BALPA and BA talks breakdown
Couldonlyaffordafiver
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Maybe you're right, Stormin.
On the other hand, maybe they were expecting us to be on strike when T5 opened so giving them a chance to sort out that debacle over a quiet few days whilst conveniently blaming BALPA and the pilots....
It would go a long way to explain their current counterclaim against BALPA which would have perhaps made more sense if a strike had actually disrupted anything.
On the other hand, maybe they were expecting us to be on strike when T5 opened so giving them a chance to sort out that debacle over a quiet few days whilst conveniently blaming BALPA and the pilots....
It would go a long way to explain their current counterclaim against BALPA which would have perhaps made more sense if a strike had actually disrupted anything.
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Human Factor
Yes, I suppose you could be right H F, at least I HOPE so.
But I would put money on the great management bounce
-back before too long.
Even though WW has admitted that mistakes were made!
But I would put money on the great management bounce
-back before too long.
Even though WW has admitted that mistakes were made!
Couldonlyaffordafiver
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The management will certainly bounce back, I have no doubt. The questions are when it will happen and whether it will be the same management. I don't know the answer to the first one but I would think the City is likely to have an input on the second.
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Human Factor
Just consider the problems that caused the MAIN screw-ups.
Baggage going awry, BAA.
Lifts not working, BAA.
Toilets up the creek, BAA.
Security gate problems, BAA.
Car Parking problems, BAA,
Etc,Etc Etc.
Need I say more?
All those BAA's, Sounds like a Welsh speed dating agency.
Sorry.
Baggage going awry, BAA.
Lifts not working, BAA.
Toilets up the creek, BAA.
Security gate problems, BAA.
Car Parking problems, BAA,
Etc,Etc Etc.
Need I say more?
All those BAA's, Sounds like a Welsh speed dating agency.
Sorry.
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Untrained staff
Lack of tugs
Lack of steps
Lack of TRMs
Lack of gate staff
Lack of focus
Aircraft blocked in
HOS computers not working
Could go on but Id just get more upset. All BA's fault. Same circus - different tent.
Lack of tugs
Lack of steps
Lack of TRMs
Lack of gate staff
Lack of focus
Aircraft blocked in
HOS computers not working
Could go on but Id just get more upset. All BA's fault. Same circus - different tent.
Pilots tell City to ditch BA top brass
From The Sunday Times
April 6, 2008
Pilots tell City to ditch BA top brass
Dominic O’Connell
BRITISH AIRWAYS’ 3,000 pilots will this week launch a scathing attack on Willie Walsh, the airline’s chief executive, accusing him of “arrogance” and urging top shareholders to force a change in management in the wake of the Terminal Five fiasco.
The harsh criticisms are expected to come in a letter this week to big City institutions, the CBI and senior ministers.
“Banks, institutional investors and analysts need to wake up to the fact that there is something very wrong right at the heart of this company that is making our great brand a laughing stock . . . we want confidence in our leadership, not arrogance,” the letter, from Jim McAuslan, general secretary of the British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa), says.
The union is embroiled in a bitter industrial dispute with BA, which could lead to the first strike by flight crew in three decades.
The Balpa attack caps a dismal 10 days for the airline after the disastrous opening of Terminal Five at Heathrow on March 27. The airline had promised the £4.3 billion facility would transform passengers’ experience at the airport. It quickly turned into a debacle, with flights cancelled and thousands of bags misplaced.
This weekend a senior aviation industry executive close to the chaos laid the blame squarely at the feet of BA management. The executive – who asked not to be named – said the airline “took a chance” by training an insufficient number of baggage handlers.
“They were saving money and hoping it would be all right on the night. It is a great facility and they have screwed up the opening by trying to cut costs,” the executive said. Another senior source said the airline had discarded operational readiness plans laid out months in advance.
Walsh has accepted responsibility for the problems and apologised. This weekend he used the airline’s staff newspaper to repeat the apology. “We got things wrong and I’m sorry,” he said. “If you want to blame someone, blame me.”
He accepted the BA strategy had involved risks, but “none of these were enough to stop us moving into the new terminal or to stop day one being a success”.
He said some of the facilities for BA staff provided by BAA, Heathrow’s owner, were “not as good as they should have been”.
“I have personally told the BAA chief executive that they need to improve staff areas and help get the terminal into proper shape,” he said.
City institutions, BA’s biggest shareholders, have so far refused to condemn Walsh. Despite the poor performance of BA’s shares, down to 235p on Friday from a 12-month high of 519p, they cite his resolution of the company’s pension-deficit crisis and improvement of margins.
