Virgin CC to ballot for industrial action
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Virgin CC to ballot for industrial action
Union leaders today warned of the first ever strike at Virgin Atlantic after cabin crew rejected a new pay deal at the airline.
The Unite trade union said it intended to ballot more than 3,000 members over possible industrial action that could disrupt Virgin services over Christmas and New Year.
The comments drew a fierce reaction from Virgin which insisted the union had strongly recommended its members accept the revised deal.
Talks between Virgin Atlantic and union leaders have been going on for most of the year.
Virgin offered a two-year deal where cabin crew would receive a 4.8 per cent pay rise in the first year, backdated to April 2007. Pay would rise in line with inflation in the second year.
Unite said a “clear majority” of 60 per cent of its members rejected the deal.
Brian Boyd, Unite national officer, said: “Virgin Atlantic cabin crew believe that their professionalism and dedication has been undervalued for far too long.
“Unite is calling upon Virgin Atlantic to deliver a long-term solution to this problem. It has gone on for too long and our members have had enough.
“Unite has written to the company today to inform them that the union will ballot its members for strike action within the next two weeks.”
Virgin countered by revealing comments by Mr Boyd in a letter to the airline in which it claimed he said: "Unite now believe that we reached a point where the important part played by the cabin crew in the continued success of Virgin Atlantic has been recognised."
Lyell Strambi, chief operating officer at Virgin Atlantic, said: "Virgin Atlantic is deeply disappointed that our recent pay deal, which was twice recommended by Unite to its members, has been rejected.
"We believe that the pay offer is the best increase in the industry this year.
"We value the huge contribution that our crew make to the airline's success and we know that our crew wouldn't want to damage our reputation for leading customer service.
"However the union has informed us that the next step will be a ballot for industrial action and we are awaiting official notification of this."
Virgin's cabin crew rejected a three-year pay deal by a 92 per cent majority in August.
A Unite spokesman said that regardless of its recommendation, "we support the position of our members".
He said: "They have decided their pay is worse than they could get with a competitor. They are tired and have had enough."
The Unite trade union said it intended to ballot more than 3,000 members over possible industrial action that could disrupt Virgin services over Christmas and New Year.
The comments drew a fierce reaction from Virgin which insisted the union had strongly recommended its members accept the revised deal.
Talks between Virgin Atlantic and union leaders have been going on for most of the year.
Virgin offered a two-year deal where cabin crew would receive a 4.8 per cent pay rise in the first year, backdated to April 2007. Pay would rise in line with inflation in the second year.
Unite said a “clear majority” of 60 per cent of its members rejected the deal.
Brian Boyd, Unite national officer, said: “Virgin Atlantic cabin crew believe that their professionalism and dedication has been undervalued for far too long.
“Unite is calling upon Virgin Atlantic to deliver a long-term solution to this problem. It has gone on for too long and our members have had enough.
“Unite has written to the company today to inform them that the union will ballot its members for strike action within the next two weeks.”
Virgin countered by revealing comments by Mr Boyd in a letter to the airline in which it claimed he said: "Unite now believe that we reached a point where the important part played by the cabin crew in the continued success of Virgin Atlantic has been recognised."
Lyell Strambi, chief operating officer at Virgin Atlantic, said: "Virgin Atlantic is deeply disappointed that our recent pay deal, which was twice recommended by Unite to its members, has been rejected.
"We believe that the pay offer is the best increase in the industry this year.
"We value the huge contribution that our crew make to the airline's success and we know that our crew wouldn't want to damage our reputation for leading customer service.
"However the union has informed us that the next step will be a ballot for industrial action and we are awaiting official notification of this."
Virgin's cabin crew rejected a three-year pay deal by a 92 per cent majority in August.
A Unite spokesman said that regardless of its recommendation, "we support the position of our members".
He said: "They have decided their pay is worse than they could get with a competitor. They are tired and have had enough."
He said: "They have decided their pay is worse than they could get with a competitor. They are tired and have had enough."
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Now there's a good reply...
There always someone who says "if you don't like it p#ss off..."
Why not support your colleagues who fight for their terms & conditions?
There always someone who says "if you don't like it p#ss off..."
