BA pilots vote to strike
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 954
Likes: 64
From: england
May have been the day last week when the message was promulgated by an over eager manager that staff travel was “cancelled” for the day.
Funny thing about BA is that you can never find a manager to make a decision about the big important stuff, but the niff naff and triv issues have a line of managers ready to stick their oar in.
Funny thing about BA is that you can never find a manager to make a decision about the big important stuff, but the niff naff and triv issues have a line of managers ready to stick their oar in.
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: South London
In short, a Senior Management decision. As for employee share schemed, some firms dislike these as they are expensive to administer, have difficult tax implications, dilutes the owners' holding, may not as be as beneficial to staff as originally intended, etc. Given that BA has a legions of staff and staff turnover is quite high in the junior ranks, the administration would probably be painful.
Joined: Jul 2006
Aviation Qualifications: SLF
Posts: 218
Likes: 15
From: Barcelona
However, one thing I do find strange about BA employees' perception on how BA as a firm should behave it is the idea that it is workers cooperative, where the fruits of the labour and rewards are equally shared. I get the impression that this is a legacy from being a State owned airline which hasn't quite diminished.
Quite correct it’s a Senior Management decision, the fact that IAG/BA Senior Management are insisting on unspecified “change initiatives” to self fund the package on offer is the very reason for the current Industrial Dispute. The unity displayed by BALPA so far is commendable and I would argue the administration costs for the implementation and maintenance of a share save scheme would be a drop in the ocean compared to the losses incurred from strike action.
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,726
Likes: 103
From: The Winchester
What you describe ( the 1 hour queue) is certainly not the normal process on a normal day for stand-by travel ex-T5..
Anyhow back to the thread.
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: South London
When you have companies like Jet2 and EasyJet willing to share profits with their pilots your above “legacy” argument holds no water.
Quite correct it’s a Senior Management decision, the fact that IAG/BA Senior Management are insisting on unspecified “change initiatives” to self fund the package on offer is the very reason for the current Industrial Dispute. The unity displayed by BALPA so far is commendable and I would argue the administration costs for the implementation and maintenance of a share save scheme would be a drop in the ocean compared to the losses incurred from strike action.
Quite correct it’s a Senior Management decision, the fact that IAG/BA Senior Management are insisting on unspecified “change initiatives” to self fund the package on offer is the very reason for the current Industrial Dispute. The unity displayed by BALPA so far is commendable and I would argue the administration costs for the implementation and maintenance of a share save scheme would be a drop in the ocean compared to the losses incurred from strike action.
Joined: Feb 2005
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 1,427
Likes: 5
From: Correr es mi destino por no llevar papel
I was told by a neighbour on our street that I should be ashamed of myself. He said it’s disgusting that I am earning 200k whilst others struggle........FFS........I don’t earn half that and thus far I have not done anything. I certainly don’t feel “safe and secure” when the company allows these articles to go unchallenged
Folks, waste no time on union PR, Joe Public should carry the same weight in union - company relations as Jack Schidt does. Convincing pilots that public opinion matters is merely management's demoralization tool. Don't fall for it.
I suspect BA Management don't want staff becoming owners of IAG and having too much influence on the business.
may not as be as beneficial to staff as originally intended
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 76
Likes: 12
From: RWB, UK
BA website today 5 August 2019, at 1120 BST, Update on,
First sentence, " We have been working with the pilots’ union, BALPA, to reach an agreement on pay and we are continuing with talks at ACAS." (My bold)
Penultimate sentence, " We understand how precious your summer holidays are and we are very sorry BALPA has threatened to call this strike action. We will continue to exhaust every possible means to avoid it and we urge BALPA to return to talks as soon as possible". (My bold)
I don't see how both highlighted sentences can be true! But then I am probably a senile retired pilot, RAF, BA and eJ.
1066
Proposed industrial action by BALPA
First sentence, " We have been working with the pilots’ union, BALPA, to reach an agreement on pay and we are continuing with talks at ACAS." (My bold)
Penultimate sentence, " We understand how precious your summer holidays are and we are very sorry BALPA has threatened to call this strike action. We will continue to exhaust every possible means to avoid it and we urge BALPA to return to talks as soon as possible". (My bold)
I don't see how both highlighted sentences can be true! But then I am probably a senile retired pilot, RAF, BA and eJ.
1066
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,726
Likes: 103
From: The Winchester
Well it is all going well this morning......
No doubt there will be expectations, again, that the front line staff (who the airline management don’t seem particularly keen to reward in a manner proportionate to the profits) will pick up the pieces..again.
No doubt there will be expectations, again, that the front line staff (who the airline management don’t seem particularly keen to reward in a manner proportionate to the profits) will pick up the pieces..again.
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 954
Likes: 64
From: england
It does seem to tie in with BA’s assertion that there isn’t anymore money available to pay the pilots pay claim.....if only they didn’t have to pay massive data protection fines and disruption payments for these IT disasters caused by a lack of investment over the last 10 years.
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 158
Likes: 10
From: Farnborough Hants
No mention of education/training to make sure you found out what went wrong, why it went wrong and therefore an understanding of what you need to do to prevent recurrence.
Everything from parking transgressions, speeding, dog fouling pavements, breaches in data protection legislation.....
