BA cabin crew threaten to poison pilots
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BA cabin crew threaten to poison pilots
Following a very reasonable letter to BA news from a First Officer the BA cabin crew union's (BASSA) forum has been inundated with threats to use eye drops to poison the person involved.
The letter questioned the effiency of cabin crew rostering and has been met with comments such as
.
This is not the first time that there has been such a threat on this site.
I have just been told by a freind who is well connected that the posts have been copied and there is serious consideration being given to a complaint to the Metropolitan Police and the CAA.
The letter questioned the effiency of cabin crew rostering and has been met with comments such as
ME THINKS EYE DROPS IN THE COFFEE!!! WATCH UR FOOD AND DRINK VERY CAREFULLY MR xxxxxx
This is not the first time that there has been such a threat on this site.
I have just been told by a freind who is well connected that the posts have been copied and there is serious consideration being given to a complaint to the Metropolitan Police and the CAA.
Warning Toxic!
Disgusted of Tunbridge
Disgusted of Tunbridge
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Talking to BA Cabin Crew over the years at times when their tongues were loosened with alcohol (not rare occasions!), it struck me how many proudly bragged, or knew of someone, who had 'fixed' pilots drink or food because of perceived sleights or whatever! I was absolutely staggered that people could be so stupid, but from the number of reports, I know it happened, and some of the old dragons would not shirk from doing it to pilots they disliked. I know for myself I have experienced sudden and explosive, and instantly vanishing, stomach upsets (and inflight!). Fortunately I have retired from that institution with no apparent lasting damage, but just possibly slightly radioactive, but not due to cabin crew 'food additives' I think!
Yes it does happen, and no, nobody is interested!
Yes it does happen, and no, nobody is interested!
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Lord Flashhart sorry but you need to be corrected. Inundated with threats would imply a number of threats have been made.
One comment was made. Get it right mate. It was a comment made in jest.
One comment was made. Get it right mate. It was a comment made in jest.
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DD I for one find the comment immature and childish. The point of my post was to correct LF he has made it sound like a number of threats were made - this was not the case.
I would be very surprised if the police treated it seriously but you never know.
I would be very surprised if the police treated it seriously but you never know.
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Anecdotally, there have been at least a dozen alleged instances of this kind of behaviour at BA in the last 5 years or so.
As a current flight-deck member I cannot begin to comprehend the kind of stupidity that this kind of behaviour entails. From my own conversations with cabin crew, and from those who get a bit "chatty" after a few drinks down route I have come to the conclusion that it is a small minority of bitter individuals, most of whom bear little resemblance to the vast majority of utterly professional cabin crew.
In my opinion those members of cabin crew that condone and do nothing about this activity, are every bit as foolish and reckless, as those who actually perpetrate what is in point of fact a criminal act
As a current flight-deck member I cannot begin to comprehend the kind of stupidity that this kind of behaviour entails. From my own conversations with cabin crew, and from those who get a bit "chatty" after a few drinks down route I have come to the conclusion that it is a small minority of bitter individuals, most of whom bear little resemblance to the vast majority of utterly professional cabin crew.
In my opinion those members of cabin crew that condone and do nothing about this activity, are every bit as foolish and reckless, as those who actually perpetrate what is in point of fact a criminal act
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Forgive me, but what a horribly misleading thread this is.
A tongue-in-cheek comment made on what should be a secure and private forum has been taken and blown out of proportion. I'm sorry to admit that I work in a company where the rift between the flight crew and cabin crew communities is large and growing. Sadly, a lot of the animosity stems from the Cabin Crew corner but this comment shouldn't be thought of as anything more than lighthearted and, again, very much tongue-in-cheek.
The suggestion that Cabin Crew would "poison" or in any way contaminate the food/drink of our Flight Crew colleagues is just ridiculous.
That's not to say there aren't a few bad apples out there - but I doubt any of them would be foolish enough to publicly outline their plans. Indeed, the people who have engaged in this activity in the past shouldn't be allowed to have their feet hit the floor before being swiftly tossed from Compass Centre, but to make a mountain out of this veritable mole hill just seems a little, um, over sensitive.
British Airways cabin crew have a bad enough name as it is - the last thing we need is those who aren't armed with all of the facts coming here, reading your post and imagining something sinister.
It's a matter of days before this hits The Dail Mail, I guarantee!
A tongue-in-cheek comment made on what should be a secure and private forum has been taken and blown out of proportion. I'm sorry to admit that I work in a company where the rift between the flight crew and cabin crew communities is large and growing. Sadly, a lot of the animosity stems from the Cabin Crew corner but this comment shouldn't be thought of as anything more than lighthearted and, again, very much tongue-in-cheek.
The suggestion that Cabin Crew would "poison" or in any way contaminate the food/drink of our Flight Crew colleagues is just ridiculous.