McAuslan claimed, however, that the pension resolution was a “team effort” aided by “pilot ingenuity”. “The margins may look good, but the financial establishment preoccupation with the bottom line has glossed over the warning signs.”
Pilots have voted for a strike over BA’s plans to set up an “airline within an airline” to fly from continental cities to America. BA has blocked the action by threatening to sue the union for restraint of trade. A court hearing begins on May 19.
McAuslan said the airline was also seeking damages from the union for damaging its brand.
“Given the shambles at Terminal Five, that is comical,” he said.
Meanwhile BA staff may pay for the debacle. Employees will qualify for a bonus of two weeks’ pay - £1,000 for the average employee - if the airline hits an operating margin of 10% for the financial year just ended. Last week BA estimated the cost of the T5 problems at £16m, part of which will fall into the relevant period. Analysts think BA will now just miss the 10% target. Annual results are out on May 16.
April 6, 2008
Pilots tell City to ditch BA top brass
Dominic O’Connell
BRITISH AIRWAYS’ 3,000 pilots will this week launch a scathing attack on Willie Walsh, the airline’s chief executive, accusing him of “arrogance” and urging top shareholders to force a change in management in the wake of the Terminal Five fiasco.
The harsh criticisms are expected to come in a letter this week to big City institutions, the CBI and senior ministers.
“Banks, institutional investors and analysts need to wake up to the fact that there is something very wrong right at the heart of this company that is making our great brand a laughing stock . . . we want confidence in our leadership, not arrogance,” the letter, from Jim McAuslan, general secretary of the British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa), says.
The union is embroiled in a bitter industrial dispute with BA, which could lead to the first strike by flight crew in three decades.
The Balpa attack caps a dismal 10 days for the airline after the disastrous opening of Terminal Five at Heathrow on March 27. The airline had promised the £4.3 billion facility would transform passengers’ experience at the airport. It quickly turned into a debacle, with flights cancelled and thousands of bags misplaced.
This weekend a senior aviation industry executive close to the chaos laid the blame squarely at the feet of BA management. The executive – who asked not to be named – said the airline “took a chance” by training an insufficient number of baggage handlers.
“They were saving money and hoping it would be all right on the night. It is a great facility and they have screwed up the opening by trying to cut costs,” the executive said. Another senior source said the airline had discarded operational readiness plans laid out months in advance.
Walsh has accepted responsibility for the problems and apologised. This weekend he used the airline’s staff newspaper to repeat the apology. “We got things wrong and I’m sorry,” he said. “If you want to blame someone, blame me.”
He accepted the BA strategy had involved risks, but “none of these were enough to stop us moving into the new terminal or to stop day one being a success”.
He said some of the facilities for BA staff provided by BAA, Heathrow’s owner, were “not as good as they should have been”.
“I have personally told the BAA chief executive that they need to improve staff areas and help get the terminal into proper shape,” he said.
City institutions, BA’s biggest shareholders, have so far refused to condemn Walsh. Despite the poor performance of BA’s shares, down to 235p on Friday from a 12-month high of 519p, they cite his resolution of the company’s pension-deficit crisis and improvement of margins.
McAuslan claimed, however, that the pension resolution was a “team effort” aided by “pilot ingenuity”. “The margins may look good, but the financial establishment preoccupation with the bottom line has glossed over the warning signs.”
Pilots have voted for a strike over BA’s plans to set up an “airline within an airline” to fly from continental cities to America. BA has blocked the action by threatening to sue the union for restraint of trade. A court hearing begins on May 19.
McAuslan said the airline was also seeking damages from the union for damaging its brand.
“Given the shambles at Terminal Five, that is comical,” he said.
Meanwhile BA staff may pay for the debacle. Employees will qualify for a bonus of two weeks’ pay - £1,000 for the average employee - if the airline hits an operating margin of 10% for the financial year just ended. Last week BA estimated the cost of the T5 problems at £16m, part of which will fall into the relevant period. Analysts think BA will now just miss the 10% target. Annual results are out on May 16.
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You can just see it. "Sorry guys n girls, our margin was only 9.99%. Sorry no bonus".
I bet the "BA experience" would be greatly improved by the news.
Will be interesting to see how many managers still get their bonus!
I bet the "BA experience" would be greatly improved by the news.
Will be interesting to see how many managers still get their bonus!
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Well said Phil, thats what BA ought to do, but if that happens I'll eat whats left of my airline hat.
