BA pilots vote to strike
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 293
Likes: 9
From: Utterly insignificant little blue-green planet, unregarded yellow sun, unfashionable end, western spiral arm, Milky Way
Apologies if this has already been posted. Anyone not turning up for their duty today has had their pay deducted for the entire trip (e.g. 5 - 6 day) not just the days of the strike. It has also been deducted at the credited hours for that trip even though the flight has been cancelled. Office workers would be penalised by one day of pay for each day they didn't work. BA pilots have been penalised by the whole cost of the trip at their full rate. Some have calculated that at this rate of deduction, they will have a negative pay check after missing two rostered trips on strike days.
Additionally, all have lost staff travel for 3 years, lost any company wide bonus for this year, lost any pilot only bonus for 2017-19 as negotiated two years ago, no access to overtime rate to pick up trips (this is probably fair enough), plus no chance to bid for a fleet change on long haul - for ever ! This punishment has been in the planning for several weeks as the emails were sent out within hours of a failed report. If anyone thinks this is not a predetermined program by BA to break BALPA and the pilots then they are being naďve.
So if anyone thinks it will be better to cave in now and accept the consequences, the above shows the aims of BA. Break the pilots and tear up any industrial agreements. I feel sorry for the guys with long careers ahead if this is allowed to happen.
Additionally, all have lost staff travel for 3 years, lost any company wide bonus for this year, lost any pilot only bonus for 2017-19 as negotiated two years ago, no access to overtime rate to pick up trips (this is probably fair enough), plus no chance to bid for a fleet change on long haul - for ever ! This punishment has been in the planning for several weeks as the emails were sent out within hours of a failed report. If anyone thinks this is not a predetermined program by BA to break BALPA and the pilots then they are being naďve.
So if anyone thinks it will be better to cave in now and accept the consequences, the above shows the aims of BA. Break the pilots and tear up any industrial agreements. I feel sorry for the guys with long careers ahead if this is allowed to happen.
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: UK
WhatThe Deuce
Your reply demonstrates a lack of knowledge and understanding of the bid system for long haul pilots.
A BA pilot I know did just that, voted for the strike and then bid to be away over the strikes dates. He has also done the same for the end of this month.
Your reply demonstrates a lack of knowledge and understanding of the bid system for long haul pilots.
A BA pilot I know did just that, voted for the strike and then bid to be away over the strikes dates. He has also done the same for the end of this month.
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 163
Likes: 18
From: London
The bidding window for September closed long before any strike dates were announced, hence that is not possible. They could of swapped trips, but seniority has zero impact on ones ability to accomplish this.
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Uk
Impossible. The September rosters had already been issued when the strike dates were announced. You have been mis-informed.
Last edited by DrizzyD; 10th September 2019 at 10:24.
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: WILTSHIRE
This from the other pprune site :
Anyone considering applying to this company under the current Leadership team, have a good hard look at this post, talk to a few people on the inside and have a good hard think about whether this is the kind of company you want to work for. The intimidatory tactics used on pilots including potentially illegal salary deductions and the complete lack of a duty of care towards its employees (there are stories floating around of non striking pilots who are sole carers for their children being stuck downroute, who have now been told to make their own way home). The behaviour of the company at this point is disgusting and where are the CAA in all this when pilots are being coerced with threats of massive pay deductions way in excess of one day’s worth of strike action? The impact on the mental health of its workforce cannot be understated and is a flight safety risk when they come back to work.
I wouldn’t wish this company on my worst enemy right now.
Anyone considering applying to this company under the current Leadership team, have a good hard look at this post, talk to a few people on the inside and have a good hard think about whether this is the kind of company you want to work for. The intimidatory tactics used on pilots including potentially illegal salary deductions and the complete lack of a duty of care towards its employees (there are stories floating around of non striking pilots who are sole carers for their children being stuck downroute, who have now been told to make their own way home). The behaviour of the company at this point is disgusting and where are the CAA in all this when pilots are being coerced with threats of massive pay deductions way in excess of one day’s worth of strike action? The impact on the mental health of its workforce cannot be understated and is a flight safety risk when they come back to work.
I wouldn’t wish this company on my worst enemy right now.
