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!!!

zed3, your flight will be unaffected by the CC strike as it is a BAConnect route.

I really hope the Cabin Crew manage to bring the leprechaun to his knees... at least it will be some retribution for the shafting he has given everyone in the regions. I hope he ends up regretting the decision to flog us (sorry.. correction... give us away) to flybe, and lay off all the groundstaff.

Even MOL looks more honourable now! :ooh:

These days Cabin Crew are not just your PR, they are also your first line of defense... and maybe the only line. Flight crew aren't coming out of the FD anymore........ Having to deal one on one with crazy pax isn't a job I'd relish, and a role that gets overlooked too often.

Keep em flying

Sorry to hear youre out of a job as well...

Iam BA mainline ground staff - regional - and looking at being made redundant soon... I fully stand by the cabin crew brave enough to challenge our 'illustrious leader' and his band of merry men. When we are gone - we are well and truly gone! Nothing left. Its all fine and well cutting costs (Cabin crew terms and conditions etc) but without them, or us there is no BA.

T5 is all we hear about - its all a load of Sh**e :oh: heres a warning: Dont put all your eggs in the one basket my friend!

Each section of the company is being picked off, one by one and stripped to the bone. Leaner, fitter maybe but a shadow of its former glorious self which BA was in the early days. BA had one of the smartest images around exuding class, status and pride.

WWW will need all the lucky charms he can get to get his little green as* out of this mess
:ugh: :D :ok:

And never did in BA, it was expressly discouraged.

The showdown is coming, antiquated agreements and behaviour or become fit for the changed world.

My money is on WW on this one.

The spectacle of CC shown on the news cheering the results of the ballot give an indication of the mentality.

And massive losses but let's not let sentimentality and nostalgia get in the way of commercial reality.

I have every sympathy with the CC who want to do and get paid for a quality job. However, the economic direction of the short haul airline business is surely one of driving out cost, even if quality of service suffers as a result. The succes of the LoCos means the more traditional airlines have to move towards that end of the market.

For staff who pride themselves on doing a first rate professional job, it must be demoralising to be pushed downmarket by a management that is being driven by those market trends. But hey, unless businesses and individuals are prepared to pay a hefty margin above LoCo prices for their short haul travel, then such changes are inevitable.

SSD

M.Mouse, if it was BALPA recommending strike action over pensions, and the vote was returned with such an overwhelming majority, I'll guarantee the pilots at the announcement would be cheering too.

Let's not forget so quickly the uproar about pilot's pensions, and most were willing to take the company down rather than accept a shafting.

One rule for one set of workers, and another for the pilots? :rolleyes:

New ideas, new faces
 

What a superb opportunity a CC 'strike' would provide to BA.
Sack 'em all on strike (with the proper 'legal' notice, of course:E ) then replance 'em with fresh faces, at a considerable payroll saving...and the cash saved could be added to the pilots pensions to top these up, to keep 'em happy.
Face it folks, these malcontent CC can be replaced with minimal effort. Of course there would be slight disruptions to services, but this time of year, when the peak travel period is passed, would be the perfect time, from the companies perspective.
'Ole Bud Maytag at National did this for so many years I've lost count (with both pilots and especially CC) and they never caught on to what was happening.
A managements dream.:}

M.Mouse

Do you really think the 'City' and the 'Financial' sector especially in London, are applauding WW and on his side?

With the 'threat' of strike action (not confirmed) looming, bookings are down, the press are having a field-day, and massive staff redundancies just around the corner - its not the greatest start to the year for him is it?

Anyway, hes just carrying out orders from above... A bit like Mr Blair and Mr Bush... :ok:

PS - YES BA did have a smart image. Image says a lot for the travelling public who decide where to put their money! Its up to the management to use the money to make it work - or not :mad:

Good luck to all CC, pilots etc at BA if you do strike, I'm so glad I got out some 3 years ago from BA.

:p Your an old muppet 411A...funny though!

Somehow I think BA's training dept would struggle to recruit, train, and bring online 7 or 8 thousand CC with anything like a minimal effort:rolleyes: but hey! on your planet 411A the tristar was top dog:ok:

The pension issue was resolved without even balloting.

Protecting excessive supervisory staff on a jumbo, refusing to come into LHR with a 1:45 break before operating out again, refusing to allow use of Captain's discretion and getting off when industrial limits are reached costing thousands, etc, etc, etc, I would suggest is completely different.

How about the Denver service that was ordered by In Flight Services to divert into DTW after a late LHR departure due 'Cabin Crew' Industrial hours?

The majority of good crew are being led to disaster by people who should know better.

This is all just so sad...... I am both a Pilot and passenger. I have never flown Virgin I allways fly BA. I love BA as a passenger. I think the managemnt are worthless on the whole. Some good ones but not many that I have met are.

However in passenger mode I say this...to all you cabin crew that want to strike and read this please dont take us as passengers as complete idiots. I fly BA to the US many times a year. BA are the best in any class but I am getting really tired of the same old routine (and I am not alone - we all know whats happening on board) .

Its this: After T/O get the food down the self loading freights throats ASAP.(what a terrible thing to think let alone say about the people who pay your wages - and many of you do think that because I have heard you say it) Start clearing up before in many cases they have finished to keep the pressure on them to finish Clear up.

Mass rush to back of aircraft by most of the cabin crew after meal service to chill out in crew rest area. Halfway through flight the 4 or 5 cabin crew left on duty get replaced by 4 or 5 from the rest area. Mass thanking of those replacing those going to rest area in view and earshot of as many pax as possible so pax understand how tiring and hard the job is and how greatful we should all be to even be in the presence of these gods. Relieved crew rush to back and into rest area taking pillows blankets books and anything else they can carry (as did first lot). Put little things out in galley area for pax who may want some water etc. let the pax self serve. etc etc .