Having read WW's proud boasts of imminent success before T5 opened in a Rolly Royce internal magazine recently and comparing it to the debacle that occurred I wonder what planet he lives on. The BA tradition of terrorising junior management into a "yes sir" culture whilst scorning the staff continues. Its a disgrace and the City should force him out.
This weekends' FT has an article roundly condeming Walsh for the failure, whilst if you need a laugh, and BA staff surely do, then listen to Clive James on Radio 4 this morning - it should be on the net somewhere - talking about T5. Laughed so much it hurt - very theraputic.
Having read WW's proud boasts of imminent success before T5 opened in a Rolly Royce internal magazine recently and comparing it to the debacle that occurred I wonder what planet he lives on. The BA tradition of terrorising junior management into a "yes sir" culture whilst scorning the staff continues. Its a disgrace and the City should force him out.
This weekends' FT has an article roundly condeming Walsh for the failure, whilst if you need a laugh, and BA staff surely do, then listen to Clive James on Radio 4 this morning - it should be on the net somewhere - talking about T5. Laughed so much it hurt - very theraputic.
Another talk by Clive James would be more entertaining...
"Before the first night of the memorable experience was over, the beautiful ceiling designed by Lord Rogers had revealed its purpose: to entertain people who were lying on the floor, looking up at it."
"Before the first night of the memorable experience was over, the beautiful ceiling designed by Lord Rogers had revealed its purpose: to entertain people who were lying on the floor, looking up at it."
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Employee Reward Scheme
Do you really think I would allow the ERS to trigger, come on, you've just paid for all of this terminal turmoil from your back pockets. To think I would dish out £50 million in ERS payment! Get real this is a competative industry we work in, I need to attract the best managers to the company and need every penny to pay their bonus.ERS is the carrot on a stick, no matter how hard you run, you'll never reach it. But thanks for all the hard work.WW
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Willie Walsh interview
Sorry to drag Pre-T5 interviews back to life but this one has much relevance here, in particular the statement that WW believes the Pilot community/BALPA are the ones being heavy handed.
Read yourself at;
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2...irlineindustry
You bad pilots, imagine throwing your collective weight around like that!
Read yourself at;
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2...irlineindustry
WW - "so if going to court is heavy-handed they are the ones that went there. But we did say we would seek an injunction if they announced strike dates."
Controversial, moi?
He did omit the last part of the statement to BALPA at the end of the ACAS talks. The last part of the statement after saying that BA would seek an injunction was that they would also seek damages for loss of revenue caused by the announcement of a strike. In other words they would try and bankrupt BALPA.
The smug smile rapidly disappeared from their faces when the following Monday, at a BALPA requested meeting, BALPA informed the BA team that they (BALPA) were appearing at the High Court within the hour.
You are really trawling now Willie Wash that piece is almost a month old. Never mind keep going and see what other dirt you can find to further denigrate BA and your fellow employees.
The smug smile rapidly disappeared from their faces when the following Monday, at a BALPA requested meeting, BALPA informed the BA team that they (BALPA) were appearing at the High Court within the hour.
You are really trawling now Willie Wash that piece is almost a month old. Never mind keep going and see what other dirt you can find to further denigrate BA and your fellow employees.
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Denigrating
M Mouse - I actually support the pilots, am not denigrating fellow employees at all! Relax, I think the word is sarcasim........ I fully endorse the pilots actions and actually think they will win through this one.
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the problem at BA is that the management cannot be trusted.the employees can always see through the statements to the hidden agenda.as long as the company sees all employees as a cost that can be reduced,rather than a well trained,professional asset,the management/union war will continue.a radical shakeup is called for and cannot come soon enough.BA a once great company is in danger of meltdown,time to dismiss personal egos and get the company back on track.that requires a complete about turn of management style,either with a complete clear out,or a realisation that the company needs the employees onboard or the future is very uncertain.despite the recent disasters,i believe that willie walsh has the ability to take the company forward,but he has to drop his aggressive,bully boy tactics,as they just will not work.get the employees behind you and there is no limit to the future sucess,continue to bully,threaten and not listen and the future is bleak.
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Willie doesn't lose sleep
Walsh also shrugged off a scathing letter from the pilots' union, Balpa, which blamed the debacle on senior management at the airline. "I don't lose any sleep or get concerned about issues like that" www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/apr/12/britishairwaysbusiness.theairlineindustry" target="_blank">http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2...irlineindustry What??? is he completely mad? doesn't get concerned about issues like that...
Last edited by Willie Wash; 13th Apr 2008 at 09:40.