Why not support your colleagues who fight for their terms & conditions?
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Nice reply MrB,
I don't fly for VS but if they vote and are not happy they have a right to strike.
Whenever any airlines cabin crew show signs of industrial unrest and possible strike,they are ''wrapped in cotton wool'' and should leave and find another job.Same attitude every time.
When pilots go on strike they are never seen as wrong,like when threatening to strike for their beloved pensions!!.
A little support from your side of the door would'nt go a miss.
WTDWL.
I don't fly for VS but if they vote and are not happy they have a right to strike.
Whenever any airlines cabin crew show signs of industrial unrest and possible strike,they are ''wrapped in cotton wool'' and should leave and find another job.Same attitude every time.
When pilots go on strike they are never seen as wrong,like when threatening to strike for their beloved pensions!!.
A little support from your side of the door would'nt go a miss.
WTDWL.
Mr B, the Virgin CC are amonst some of the worse paid in the industry. For years, the Virgin culture has been, "It's a fun place to work, so people will do it for peanuts'. This may have been true when they had a handful of aircraft, but now it's a major airline with some punishing routes, this is no longer the case. It was bad after 9/11 when the company was close to going under and the crews gave up a lot to help out. But since then, I gather the company is doing well. However, the pay is still poor.
They deserve a decent pay deal. They have my (moral) support.
They deserve a decent pay deal. They have my (moral) support.
Dan,
Completely agree. For years VS cabin crew have been taken advantage of. This has been facilitated by the false impression that working for VS is one big party. Instead of creaming off the profits to offshore accounts the hierachy would have been better served using a small proportion of the money to keep their employees happy. However what do you expect from the boss who was strangely absent in September 2001!
Completely agree. For years VS cabin crew have been taken advantage of. This has been facilitated by the false impression that working for VS is one big party. Instead of creaming off the profits to offshore accounts the hierachy would have been better served using a small proportion of the money to keep their employees happy. However what do you expect from the boss who was strangely absent in September 2001!
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Well its all OK for the Chief Operating Officer to say that the C/C have been offered a 4.8% increase, what he omits to say is that they are currently paid well under the industry average making the 4.8% meaningless.
Good luck to the C/C they supported us during our pay negotiations a few years ago so its time we support them....
Interesting times ahead....
Good luck to the C/C they supported us during our pay negotiations a few years ago so its time we support them....
Interesting times ahead....
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One must remember that CC are a dime a dozen, even considering training costs.
We hear this all the time...'we aren't paid what we are worth.'
I suspect there are plenty of replacements ready and waiting to fill out applications at the Virgin HR office.
We hear this all the time...'we aren't paid what we are worth.'
I suspect there are plenty of replacements ready and waiting to fill out applications at the Virgin HR office.
411a,
Those 3 posts above yours were made by current or ex Virgin pilots. The point is that those queues have started to dwindle as the word gets out that working for VS is not what it seems.
Those 3 posts above yours were made by current or ex Virgin pilots. The point is that those queues have started to dwindle as the word gets out that working for VS is not what it seems.
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I'm all for more money.......Go for it guys and get what you think you're worth..................power to you.
I have control.....you do radios..........and cc to work.
I have control.....you do radios..........and cc to work.
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First I have to say that I think all cabin crew are underpaid.
However it would seem to me that unless the Virgin CC can make this strike sick 100% then the airline will continue to opperate and just suck in staff from other airlines at Gatwick who are worse paid and are on part time or temp contracts.
The real loosers in this dispute are likely to be the Virgin CC who strike and an airline at LGW who are playing fast and loose with there CC at the moment.
However it would seem to me that unless the Virgin CC can make this strike sick 100% then the airline will continue to opperate and just suck in staff from other airlines at Gatwick who are worse paid and are on part time or temp contracts.
The real loosers in this dispute are likely to be the Virgin CC who strike and an airline at LGW who are playing fast and loose with there CC at the moment.
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Originally Posted by 411A
One must remember that CC are a dime a dozen, even considering training costs.
We hear this all the time...'we aren't paid what we are worth.'
I suspect there are plenty of replacements ready and waiting to fill out applications at the Virgin HR office.
