Thread: Strike On: BA Cabin Crew Talks Collapse

Unite seem to quote the need for 'both sides' to do 'what's best for their customers and BA'. It seems to me not accepting rationalization, in an airline that gives it's cabin crew the best rates of pay and conditions of any european airline, is not doing the best for their customers and BA, just their members. At least until they cause a total collapse of the airline, then they won't be employed at all.

Another note for the Unite negotiators, negotiation means entering talks without the objective of leaving them with everything you want and not giving way on any point. They pushed as far as they wanted, tried to get a bit more by threatening a strike, and found that the threat to remove the offer and deduct any losses from that offer wasn't a bluff. Well played.

RIP BA.
No more queuing for 3 hours at Heathrow. No more being crammed into cattle class on long haul flights. No more "you're more trouble than you're worth and I really want to be up in first class" looks from the "flight attendants". One airline I definitely won't miss.

Hard-line stances from union leaders would be much more credible if they put their own money where their mouths are. They, their committees, and the union administrative staff should forego their salary and perks for the duration of each strike - good leadership and a solid incentive to reach a settlement.

Originally Posted by jim30

Very amused to see that the company has now added the losses incurred to the strikers actions (£27m) to the total amount of savings that Cabin Crew must find as part of the whole businesses cost reductions. These lunatics reap what they sow...

Outstanding bit of chess. BA 1: Unite 0 :D

BA cabin crew on the radio the other day, and Jeremy Whine asked the question, "How many staff have they cut from 1st class/business class?" and the reply was none.
The actual answer didn't surprise me just the arrogance of BA.
And as a side order, they've lost the right to fly the England squad to SA in the summer, Virgins' been given it on the strength that BA is unreliable.

One would be sympathetic if UNITE wasnt run by communists.

Originally Posted by harareboy99

One would be sympathetic if UNITE wasnt run by communists.

Well it'll soon be run by the Mafia:

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-relea...-88595457.html

How long before Woodley hands over power to his best buddy - Hoffa?

Originally Posted by Unsworth

Originally Posted by harareboy99

One would be sympathetic if UNITE wasnt run by communists.

Well it'll soon be run by the Mafia:

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-relea...-88595457.html

How long before Woodley hands over power to his best buddy - Hoffa?

I think Brown will go ballistic if industrial action spreads outside of the UK . The tangled web of links from Unite to the sponsoring of MP’s , Labour Party funding , access to 10 Downing St and then the international ability to spread the dispute would provide so much ammunition to all opposition parties he knows he must stop or delay this potential development . The additional PR consequences of traumatic traveller experiences abroad would be a disaster for the Labour Party during the build up to the election

Originally Posted by pombsen-armchair-warrior

They, their committees, and the union administrative staff should forego their salary and perks for the duration of each strike - good leadership and a solid incentive to reach a settlement.

Don't think that would be possible in this case. Both leaders of Unite live in houses that are owned by the union (the union pays the extra tax due on this and lets their leaders keep the house, MP style, when they retire).

They'd have to make themselves homeless to do what you propose. Or, alternatively, use the suite at the 5 star Waldorf hotel that the union retains on a permanent basis. But Derek and Tony, the joint leaders apparently hate each other so the Presidential suite might not be big enough for the two of them.

Both sides want this strike. BA have to crush Unite so they can force competitive terms and conditions on to their employees. Unite want to prove that they've got the biggest willys in the union jungle and bringing down one of the best known companies in the world is just the way to do it. A few thousand heavily made up trolley dollies consigned to the dole queue and their pensions flushed down the khazi is a small sacrifice for the blokes with the keys to the Presidential suite.

BA 'declares war' on union after talks fail

Dramatic escalation of dispute as three-day strike begins tomorrow morning.

British Airways tonight threatened to suspend co-operation with Britain's largest trade union after last-ditch talks failed to prevent a three-day strike by cabin crew starting today.

In a dramatic escalation of the bitter industrial dispute with Unite, BA warned that it will scrap an agreement that gives shop stewards the use of company offices and time off to represent members – unless a new framework is drawn up.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2...es-union-talks

I flew on BA often in years gone past-particularly Concorde.However in the last 10 years,as delays,bad service and everything else went downhill,I have discovered that other airlines,that can fulfill my needs,exist.I am now using them.

Cathay,Emirates and Quantas spring to mind,as very good airlines,offering service out of UK.I can also connect with KLM at Amsterdam.

To see the BA stewards,male and female,trooping into Sandown Park for rallies,in their upmarket cars,is the final straw.I cannot find any reason to fly BA,ever again.

UNite have played right into the hands of BA. BA know they have to make drastic cuts to routes, aircraft, groundstaff and aircrew to get the business back on a sensible track/dump old aircraft and unprofitable routes. These two strikes will open the floodgates to a major cull of jobs and the workers deserve all they get. Their union will not be able to do a thing about it. No business could go on and take the losses they have had over the last few years and I feel another "bank style" bail out approaching fast. Crab Air could do with some replacement "reliable" aircraft here is a quick fix.

Originally Posted by muhandis89

I can also connect with KLM at Amsterdam.

KLM offer a good deal on flights. I flew to Araby with them and the whole flight + hotel + transfers package cost less than BA wanted for the flight alone. Somehow, I managed without the complimentary hot towel before take off.

Shypol, err Sjickpol, err skipole, err Amsterdam airport is one of the best in the world. Excellent sushi bar and, in addition, they sell hard core pornography in the air side newsagent shop. The lack of seat back TV in KLM economy class is irrelevant when you can slip a copy of 'Debbie Does Dallas - 3D' into the old laptop.

I don't fly very often but when I do I fly business or first class. I'd rather fly less but have better quality flights and hotels and avoid the chav's and the brainless.
When I spend my money I do it wisely and the last company to get it will be BA.
If BA was half as good as Qatar, EVA, Etihad, Emirates .. oh fcuk it just about any other national carrier they'd be worth flying with but they're not.
The staff on BA are rude, arrogant and are not interested in the passengers, they don't care that passengers pay the wages. I'd only be unhapppy to see them fold as it may alow other companies to increase prices as less competition.
The prices are inflated for second class service I can get much cheaper fares with good service and not have to worry that the IFE will work or the seat!

As a matter of interest, do BA staff pay tax on their travel dispensation?

I wondered, as the financial value of the perk can be considerable. E.g. an acquaintance of mine paid a nominal amount to fly three people to Mexico City. They were all upgraded to Club both ways. Thats c.£15k to a normal punter. Given that HMRC shags most people over a barrel for any sort of measly benefit, I wondered how they treat airline staff who can theoretically receive tens of thousands of pounds per year benefit at retail values?