BA Cabin Crew Strike Threat
 

As reported today on BBC world BA cabin crew have voted in favour of strike in a dispute over pay conditions and of course pensions.
The vote today in a hotel on the outskirts of LHR attended by CC from not just the UK but also form world wide stations was pretty final with a vote of 96% in favour of strike.
Some of the reasons for such a large yes was due to seemingly draconain rules on sickness with the union saying that 10 days off a year can lead to tea and biscuits with a threat of dismissal.
The CC union are also also saying that CC are being asked to work more hours and that many senior positions on board are being reduced.
BA are hoping that further discussions can avoid this strike.

This could end-up in one hell of a showdown as Willie Walsh can tend to play hardball in these situations. An interesting one to watch!

Absolutely....Those who do strike can kiss goodbye to staff travel amongst other things I imagine

Mooney - I think that they may have to kiss goodbye to more than that!

I wish the cc luck in their dispute but i don't hold out any hope for their chances :ooh:

Oh ye of little faith!!!

I think an 80% return of ballot papers with a 96.1% YES vote for strike sends out very VERY strong messages!!!! Only 330 voted no!

I dont doubt that there will be a little give and take (I was with Aer Fungus when Willie was doing the same there so this is round two for me) but dont cast us aside just yet!!!

WILLIE OUT, WILLIE OUT, WILLIE OUT...!

Its rather hard for an airline to operate without any cabin crew, and don't forget what the last dispute cost BA in 1997:=
Willie may be able to play hardball, he wont however have much of an airline left to play with if 96% of the CC decide to remove their labour for any length of time:ooh:

I'm a fare paying BA passenger and BA cc have my full support. In their quest to cut costs and increase profits, what these modern day moronic CEOs like WW don't grasp anymore is that staff such as cc are the front line. It is they that ultimately contribute to increased and repeat custom. Personally I would regard my cc as my entire PR department and do whatever I could to MOTIVATE them!

This is just the beginning for Willie

The GMB are about to ballot their ground staff members on industrial action over 'lies' and utter contempt of the leaking to the press that the pension crisis was all but over... No one ever accepted any offer from BA! Mind you the share price climbed on the 'pension breakthrough' news!!! Wonder if someone somewhere made a quick buck or two? This along with the loss of almost 1000 jobs in the regions (yet to be confirmed but fully expected by regional staff) makes interesting times from the 'cheeky chap from the emerald isle'

BA are fast becomming a joke. Not that funny either. Wonder how true the rumour is that McQuarry Bank in Oz is looking at bidding for the company...

Fasten your seat belts - its going to be a rough ride...:ok:

As a humble pax may I ask what the timeframe is for CC to take action?

Hi Maninblack.

I was at the meeting today. Basically it all depends on the meeting between management and BASSA tomorrow. If talks fail I think they will announce strike dates then. But basically if talks do fail (and I really hope they dont) it will be a series of 3 day strikes seven days from today for a period of 30 days...as is my understanding!

But all will be clear tomorrow so keep your eye on the news!

BA employ approx. 13,000 CC. Approx. 4,900 either are not in BASSA (Cabin Crew 89) or didn't vote to strike.

The 1997 'strike' was more a sick out because few had the courage of their convictions and wouldn't actually strike when push came to shove.
The new entrant pay scales were introduced during the settlement of that dispute. This is one of the grievances BASSA used in the current ballot........they want the new entrant capped pay scales brought up to the levels of pre-1997 crew.

And you won't have much of a job :D

In years gone by on taking up employment with an airline(or any organisation for that matter) one could make an assumption that you were regarded as an asset of the company.

However in the world of aviation I have come to the conclusion I am not regarded as an asset but as a COST. And for most airlines these days, and by the look of it BA included, that COST is to be driven down.

And no prizes for guessing for where that approach came from. The company I have loyally worked for for nearly a decade with another paddy at the helm.......

You know who I mean.........

Perhaps thumper, you've missed a key point here, a VAST swathe of BA CC are prepared to stake their current livelyhoods on improving the current situation. To strike means by definition, you have to be prepared for the worst.
Thanks for pointing out the blindingly obvious thumper, any other gems of insight you wish to offer? :hmm:

Pistonprop, I am in total agreement with you.

I wish the cabin crew well in their battle. Some of their issues are of genuine concern. BA management know nothing other than cost cutting, risk analysis, and bully tactics. They do not understand the concept of people management. Unfortunately, despite the resounding yes vote, I do not think BA will negotiate sufficiently to mitigate the strikes. They will still think they can bully the crew into returning to work.

Worrying times ahead for all.

it would seem that the 22nd will be the first day of the proposed strike.
There is a chance that with 4000+ non bassa members/lgw/cc89 crew not to mention an awful lot of SEP trained managers that at least the high yeild services may stay operate.

ehh Mach no...what should "paddies" being doing then? shovling sh@te or filling in pot holes. It doesnt matter where willie or even Leo are from....bottom line is will WW close BA like he did with the pilots in Aer Lingus (fungus to you)?....not so sure he'll have the share holders backing on this one.

So.....the 22nd then , phew , I fly DUS-MAN tomorrow and back on 21st but nevertheless my thoughts and sympathies are with you all . We are going through the same stupid "management" thought process in ATC . I have 37 years in the job with 2 years to go and can honestly say today's management is scandalously abominable . Money is all , people and safety are nothing , despite the propaganda pumped out . Example , colleague left on pension this month and was given after 35 years service , a cut glass cigarette box (obviously a - no longer acceptable , left over , PR gift which they had to get rid of)- he doesn't smoke !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Piss artists . Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
But how does one fight back ?

Pistonprop....
So do you want low fares that compete with other operators or do you want cabin crew paid at a rate around 1.6x the industry rate.....?
Perhaps we should put it to a consumer vote?
Oh.... and with the current sickness policy in the company I think we can look forward to the instant dismissal of anyone that reports sick on a notified day of industrial action.

As a BACON engineer being ditched by WWW (make your own mind up what the 3rd W stands for) i hope that the CC's bring him to his knees, it's long overdue, just wish the engineers had some "town halls" and would do the same. BYE BYE BA!!!