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,726
Likes: 103
From: The Winchester
Pilots due to be down route over the strike days pilots were "instructed" to work normally..that will have included both senior and junior pilots, including no doubt some of the newer very junior DEPs who have recently joined the company and gone straight onto the Long Haul Fleets.
OTOH at base, both yesterday and today, plenty of pilots (including some very very senior) did not report and have been impacted financially.
A BA pilot I know did just that, voted for the strike and then bid to be away over the strikes dates. He has also done the same for the end of this month
Last edited by wiggy; 10th September 2019 at 11:18.
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: UK
Yes, there was wind of the dates.
BALPA also announced the dates in July and would have decided on those dates before it was in the press.
https://www.independent.co.uk/travel...-a9015001.html
BALPA also announced the dates in July and would have decided on those dates before it was in the press.
https://www.independent.co.uk/travel...-a9015001.html
Last edited by 101917; 10th September 2019 at 12:34.
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: London
Yes, there was wind of the dates.
BALPA also announced the dates in July and would have decided on those dates before it was in the press.
https://www.independent.co.uk/travel...-a9015001.html
BALPA also announced the dates in July and would have decided on those dates before it was in the press.
https://www.independent.co.uk/travel...-a9015001.html
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: UK
I know who I believe. I also know what seniority breeds and I suspect there were quite a number who did the same.
The fact that individuals were able to bid, based on seniority, to be away from the UK on the strike dates says volumes for the attitude of some pilots.
The fact that individuals were able to bid, based on seniority, to be away from the UK on the strike dates says volumes for the attitude of some pilots.
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: WILTSHIRE
So this Friday 13th will be BA's deadline to avert compensation for the flights which may or may not be cancelled on the 27th - so will give us a clear idea as to their intention to end it.....
Given the loss of staff travel ( which really will hit commuters hard) and the loss of pay based on credit for the trips over the strike period and the freeze on fleet changes , they appear to actually be becoming more and more hostile rather than a company that seeks compromise
Given the loss of staff travel ( which really will hit commuters hard) and the loss of pay based on credit for the trips over the strike period and the freeze on fleet changes , they appear to actually be becoming more and more hostile rather than a company that seeks compromise
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 780
Likes: 10
From: Doctor's waiting room
Just wondering how BA is managing crews down route when there may be an unusual case of one pilot who wishes to operate back to LHR and one who wishes to take part in industrial action?
It would seem as BA they have cancelled the entire short-haul operation. If there are no flights to operate then there will be no need for crew to report at LHR or LGW. Therefore is the company assuming everyone on short-haul is taking part in industrial action or can one express their intent irrespective of what shows on one's roster?
After reading about the excessively punitive measures that the company has unleashed on those taking part in industrial action, it would appear management have donned their boxing gloves for a fight. Good luck to you all at BA in the months ahead!
It would seem as BA they have cancelled the entire short-haul operation. If there are no flights to operate then there will be no need for crew to report at LHR or LGW. Therefore is the company assuming everyone on short-haul is taking part in industrial action or can one express their intent irrespective of what shows on one's roster?
After reading about the excessively punitive measures that the company has unleashed on those taking part in industrial action, it would appear management have donned their boxing gloves for a fight. Good luck to you all at BA in the months ahead!
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: WILTSHIRE
Just wondering how BA is managing crews down route when there may be an unusual case of one pilot who wishes to operate back to LHR and one who wishes to take part in industrial action?
It would seem as BA they have cancelled the entire short-haul operation. If there are no flights to operate then there will be no need for crew to report at LHR or LGW. Therefore is the company assuming everyone on short-haul is taking part in industrial action or can one express their intent irrespective of what shows on one's roster?
After reading about the excessively punitive measures that the company has unleashed on those taking part in industrial action, it would appear management have donned their boxing gloves for a fight. Good luck to you all at BA in the months ahead!
It would seem as BA they have cancelled the entire short-haul operation. If there are no flights to operate then there will be no need for crew to report at LHR or LGW. Therefore is the company assuming everyone on short-haul is taking part in industrial action or can one express their intent irrespective of what shows on one's roster?
After reading about the excessively punitive measures that the company has unleashed on those taking part in industrial action, it would appear management have donned their boxing gloves for a fight. Good luck to you all at BA in the months ahead!