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
From: Cyprus
Walnut
Yet again more IT problems with the airline. All front line staff are now in the firing line, the pilots are one of the key cogs, not just in flying the a/c, but showing ingenuity and flexibility in operational workarounds. Management should understand that their flight crew all go the extra mile to resolve problems. This is not a good time to further antagonise their flight crew.
I did 34yrs at the sharp end and must have saved the airline £100ks by thinking outside the box. I speak from experience the management was poor then it seems to have got a whole lot worse.
I did 34yrs at the sharp end and must have saved the airline £100ks by thinking outside the box. I speak from experience the management was poor then it seems to have got a whole lot worse.
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
From: United Kingdom
Wanted to share my support for all BA staff in getting better pay deals and working conditions
I've always wanted to be a pilot and I'm slowly edging towards that dream but the closer I get, and the more I speak to current pilots, the more I question whether I actually want to do it anymore.
I won't recall every single instance but I've met a lot of pilots recently (including BA) and most, if not all, seemed genuinely unhappy, tired and disillusioned. What really stands out to me though is that very few know their true value as a human being and as an airline employee and those who do, are drowned out by the "be grateful" crowd.
This is what has ruined recruitment at entry/junior level because people will do anything the airlines demand of them because they're "grateful" just to be considered. And when they're in the job, keep schtum, put up with it because you should be grateful for what you get.
Absolute nonsense. Your contribution and position in the company should be viewed in its own merit. As a public company you have every right to question how the company rewards and renumerates its exec staff and shareholders if you're the ones who are paying for it, contributing to success and profits and seeing a lack of reinvestment in your career.
I have friends and family who worked for BA for years as ground and IT staff, treated like absolute garbage by the management but who never collectively united to make their voices heard.
About time BA pilots stood together. What makes me sad is Im sure there are pilots watching in the sidelines from other carriers who see this as an opp to jump to BA and the airline knows that so will hold it over your heads as leverage.
Best of luck to you all
I've always wanted to be a pilot and I'm slowly edging towards that dream but the closer I get, and the more I speak to current pilots, the more I question whether I actually want to do it anymore.
I won't recall every single instance but I've met a lot of pilots recently (including BA) and most, if not all, seemed genuinely unhappy, tired and disillusioned. What really stands out to me though is that very few know their true value as a human being and as an airline employee and those who do, are drowned out by the "be grateful" crowd.
This is what has ruined recruitment at entry/junior level because people will do anything the airlines demand of them because they're "grateful" just to be considered. And when they're in the job, keep schtum, put up with it because you should be grateful for what you get.
Absolute nonsense. Your contribution and position in the company should be viewed in its own merit. As a public company you have every right to question how the company rewards and renumerates its exec staff and shareholders if you're the ones who are paying for it, contributing to success and profits and seeing a lack of reinvestment in your career.
I have friends and family who worked for BA for years as ground and IT staff, treated like absolute garbage by the management but who never collectively united to make their voices heard.
About time BA pilots stood together. What makes me sad is Im sure there are pilots watching in the sidelines from other carriers who see this as an opp to jump to BA and the airline knows that so will hold it over your heads as leverage.
Best of luck to you all
Last edited by shamrock_f22; 8th August 2019 at 04:54.
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 152
Likes: 15
From: Sussex
Full support from me for the BA pilots.
Maybe the Virgin Atlantic ones will show some cojones and vote to take action against the attacks on their terms and conditions.
I've always considered VAA to be "enthusiastic amateurs" and the only professional part of the airline are the pilots and engineers. The quality of the management
is such that they've only ever made a profit in a handful of years in the past 30 (or so they say!).
Good luck to the BA guys.
Maybe the Virgin Atlantic ones will show some cojones and vote to take action against the attacks on their terms and conditions.
I've always considered VAA to be "enthusiastic amateurs" and the only professional part of the airline are the pilots and engineers. The quality of the management
is such that they've only ever made a profit in a handful of years in the past 30 (or so they say!).
Good luck to the BA guys.
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
From: London
Full support from me for the BA pilots.
Maybe the Virgin Atlantic ones will show some cojones and vote to take action against the attacks on their terms and conditions.
I've always considered VAA to be "enthusiastic amateurs" and the only professional part of the airline are the pilots and engineers. The quality of the management
is such that they've only ever made a profit in a handful of years in the past 30 (or so they say!).
Good luck to the BA guys.
Maybe the Virgin Atlantic ones will show some cojones and vote to take action against the attacks on their terms and conditions.
I've always considered VAA to be "enthusiastic amateurs" and the only professional part of the airline are the pilots and engineers. The quality of the management
is such that they've only ever made a profit in a handful of years in the past 30 (or so they say!).
Good luck to the BA guys.
we didn’t drop the 15% pension contribution for new joiners ,
we still have the 750hr rule (which I think is the absolute golden egg)
we also had a reasonable pay rise
but I also agree the management is pretty rubbish (but who’s isn’t )
I fully support BAs strike !! It’s about time !
Virgin is majority owned by Delta , I’m sure they have a big say in what happens
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 17
Likes: 1
From: 60 north
Funny thing Management, when ever I ask them a specific question ,they need some time, then get back to You with the wrong answer, to late, after the problem has time-expired or gone proper PearShaped.
Anyway.
Good to see fellow Aviators in the UK finally taking action!
Regards
Cpt B
Anyway.
Good to see fellow Aviators in the UK finally taking action!
Regards
Cpt B