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Virgin Atlantic strike

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Virgin Atlantic strike

Old 7th Dec 2018, 14:26
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Virgin Atlantic strike

It is reported on the BBC that Virgin Atlantic pilots are to strike from Dec 22 to Christmas Day:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46487672
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Old 8th Dec 2018, 08:54
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1700 views. Not one comment. Storm in a tea cup or are VA pilots sworn to secrecy under threat ?
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Old 8th Dec 2018, 09:23
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Gordomac,

It's because there's nothing to see.

The PPU represent a third of the pilots. 72% turned out, 71% voted for IA. That's a grand total of 17% of the pilots who voted for IA - some of whom might yet go to work anyway. That's why Virgin have said there will be no disruption.

The PPU have been holding industrial action for around 2 years now. No one has really noticed. They really got it wrong when they insisted on being the sole negotiating union, when two unions were present. No union has ever tried to oust the other union before, and it's totally against the principles of the union movement. Be this a lesson in how not to do things!
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Old 8th Dec 2018, 09:40
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Even though 70-ish% turned out, and 70-ish% voted strike, if the union want to achieve anything I would expect now 100% of members to get behind the action
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Old 8th Dec 2018, 10:50
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PPU claims of being the majority union are very much out of date from what I’m told. The ‘other one’ is now very much back in the driving seat with what looks like a decent company council. Wrong argument at the wrong time by the looks of it.
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Old 8th Dec 2018, 12:20
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Angry

Here come the pro balpa gorillas
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Old 8th Dec 2018, 15:45
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Every year I see another airline circumvent a stubborn union and startup a new AOC with contract pilots... that's WITH a trained pilot shortage!!
I'm sure we can ride out this madness brought on by PPU.
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Old 8th Dec 2018, 21:19
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Don't knock the principle of unions... they've done far more for aircrew T&C's than has having no union and / or no organised collective clout.
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Old 8th Dec 2018, 22:25
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This was all about union recognition and nothing to do with negotiations regarding benefits. The ASOS which has been going for 2 years brought nothing, so they've now pressed the big red button far too early. All it has brought is bad press... for nothing as I'm fairly certain all the flights will be covered by non PPU members on standby and Management. I'm not a staunch BALPA table thumper, just sick of the whole self inflicted mess.

Perhaps the PPU just wanted some unpaid Christmas holiday...now where can I get a good Brexit debate...

Last edited by xray one; 12th Dec 2018 at 15:40.
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Old 19th Dec 2018, 15:12
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The "other one" was never really out of the driving seat, though was it?
It has remained the recognised union throughout, regardless of the membership numbers of either union; meanwhile the PPU has always been unable to apply to the Central Arbitration Committee for Statutory Recognition, due to the fact that there is already a collective agreement in force.
Let's see what happens over the next few days.
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Old 5th Jan 2019, 11:04
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" I'm fairly certain all the flights will be covered by non PPU members"

You're dead right, we can see from the high court transcripts in which the judge ruled in Virgin's favour on a technicality, Virgin wet leased aircraft at £250k per day in order to break any strike. That would have been illegal.

If BALPA members aren't concerned about how that precedent would emasculate them in the future then they should be.
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Old 5th Jan 2019, 15:19
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Originally Posted by farefield
" I'm fairly certain all the flights will be covered by non PPU members"

You're dead right, we can see from the high court transcripts in which the judge ruled in Virgin's favour on a technicality, Virgin wet leased aircraft at £250k per day in order to break any strike. That would have been illegal.

If BALPA members aren't concerned about how that precedent would emasculate them in the future then they should be.

If BALPA do Industrial Action it’s planning is precise and the stoppage complete. As a member, I rest easily in that knowledge.

Leave no stone unturned
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Old 5th Jan 2019, 15:51
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Well, do you know what the technicality was?

The judge agreed with Virgin that the union should not only have given the numbers entitled to be balloted but also the breakdown of skippers and first officers.

I don't suppose even BALPA would have seen that one coming.
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Old 5th Jan 2019, 16:27
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BALPA spend £1 million a year on the best lawyers in the country. Thomas Cook tried every trick in the book to injunct the will of its Pilots - all to no avail

BALPA is a grass roots lead organisation and has made big strides in professional engagement with business in recent years. It’s now the largest voluntary Member Association of Pilots in the world. Grab an ore and start paddling
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Old 5th Jan 2019, 23:13
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Originally Posted by farefield
Well, do you know what the technicality was?

The judge agreed with Virgin that the union should not only have given the numbers entitled to be balloted but also the breakdown of skippers and first officers.

I don't suppose even BALPA would have seen that one coming.
Without wishing to sound clever I knew they had to give a breakdown of “specialisation” having spent 15 minutes Googling TULR(C)A about a week before the planned action. I was, therefore, very surprised to see that this was the technicality they “got them on”. I know four fifths of F all about union/strike legalities but am moderately useful on Google....
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Old 6th Jan 2019, 07:32
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Dogma..... good name for you.

​​​​​​"Grab an ore and start paddling" , I'll grab that piece of rock!

I amazed that you're so hung up on being clever that you can't see the insidiousness of the threat of wet leasing to counter any strike action even DOGMA members might make in the future!

(sorry, I mean BALPA members)
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Old 6th Jan 2019, 09:52
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Originally Posted by farefield
Dogma..... good name for you.

​​​​​​"Grab an ore and start paddling" , I'll grab that piece of rock!

I amazed that you're so hung up on being clever that you can't see the insidiousness of the threat of wet leasing to counter any strike action even DOGMA members might make in the future!

(sorry, I mean BALPA members)
Since when has strike busting wet leasing been illegal?
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Old 6th Jan 2019, 12:08
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From the Gov.uk website;

"Agency staff

You can’t hire agency staff to provide temporary work cover during a strike."
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Old 6th Jan 2019, 13:11
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Originally Posted by farefield
Dogma..... good name for you.

​​​​​​"Grab an ore and start paddling" , I'll grab that piece of rock!

I amazed that you're so hung up on being clever that you can't see the insidiousness of the threat of wet leasing to counter any strike action even DOGMA members might make in the future!

(sorry, I mean BALPA members)
:-)

you seem to to have an issue with being challenged. Wet leasing is obviously a known risk, the availability of that lift is always precarious beyond about three aircraft.

Since when has a subbing to break a strike been new?

PS - if possible please stick to debating the facts and not get personal

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Old 6th Jan 2019, 14:58
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Originally Posted by farefield
From the Gov.uk website;

"Agency staff

You can’t hire agency staff to provide temporary work cover during a strike."
Interesting. Has subbing out or wet leasing to cover industrial action in an airline ever been defined in court as using agency staff? I don't think it has, but I could be wrong.
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