That's not to say there aren't a few bad apples out there - but I doubt any of them would be foolish enough to publicly outline their plans. Indeed, the people who have engaged in this activity in the past shouldn't be allowed to have their feet hit the floor before being swiftly tossed from Compass Centre, but to make a mountain out of this veritable mole hill just seems a little, um, over sensitive.
British Airways cabin crew have a bad enough name as it is - the last thing we need is those who aren't armed with all of the facts coming here, reading your post and imagining something sinister.
It's a matter of days before this hits The Dail Mail, I guarantee!
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Originally Posted by Lord_Flashhart
Following a very reasonable letter to BA news from a First Officer the BA cabin crew union's (BASSA) forum has been inundated with threats to use eye drops to poison the person involved.
And judging by the coffee I had coming back from Lanzarote the other day methinks it could possibly improve it
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I'm cabin crew for the said comany and would never consider poisoning one of my fellow workers. I would just remain professional and not socialise with them down route.
Secondly I have read the article and yes I do agree that from a daily basis we do seem to work less than the pilots,but what they forget to tell you is that they get 3 - 4 days off extra a month. I do on average 47 - 50 duty hours in a six day block. and only get 10 days off a month ( and I know before alot of the loco carriers complain that you only get 9 ). So the article by the ba pilot was correct in one sense that we do 'seem' to work less but we just do our work in the extra 3 - 4 days a month we work.
Secondly I have read the article and yes I do agree that from a daily basis we do seem to work less than the pilots,but what they forget to tell you is that they get 3 - 4 days off extra a month. I do on average 47 - 50 duty hours in a six day block. and only get 10 days off a month ( and I know before alot of the loco carriers complain that you only get 9 ). So the article by the ba pilot was correct in one sense that we do 'seem' to work less but we just do our work in the extra 3 - 4 days a month we work.
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I'm sure you do 47-50 hours duty per week, the point of the letter is you do signigicantly less flying than that. At least a third of your duty hours are likely to be sitting around Compass or CAT on industrially required long turnarounds earning allowances but not doing any work. Many of your colleagues seem unable to make that distinction. The pilots you mention are not only getting 3 to 4 days extra off per month but they are also flying more hours per month than you. In addition, many EF crews have a roster with several 'Available' days on which they can be non-opped, which means effectively being granted an additional day off.
The current Eurofleet agreement effectively strings out a small amount of work to fill a long period in order to get more cash, a not dissimilar practice to the Gate Gourment kitchen staff.
The current Eurofleet agreement effectively strings out a small amount of work to fill a long period in order to get more cash, a not dissimilar practice to the Gate Gourment kitchen staff.
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Originally Posted by Jet II
Having led a very sheltered life - what does putting eye-drops in the coffee do?
And judging by the coffee I had coming back from Lanzarote the other day methinks it could possibly improve it
And judging by the coffee I had coming back from Lanzarote the other day methinks it could possibly improve it
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I fill all my availables with the longest days possible ie. dme there and back ist there and back I work to pay a mortgage and work as hard as I possibly can. ava = no allowences.
I do as many long duty days as possible
I do as many long duty days as possible
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Sadly this is a clash of cultures and personality, take your average CC member, and your average Flight deck member, and you will continue to get the US vs THEM comments.
It just all seems exacerbated at a place like BA due to all the competing interests, and entrenched outdated work practices.
Put another way..its not going to be solved easily.
It just all seems exacerbated at a place like BA due to all the competing interests, and entrenched outdated work practices.
Put another way..its not going to be solved easily.
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These things happen sometimes...
______________________________
Flight Attendant Accused of Spiking Juice
Fri Mar 14, 2003 10:18 AM ET
DETROIT - A former Northwest Airlines flight attendant was charged with assault for allegedly putting a prescription depressant in a toddler's apple juice to stop her crying on an international flight.
Daniel Reed Cunningham, 33, also was charged Thursday with distributing a controlled substance on the Aug. 25 flight from Amsterdam to Detroit.
Arraignment was set for Tuesday for Cunningham, who is not in custody, the U.S. attorney's office said.
The girl's mother, Beate Turner, told FBI (news - web sites) special agent Terry Booth that Cunningham seemed upset when her 19-month-old daughter became restless and began squirming and crying on the flight. Cunningham offered the apple juice three times before Turner accepted, according to the agent's affidavit. The girl suffered no serious injury.
Turner later noticed the juice was bitter and foamy and had blue and white specks floating in it. Ten days after the flight, she took the juice to University Laboratories in Novi, which confirmed the presence of Xanax, a prescription medication used to treat panic attacks and anxiety, the FBI said.
