85 replies to this topic

[FatboyUK]

To all of you that this may affect........

We DO NOT want to have to do this

And hopefully, within the next few days, we'll find out that we don't have to, and I can return to work and take everyone to far flung places for Xmas.

We have been forced into this position by a mangement hell bent on chopping, cutting, and getting rid of everything BA stands for, is, or would one day, like to be.

If anyone is affected, feel free to PM me so I can perhaps pass on any information I have available to me.

Don't believe all what the newspapers say. I am not on £35,000 a year. There are a number of reasons why we are doing this. It's not just about pay, or losing one crew member on a long haul flight (What the media are leaving out is that on shorthaul, up to 4 crew members have been taken off, leaving just 3 crew to try and look after 132 people in a 28 minute flight to Manchester)

Above all else, we are doing this so that 12 months down the line, we still have a job, because if it's up to our CEO, we wont have.

And if that affects someones holiday, I'm sorry, but on this occasion, I, or indeed WE have to think about ourselves for once, and not the passengers we build our career looking after.

[xyzzy]

I really don't have a problem with it either. But the dates picked are very bad. I would guess that was done to maximize the effect. But it makes the strikers look like the Grinch that stole Christmas.

[redrock]

I understand what your saying Fatboy and I believe that BA's management are wankers. But, I'll never fly with BA and I know there are a lot of people thinking the same. Strike or no strike, I don't have confidence in the company anymore.

[petesie]

If I had a choice with whom I fly............I'd have to agree with Redrock......

I've been flying with BA and other carriers for the last 20 odd years...........with a minimum of 12 trips per year though for the last 3 years this can peak at 50..................

A lot of the quality of the flight stems from the crew............and the only inconsistency within my experience has been with BA crews....

However, one of their biggest gaffs was pulling out of a certain Middle Eastern route which was a big slap in the face for the host country and an embarrassment for GB.............

Their excuse............not profitable............how can you call full flights every trip that?

Apart from that...............from what FB says and other information I've read the only choice of the BA staff is to strike at this crucial time..............remember, Wily Walsh (no spelling mistake) can easily avert this particular course of action............

If he is not listening to the message his ground troops are sending him then this may be his last battle.................at the expense of the nations Flag Carrying Airline and the ensuing job losses...........

[RobiSLO]

I really appreciate being proud of national carrier but times has changed. Allover EU I got signals from my colleagues from legal departments they have to fly in economy class and pick the cheapest provider – loyalty of “government customers” is now really worth 1 cent. Hell, even ministers & CEOs of government owned companies in my country now have to fly in tourist class… serves them well.

I do hope BA and other national carriers will finally realize you can’t just put national flag on airplane and demand twice what Emirates or others would charge for same destination flight.

Just an example, I pay less for ticket from Frankfurt to Bangkok than I would have to pay from Ljubljana – Stockholm regular price with our national carrier. And our carrier uses 18+ year old Airbus 320 so there is no excuse about better quality.


BR

[Ericthehalfabee]

Strike is off - judged illegal due to a technicality over voting to strike within the union.

[dixon cox]

Strike is off

Yes, but now the SAS ground staff, which includes baggage handlers and check-in staff (also handled by Unite union) are threatening to strike for several lots of 48hours beginning 22nd December. This could affect Turkish, Emirates & Thai Airways at London Heathrow.

[FatboyUK]

what i believe is that the pilots have given back 2 .5 percnet and will get this back in two years through bonuses ect.
however the cabin crew wanted this, but did not want their money back, only to be reinststed to what they were previously on.
mr willy said , no, what else was there left to do but strike.
fatboy, or any one else please correct me, if this is not accurate, but what i have heard it is pretty much on the mark.

Spot on Rev, not that it, for the time being, matters.

So 1,000,000 Christmases are saved. I am saddened that the strike has been called off, and hope that the re-ballot happens quickly and legally.

In the mean time, I think I best start looking at possible exit strategies, just in case.....

[ScottishLadyboyTerrorist]

Wise move FBUK, I'm sure there could be alot more cabin crew thinking of voting with their feet over this too....

BA are way too expensive, I agree. And afterall, if it weren't for the paying passengers on board each flight BA operates, there would be no cabin crew to look after them.

Management sometimes fail to see things from the everyday workers point of view.. They only too easily lose the whole concept of the business.

But the bottom line in all this is simple.. if you have no customers, you dont have an airline...

Feck me!!! I have digressed a fair wee bit there..

I just wanted to wish you all the best for the festivities....

[badpress]

What a lot of bollox this has all become. Which part of BA are losing a fortune is it that the unions don't understand!!!
I am all for sharing the wealth when a company is making a fortune, but when a company is losing money hand over fist, extreme measures have to come in to play. If you are not happy with your pay and conditions, then fuck off and get another job!!
Unions are the trash of modern existence. the union leaders try to tell you they are fighting for the working man, while they are sitting pretty in an 150k per annum job, plus chauffeur driven Limo, laughing all the way to their next all expenses paid function.
For fuck sake people, wake up and smell the shit.

[FatboyUK]

Gotta love this ignore button.......