85 replies to this topic

[kliome]

New dates.....

March 20-29th

March 27-30th

Further dates after April 14th if dispute not resolved.

Do PM me with any questions or if you are needing advice if this affects you.

Hope it doesn't happen though

20th to 29th??? I assume that's a typo.

I was under the impression the strikes were only 3 days long?

[FatboyUK]

Yes, it was a typo.

Original post amended.

[petesie]

It's handy having a Trolley Dolly on the Forum......

[laptop]

I am impressed with way Willie Walsh is dealing with the Unions. Seeing so many BA flights taking off with volunteers standing in as cabin crew after only a few days training really says something. Lets face it, a cabin crew position is not the most skilled job in the world and there are plenty of people who would take the BA cabin crew jobs on the terms Walsh offered. This dispute is the first of many and once the Conservatives take over the tension exacerbate. David Cameron last week:

And now we see it again with the British Airways strike. This threatens the future of one of Britain's greatest companies along with thousands of jobs. But will the Prime Minister come out in support of those people who would cross the picket line? No - because the Unite union is bankrolling the Labour party.

In the current economic environment unions should no longer be aloud hold a country to ransom.

And some unbiased data to put things in perspective. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) shows for the first time how much higher BA’s wage costs are than its rivals. The average salary for BA’s 14,000 cabin crew, including bonuses and allowances, is £29,900, compared with £14,400 at Virgin Atlantic and £20,200 at easyJet. BA’s pilots earn an average of £107,600, compared with £89,500 at Virgin and £71,400 at easyJet.

[FatboyUK]

I'm sorry laptop, but it's people like you spouting off this crap that really winds me up. You seem to be basing your comments on what you are reading in the papers, or seeing in the news. There are 2 sides to this story, and unfortunately, the Unions side isn't getting across.

Before we start, I am working through this industrial action. It was the hardest decision of my flying career, and even though I dont agree with what the WW regime is doing to the company, he bent me over a barrel by threatening taking away certain things that are very important to me.

So, a Cabin Crew position is not the most skilled in the world? Sure we aren't Brain surgeons, government officals, or air traffic controllers, but credit where credit is due, we aren't all blond barbie dolls neither.

For a start, even though you only see us serving you food and drink, my 6 WEEK training course, followed by 6 months on the job probationary period included:

Emergency procedures and equipment for 7 variants of aircraft.
The ability to deal with situations such as ditching, decompressions, emergency landings, Survival techniques and fire fighting.
Life saving First aid training, including the use of defibrilators
Safety and Security techniques including bomb threats and passenger restraints
Dealing with dangerous good incidents
Dealing with passengers needing special needs
Customer service including First and Business class training.

Without us....you'd go nowhere, and get nothing.

I had to operate yesterday with 2 Volunteers as crew, both who had just 3 days training....they were crap. I had to do, near everything safety and security related whilst looking after 130 passengers - you think thats safe? You think that is a good way of getting people flying during a strike? I sure as hell don't, and I'm working through it.

To comment on your findings on the CAA website re: earnings. I ask, how you can compare BA to easyJet and Virgin? Both of which are completely unlike us. Virgin - a 25 year old long haul only airline. easyJet - a 12-14 year old short haul, low cost, point to point airline. BA, a 75 year old legacy carrier, inheriting terms and conditions from a variety of companies such as Dan Air, BCal, offering a short and long haul Premium product? We should be being compared to the likes of Air France/KLM, Lufthansa, and Iberia, and I think you'll find we are actually the least paid. People who join the comparitively young Virgin and easyJet sign on to the terms and conditions being offered. Thats up to them - they dont have to if they dont want to, so I have no sympathy. I joined BA on the newest contract at the time, which is very similar to my old job at easyJet. Thats what the management of BA are offering.....so thats what I signed up to.

You also comment that Unions should not be able to hold a country to ransom? So are you equally as passionate about the Royal Mail? The signalman on the railways? Are you loooking at websites comparing their salaries? I guarantee most of the people in these roles are on more money then me, and yet you (the general public) think cabin crew are "scum"? Should "Get real", and bow down to Mr Walsh's demands and throw away terms and conditions my colleagues have earned over the last 25-40 years of service? I'd bet everything you dont do the same to your Postie, or even give it a thought when you are on your train going to work?

So they can stand up for their rights, and bring the country to a stand still, and yet us (the cabin crew of BA) can't?

I thought this was a free country.......

[onetruesaxon]

Very well put FBUK

[petesie]

Extremely succinctly written James and I agree with all you say......scary stuff about the extra staff having 3 days training.....

In an emergency situation that would really pay dividends, eh?

[laptop]

FB – You are in a battle you cannot and will not win. Private sector workers all around the world have to endure painful changes to working conditions and dramatic falls to their wages and/or bonuses. The new economic reality means that companies have to look costs and they have no option but to reduce staff salaries. You of all people should know the position BA are in. Huge losses with more projected losses for 2010. Working condition will have to change and the Unite trade Union has already lost the PR battle so I don’t think this will be resolved in the way you want.

While BA may be a “premium carrier” the fact is their business model is not working at the moment and they are reducing their cost base. Customers are more price conscious and the falls in BA’s long hall flights over the last year or two reflect this. BA need to become more competitve and the unions are a barrior to this. I hope it is resolved because as you say you don’t like being on strike and BA don’t want you to be on strike.

And by the way a 6 week training course is no big deal and everyone goes through a six month probation when they begin a job. Cabin crew are not a valuable commodity that posses specialist skills that are scarcely found. There are ten’s of thousands of people standing in social welfare q’s at the moment who will accept the conditions you have been offered.

Notwithstanding this I hope things are resolved to your satisfaction. You seem a nice guy from everything you post but I just think we have very different opinions on this subject and as you work in BA it is bound to be an emotive issue.

[fridgemagnet]

Can anyone tell me if Air France, KLM, Lufthansa or Iberia make a profit?
If they, or most of them, do make a profit, then I agree with Fatboy, but if not, then are we not just being faced with the harsh reality of a business?

[dixon cox]

From the layman's perspective, the major issue from the outside (IMO) is that people will lose faith in BA (if they haven't already) with the threat of strike action hanging in the air would cause flyers to become more & more reluctant to book flights with BA.

A spiral of demise may have already begun :|

[kliome]

Agreed with the monkey.

It's all well and good hearing both side of the argument, but from the simple perspective of a potential customer it doesn't look good either way, and I've crossed BA off my list.

I flew with them last year and it was a fairly pleasant experience, but after recent events I wouldn't risk it, and I didn't even consider them when buying my last two flights (unticked them in the search options).

No offense to FB, or any BA staff, but why risk flying with BA for the foreseeable future when there are other airlines as good, if not better, and in the same price range (if not cheaper!).