Stuff food and minatures into bags before bar closes for landing to make sure the well earned rest at the destination at least has some pleasure for all the effort put in by the CC on the Long Long Long Long Long flight..

It happens EVERY time.

When I fly on business I am en route to work. The flight IS the cabin crews work. Can I or others like me who also work 9-12 hour days dissapear for a rest for 4-8 hours during my work day when I get to my destination? No way.

This isnt a rant about Cabin Crew. Many of them are really great helpful and kind. I blame the BA management and yes I think that for the newer CC the pay is really bad. But please dont tell us that you are overworked. Underpaid the younger/newer one are maybe but you dont have to do the job.

And what is going to happen? You strike. The company is weakened. It becomes an even more interesting take over target and we all know the UK government will allow anything in our country to be sold (because of course they get billions in tax on the profits the sharegolders make on each sale) - the only thing that will stop them is when there is nothing else left to sell!

New owners come in. get in even lower paid CC from we all know where . Company goes bust. slotes etc sold. all the fat cats make loadsamoney. You lose! OK so the close down comment I made is a bit stuped but why dont you strike over the usless management you have. Tell Willy you will walk out if he dosnt prune them all back and give you 50% of the savings. Now thats something I think Willy would do.

Maybe this post is insane. If I worked for BA as CC I would strike too. But think of the downside. Better to change it from within. You can do that if you do it right. None of you are perfect - nor am I.:ugh:

Tristar i'm actually not out of a job, i'm just pushed downwards and sideways to FlyMayBe, the thing is i don't wanna go on c**p T's and C's so i am activley pursueing other avenues!! I hope for the guys that stay at both FlyMayBe and Bye Bye BA that it works out but i doubt it, when i was at BRAL it was a joy to go to work until Big Bad Bro took over!!!

The short term cost will be paid over many times by the long term gains. So the answer is yes.

The people on the inside know just how ludicrous so much of the way the operation staggers on is due to outmoded agreements and untenable working practises. The writing is on the wall this time.

I know I will not be immune either but I will take some pain if it finally makes the airline as fit and functional as it should be.

I also agree that we have an appalling quality of middle management.

BA cabin crew have had it pretty good for years and appear to have failed to note that the industry has changed. Like it or not, costs have to be cut to meet the demands of the ever increasing low fare passenger market. Airport staff, travel agents and many charter airline employees have been feeling the chill wind for a number of years........redundancies, reduced T&C, pension cuts, longer hours etc etc. Is there any sound reason why BA should escape the cuts and changes?
Remember the car industry, coal industry, shipbuilding, steel industry etc......they all did a lot of striking! Be very careful!
H49

What i find interesting is when CC claim that they can't be sacked for 12 weeks for striking. Close but not quite true...you actually only have a case for UNFAIR dismissal which ,if upheld, may or may not reimburse you for past/future losses. Bit of a gamble though!
I reckon WW will take them on if the talks break down tommorow. It'll be interesting to see who blinks first.

ba
 

ba want to save £42 million from crew wages.
ba want to give senior management £70 million bonus
wonder where the cash is coming from??
its a bit like robin hood in reverse

Can't say I agree M Mouse, show me an investment house that invests into an industrially challenged company in the short-term for long-term gain, and I'll show you a hundred who won't:ooh:

My money is on the city not wanting to touch BA with a 10 foot pole until the industrial factor is resolved, or at the very least, reducing their exposure.

Helen49 Ill wind or not, BA made close to a 9% profit last reported quarter, and that was on the back or record fuel prices, the aftermath of the august security scare, and have regained their position as the leading Euro shorthaul carrier in the UK, it seems that in this case BA staff (CC) are well deserving of their employee benefits.

Trouble is, multiply that by 8000 or so, and you can clearly see that the company would quickly become overwhelmed in a legal quagmire, put simply BA would lose each and every case on the basis of a strike carried out in a legal fashion. Only an act of parliament would help them.

Helen49

You are right - generally speaking but;

BA will never - and - can never match the low-cost airlines and the terms and conditions they offer their staff. Its an impossability, although GO did spark a glimmer of hope - however short lived it was. BA can 'restructure' its business model though through changes in attitudes and working practices - FROM THE TOP - DOWN!

Industrial action may not be the best way to get noticed. Nothing else seemed to have worked. There were meeting, forums and numerous talks aimed at getting a solution. None of them worked and why? The attitude of management, especially WW. Management are not having terms and conditions cut. They are merrily 'River Dancing' around Waterside, doing not a lot :zzz: (from my experience of spending numerous occassions there).

Lets cut the cra*, get down to basics here. Too many 'egg-heads' suggesting things that clearly dont make any sense - as is proving now. Make changes where changes are needed. Do it in full consultation with staff, dont 'enforce' heavy handed tactics. Bean counters should get out more, and see the big picture. Take a secondment into the airline-proper and then come back and re-evaluate your schemes... Oh and listen to the staff on the front lines... We are the ones who day in and day out, promote, sell and deliver the BA WAY :D

BA management - please dont claim to be shocked at the result. YOU have brought this on yourself, and fine well you know it. The company is being run-down and soon there will be nothing left. T5 is like the new Pandoras Box. It will open up many more problems than it will resolve :uhoh:

bababa

I can tell you where a fair amount of the money is comming from...

...By making the 'Regional Mainline BA Staff' redundant.

Getting in handling agents will save money, but the loss of experienced, loyal and enthusiastic staff will haunt WW for a long time to come - to be sure :p