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,040
Likes: 35
From: Home
This from the other pprune site :
Anyone considering applying to this company under the current Leadership team, have a good hard look at this post, talk to a few people on the inside and have a good hard think about whether this is the kind of company you want to work for. The intimidatory tactics used on pilots including potentially illegal salary deductions and the complete lack of a duty of care towards its employees (there are stories floating around of non striking pilots who are sole carers for their children being stuck downroute, who have now been told to make their own way home). The behaviour of the company at this point is disgusting and where are the CAA in all this when pilots are being coerced with threats of massive pay deductions way in excess of one day’s worth of strike action? The impact on the mental health of its workforce cannot be understated and is a flight safety risk when they come back to work.
I wouldn’t wish this company on my worst enemy right now.
Anyone considering applying to this company under the current Leadership team, have a good hard look at this post, talk to a few people on the inside and have a good hard think about whether this is the kind of company you want to work for. The intimidatory tactics used on pilots including potentially illegal salary deductions and the complete lack of a duty of care towards its employees (there are stories floating around of non striking pilots who are sole carers for their children being stuck downroute, who have now been told to make their own way home). The behaviour of the company at this point is disgusting and where are the CAA in all this when pilots are being coerced with threats of massive pay deductions way in excess of one day’s worth of strike action? The impact on the mental health of its workforce cannot be understated and is a flight safety risk when they come back to work.
I wouldn’t wish this company on my worst enemy right now.
Apparently only 9 pilots turned up for work yesterday.
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: WILTSHIRE
Pete , I am sure there are people downroute who were rostered to return yesterday or today and probably might have been rostered today as a day off.
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
From: Cyprus
Walnut
Having been involved in scheduling with Balpa before retirement I can envisage major disruption occurring on restart. By withdrawing return flights on strike days the airline has neatly got a/c in the right position and not overloaded with a/c Lhr/Lgw, Also pilots downroute are able to restart services on Wednesday , but then the problem starts. Returning L/H pilots will probably miss their next service due to minimum base turnaround and S/H pilots on tours will have missed their next part of the tour with no one initially able to operate those parts Chaos
One tactic which would improve any future actions effectiveness would be to call single days strikes from midday to midday., This would nicely mix up the a/c. Particularly if the single days strikes had a period of midday to Midday working
Inbetween
Having been involved in scheduling with Balpa before retirement I can envisage major disruption occurring on restart. By withdrawing return flights on strike days the airline has neatly got a/c in the right position and not overloaded with a/c Lhr/Lgw, Also pilots downroute are able to restart services on Wednesday , but then the problem starts. Returning L/H pilots will probably miss their next service due to minimum base turnaround and S/H pilots on tours will have missed their next part of the tour with no one initially able to operate those parts Chaos
One tactic which would improve any future actions effectiveness would be to call single days strikes from midday to midday., This would nicely mix up the a/c. Particularly if the single days strikes had a period of midday to Midday working
Inbetween
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 763
Likes: 1
From: Monrovia / Liberia
Removal of 'travel perks' from BA flightcrew
Wrt removal of 'travel perks' from striking flightcrew... two can play at that game.
Given that a Captain's word is final, i.e. as to who's allowed to travel, a Captain is perfectly within their rights to deny travel to any passenger.
The simple phrase of "I do not consider that your presence onboard is conducive to good order and accordingly you must leave the aeroplane" would be enough to have a passenger removed and no further reason or explanation is required of the Captain. The Captain's word is always the final arbiter.
So, BA Management types (whom have kept their 'travel perks') might find that those perks are not worth a jot when they're not allowed onboard because the BA Captain says "No" to their presence, and maybe also a similar implementation for Management staff whom are travelling on duty might help to focus some BA Management minds?
Given that a Captain's word is final, i.e. as to who's allowed to travel, a Captain is perfectly within their rights to deny travel to any passenger.
The simple phrase of "I do not consider that your presence onboard is conducive to good order and accordingly you must leave the aeroplane" would be enough to have a passenger removed and no further reason or explanation is required of the Captain. The Captain's word is always the final arbiter.
So, BA Management types (whom have kept their 'travel perks') might find that those perks are not worth a jot when they're not allowed onboard because the BA Captain says "No" to their presence, and maybe also a similar implementation for Management staff whom are travelling on duty might help to focus some BA Management minds?