The drug's side effects include lightheadedness, fatigue and drowsiness. The Food and Drug Administration (news - web sites) hasn't approved it for children, the agency said.
Cunningham has denied drugging the child in statements to the FBI. He did not return a telephone message left Friday at a listing for him, and his attorney, Neil Fink, declined comment.
Cunningham also has been charged with importing more than 100 tablets of a non-narcotic controlled substance into the United States on a different flight in October. The tablets included Xanax and Valium.
Northwest spokeswoman Mary Stanik said Cunningham was hired in 1998 and worked for the airline until last Dec. 30. She said she could not discuss his case.
______________________________
Flight Attendant Accused of Spiking Juice
Fri Mar 14, 2003 10:18 AM ET
DETROIT - A former Northwest Airlines flight attendant was charged with assault for allegedly putting a prescription depressant in a toddler's apple juice to stop her crying on an international flight.
Daniel Reed Cunningham, 33, also was charged Thursday with distributing a controlled substance on the Aug. 25 flight from Amsterdam to Detroit.
Arraignment was set for Tuesday for Cunningham, who is not in custody, the U.S. attorney's office said.
The girl's mother, Beate Turner, told FBI (news - web sites) special agent Terry Booth that Cunningham seemed upset when her 19-month-old daughter became restless and began squirming and crying on the flight. Cunningham offered the apple juice three times before Turner accepted, according to the agent's affidavit. The girl suffered no serious injury.
Turner later noticed the juice was bitter and foamy and had blue and white specks floating in it. Ten days after the flight, she took the juice to University Laboratories in Novi, which confirmed the presence of Xanax, a prescription medication used to treat panic attacks and anxiety, the FBI said.
The drug's side effects include lightheadedness, fatigue and drowsiness. The Food and Drug Administration (news - web sites) hasn't approved it for children, the agency said.
Cunningham has denied drugging the child in statements to the FBI. He did not return a telephone message left Friday at a listing for him, and his attorney, Neil Fink, declined comment.
Cunningham also has been charged with importing more than 100 tablets of a non-narcotic controlled substance into the United States on a different flight in October. The tablets included Xanax and Valium.
Northwest spokeswoman Mary Stanik said Cunningham was hired in 1998 and worked for the airline until last Dec. 30. She said she could not discuss his case.
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A couple of things to add.
Firstly the pilots did have the same agreements but gave them up for a pay restructure which most did very nicely out of or indeed one day will ( and I take the point a very small % lost out ) A large no. of pilots resent the cabin crew working practises as they feel there union sold them down the river
Secondly they are called agreements ie. all parties company,unions, employees agreed to these working practises.
Thirdly if they think these agreements are so good I hear they are still recruiting crew at the rivers www.britishairwaysjobs.com.
Firstly the pilots did have the same agreements but gave them up for a pay restructure which most did very nicely out of or indeed one day will ( and I take the point a very small % lost out ) A large no. of pilots resent the cabin crew working practises as they feel there union sold them down the river
Secondly they are called agreements ie. all parties company,unions, employees agreed to these working practises.
Thirdly if they think these agreements are so good I hear they are still recruiting crew at the rivers www.britishairwaysjobs.com.
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Grow up.It's just a bit of banter on a forum.
Things get taken too seriously these days.
Just laugh and get on with it.
I have read the letter and know the person who wrote it. He is a busybody who has done it because he will be standing in the elections that are coming up for BA BALPA reps.
He didn't get voted in last time and it really hurt him. He has been bitter about it ever since. This time he is determined to get in at all costs .
Any publicity is good publicity, and this is all he is up to.
Things get taken too seriously these days.
Just laugh and get on with it.
I have read the letter and know the person who wrote it. He is a busybody who has done it because he will be standing in the elections that are coming up for BA BALPA reps.
He didn't get voted in last time and it really hurt him. He has been bitter about it ever since. This time he is determined to get in at all costs .
Any publicity is good publicity, and this is all he is up to.
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>>Grow up.It's just a bit of banter on a forum.
That can sure get you in trouble sometimes in this business. Here's an earlier thread:
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=100717
That can sure get you in trouble sometimes in this business. Here's an earlier thread:
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=100717
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Originally Posted by atyourcervix73
Anecdotally, there have been at least a dozen alleged instances of this kind of behaviour in the last 5 years or so.
:
:
The result was............ I have absolutely no idea!
There was an brief telephone acknowledgement from the Fleet Office and another from Security then.....never heard another thing about it.
The problem, it seemed to me, was that Cabin Crew Management were too powerful and Flight Crew Management too pathetic to impress upon all cabin crew the stupidity and the criminality of even thinking of doing such a thing. The CAA once again "regulated with a light touch" (!!)
I see absolutely nothing has changed.
Last edited by Albert Driver; 17th Apr 2006 at 21:17.