enough to read Walsh's promises of 100 percent operation. They don't spend their time on forums or tuning into this situation. They never pay attention to airline news unless they are poised to book.

They just hear "strike" or "on strike again" and move on without looking back really. I have a travel agent friend who won't use BA at all anymore after being hit with travel insurance premium increases for her business, after she had to cough up thousands for her customers during on the 2010 strikes.

BA really has to solve this somehow. Even though their carriage numbers seem healthy when they report them, they are still missing out on hundreds of thousands who would eventually come back to BA if things calmed down and they could show their history of constant industrial mayhem had receded.

But I'm sure BA know this. They just have to do that they have to do today to deal with the current dispute. And worry later about the lost souls who have dismissed BA as a possible carrier over the last few years.

One line meaningless comments ?
 

Call 100 ....

So what description would you put to the current statements and calls for strike action being made by the unions in the UK? - are you claiming that the unions do not have a declared intent to bring total disruption to the UK economy/industry in order to bring about a change of government?

JDS ....

Being an ex flight engineer does not limit DH in his choice of non de plumes, he was very upset when he was thrown off the BA thread by the MOD's, to properly understand the situation, try reading some of his posts from November, and previously, when he became quite open about BASSA/his objectives.

Both of the above comments are useless and only made to stifle any ongoing open discussion, why do you make them if you have nothing to add.

I'm not going to deny the strikes have had a damaging impact. As fir where BA goes from here, I don't know. It has been silent on the legal issues surrounding the ballot. What isn't an option is repeating the mistakes of the past and leaving issues brushed under the carpet, only to flare up again in a few years' time, which is what BA is paying a heavy price for today.

Entaxei

Safety Concerns is not Duncan Holley.

His comments were made to wind up you and others.

Is that clear enough for you?

Now that BASSA have voted to strike, again, can someone confirm by when they have to announce strike dates? I know they have to give BA 7 days notice, but is there any time limit when the mandate from this vote will run out?

According to the CC Thread ...

BA are reported to have made a small profit last year. (Small as a percentage of its turnover).

How much profit does BA need to make before it starts to replace some of its antique, (but well maintained) fleet?

I suspect that BA CC ought to be more worried about getting some new planes than being worried about travel concessions.

According to the CC Thread ...
Quote:
Anyway DH has 21 days from the 21st Jan to reveal his options.

Yes Bassa ( and its now up to them not Unite) have 28 days to 'go on strike' with 7 days notice, hence DH has to reveal by Feb 11th. I cannot wait to see his next 'strategy'

Makes you think this one. Why should Holley have these options?

Considering that Holley no longer represents, through default (i.e. being sacked by BA), the BA CC he is doing an awful lot of acting as Gen. Sec. with - apparently - 'legal' actions as above. What about Unite. How are they placed in acceding to this militant's outrageous attempts to fulfill his personal paranoiac vendetta against BA. McCluskey appears to be shouting and hollering in support of a union that is under Holley's control, yet it isn't - except by its very dubious constitution. I would hope that BA have delved into this very carefully to see if Holley can legally dictate HIS options for IA against BA. Unite would be in a fearful position if they jump on Holley's Trojan horse only to find that this outgoing Gen Sec represents nobody.

Then, of course, McCluskey has the blatant cheek to say BA should resolve the dispute knowing, as they do, that ANY OFFER would immediately be turned down by Holley. What pray, is the use of that? How can it be right?

And what do Unite think about Holley telling a few thousand BASSA members to 'get out' of 'his' union?

My head hurts!

RTR, that's nothin' compared to the aching heads that will ensue when BASSA exploits its target rich environment this spring to call IA over the Easter holidays and the Royal Wedding holiday week. The temptation must be monumental.

When one has one's hand on the button and can fire at will, how could anybody resist those? :eek:

DH's disciples should read this article from today's Cyprus Mail to get an idea of how a union can work with an airline.

Unions urge CY workers to accept drastic rescue plan - Cyprus Mail

P21

Folks, I may have completely misunderstood but haven't we got this backwards?

Is it not Unite who gets ultimate say on strike action as it's on their legal ticket? Remember Windowsgate where DH (BASSA) was slapped down as he was exposing Unite to being sued for wildcat action.

However, should Unite wish to call-off or settle a strike action then my understanding is that it doesn't happen without the expressed agreement of DH (BASSA).

I could be wrong as my head is getting done-in too!

AVF

I am sure the Unite leadership has expressly said that it definitely wont be over Easter or the Royal Wedding. I might be wrong but I thought I heard that somewhere.

DH and his battle.
 

On another thread a regular poster suggests that DH " must be going through all the battles and wars in history ......to give him ideas.
Which is DH 's battle?

Culloden of course.
DH is the Bonnie Prince about to be banished.
Striking CC are the Scots shortly to be starving, no prisoners taken and just remember what happened to the wounded.
The working CC are the English winners.
The VCC are the German mercenaries .They did a good job.
WW , well some , not me, would say the Duke of Cumberland , who won.

For your info Betty Girl:

Len McCluskey 'would not pick' Easter strike - Telegraph

While I suspect DH is chomping at the bit to announce a strike (gaining revenge for his sacking is likely his priority as his own T&C's are not at stake), I presume Unite will attempt to use the 21 days available to attempt to gain concessions from BA.

Given that BA will be well aware of this and unlikely in my view to back down, I expect a strike announcement just before time limit expires.

As I understand it, Unite has to give the branch permission to ballot for industrial action.
Once the ballot is complete and the results are in favour of action Unite has to then give permission for the action.
Once given it is at this point that only BASSA can call it off!

Authorising a strike
 

Only the Unite Executive Committee can authorise a strike or any other form of industrial action.

DH has no power whatsoever - he can't even ask his members to refuse to touch the blinds.

Unite's lawyers "own" the next stage in this dispute.