We hear this all the time...'we aren't paid what we are worth.'
I suspect there are plenty of replacements ready and waiting to fill out applications at the Virgin HR office.
Application numbers are down, at one point they were getting 76,000 applications per year It is no where near this figure now, people are getting disenchanted with the brand, the working conditions and the whole package virgin atlantic offer now.
I hope Virgin Crew get the pay they deserve. It should not be a case of "if you dont like it, you know where the door is" Management didn't get away with it at my airline, and we now have some of the best t&c's and pay amongst the UK airlines.
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Tin tin has hit the nail on the head. A 60/40 split in the vote will be totally unworkable for the Union. The CC union recommended the pay deal to its members and they still voted no!! What were the Union doing! I think Unite have totally screwed the leadership of their Members up. And they will have a bunch of scattered sheep when it comes to a ballot for Industrial Action. If they get another 60/40 split they needn't bother showing up with the braziers.
They had an industry leading pay rise and a chance to come back and fight another day when the Company makes more than thruppence ha'penny profit and they've blown it!
I'll bet the bulk of the no-voters are early-mid 20s, only planning on sticking around for a couple of years anyway, couldn't give a t*** if the Company goes under and thinks a strike would be a bit of a laugh. Will they be standing outside T3 with placards in hand (whilst not getting paid)? Yeah right! - 'I can't go on strike yet, I haven't done my Christmas shopping'.
Poorly led, poorly advised and totally let down. The girls in red are in serious trouble.
They had an industry leading pay rise and a chance to come back and fight another day when the Company makes more than thruppence ha'penny profit and they've blown it!
I'll bet the bulk of the no-voters are early-mid 20s, only planning on sticking around for a couple of years anyway, couldn't give a t*** if the Company goes under and thinks a strike would be a bit of a laugh. Will they be standing outside T3 with placards in hand (whilst not getting paid)? Yeah right! - 'I can't go on strike yet, I haven't done my Christmas shopping'.
Poorly led, poorly advised and totally let down. The girls in red are in serious trouble.
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Carpe,
Whilst I agree with your post, I think that the non-voters are fairly equally split in between the early 20s who dont care as they wont be there in a couple of years and those who have been here a number of years 10+ who are fed up that the company dont show them any loyalty by not offering pay increments...
Bokkie.
Whilst I agree with your post, I think that the non-voters are fairly equally split in between the early 20s who dont care as they wont be there in a couple of years and those who have been here a number of years 10+ who are fed up that the company dont show them any loyalty by not offering pay increments...
Bokkie.
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This 60% so they are in a mjajority won't wash in strike action.
Only 69% of the Union members (not all the cabin crew) returned their papares, so 2,208 returned the papers.
Out of that figure 60% voted against, thats 1,325 out of 3,200 which is only 41% of the union members that could possibly vote for strike action. Also not even a majority of union members voting against the last pay deal.
I think (I am not totally sure of the amount of Cabin crew at Virgin anyone know?) thats only around 30% total of the CC, not a lot really.
Can cause some disruption, but not total stoppage?
Only 69% of the Union members (not all the cabin crew) returned their papares, so 2,208 returned the papers.
Out of that figure 60% voted against, thats 1,325 out of 3,200 which is only 41% of the union members that could possibly vote for strike action. Also not even a majority of union members voting against the last pay deal.
I think (I am not totally sure of the amount of Cabin crew at Virgin anyone know?) thats only around 30% total of the CC, not a lot really.
Can cause some disruption, but not total stoppage?
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Everyone in the Union will be balloted for strike action. If this comes back as a majority vote for strike action EVERYONE in the union will have to strike. If you are in the union and voted no for strike action you will still be expected to support your colleagues.
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Everyone in the Union will be balloted for strike action. If this comes back as a majority vote for strike action EVERYONE in the union will have to strike. If you are in the union and voted no for strike action you will still be expected to support your colleagues.
Not been involved in many strikes have you?
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Actually i have. Quite a nasty one at Manchester airport a few years ago where all sorts of threats where bieng thrown at people who broke the strike. These threats included wreath's bieng sent to peoples houses with RIP on them.
So yes i have.
So yes i have.