British Airways vs. BASSA (Airline Staff Only)
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I look forward to Duncan Holley's response to this. Does anyone know if the Socialist Worker article is on the BASSA/cf yet?
Presumably, Derek Simpson's comments were made knowing that they would be reported, this is his way of disassociating himself from BASSA?
Presumably, Derek Simpson's comments were made knowing that they would be reported, this is his way of disassociating himself from BASSA?
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Oh dear! The crew are going mental over Simpsons comments. They're even denouncing Socialist Worker, which until recently was their media darling! That said I don't think Simpsons comments can come as a surprise to anyone given that he was the one who brokered the original deal with BA that was then scuppered by the announcement of strike dates. Simpson has always been the most moderate and reasonable of the Unite faces (in public at least). What is interesting is that the cabin crew militants still don't realise how desperate their situation is. They cling to a belief that 90% of crew voted for a strike, despite the fact that nearly 5000 of their number didn't and quite evidently many of those who did vote for action are not prepared to actually take any. They also still seem to believe that BASSAs reps are doing a good job, despite the growing mountain of evidence that they alone stand in the way of a solution. Meanwhile staff travel disappears for ever for the strikers from today, guaranteeing that any third wave of strikes will be even more of a washout than the first two. What a mess!
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Hmmmmm me thinks Simpsons' statement FUBAR'd BASSA's agenda (if it is true ..... I only go by what I read from the link to the Socialist Worker provided) ....... looks like a serious case of own goal here and may cost BASSA the cup! Can the team manager please remove that player and field in a better sub ???????? 
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BA puts new offer to Unite
Sorry if this has been posted already (couldn't see it myself) but I think it is of interest, especially the note at the bottom about Unite having to call a strike by April 20th.
I wouldn't be surprised if TW and DS try and drag this one out as long as possible, then really put the thumbscrews on the 'clowns' at BASSA (Simpsons own words!) to ballot their members on it, on pain of having Unite support removed if they don't.
With the time it takes to ballot the members, their strike mandate will expire, so either the members accept the offer (likely) or if they don't, by the time the offer is rejected (BASSA will have to recommend rejecting the offer, if they are to be consistent), they will have to re-ballot to strike again. Crucially, that will then take the next strike to a date after the general election.
Anyway, here is the article.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
April 12 (Bloomberg) -- British Airways Plc has put forward new proposals on pay and staffing levels for 12,000 cabin crew as Europe’s third-largest carrier seeks to avoid a fresh spate of strikes.
The airline is waiting to hear whether the Unite union will recommend the plan to members or call a further walkout, Chief Executive Officer Willie Walsh said in a staff newsletter.
British Airways flight attendants staged strikes spanning a total of seven days last month, the first at the company since 1997. The stoppages cost as much as 45 million pounds ($69 million) as the carrier scrambled to book passengers onto other flights and hired outside planes and crew to boost services.
“I very much hope that our customers are not once again disrupted by unnecessary action,” Walsh said in this week’s edition of ‘British Airways News,’ adding that he “genuinely” believes the new offer will be acceptable to cabin crew. “But I am confident that we are ready.”
Talks with British Airways are making “serious progress,” Unite spokesman Andrew Murray said today in a phone interview. Neither BA nor Unite would discuss terms of the proposals.
Walsh is seeking to pare costs after the global recession ravaged demand for air travel. Cuts to staffing levels on long- haul flights were imposed in November, prompting Unite to hold a ballot on strike action. Talks finally broke down on March 19.
British Airways said March 11 that it may log a record 600 million-pound pretax loss for the fiscal year through March. The London-based company is scheduled to report earnings on May 21.
Unite must give a week’s notice of any fresh action. In order to preserve its mandate the union also has to start a strike within 28 days of the last one, meaning that it would have to announce a walkout by April 20, unless British Airways agrees to extend the authority granted by the ballot.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=conewsstory&tkr=BAY%3ALN&sid=anNWQQshmPIM
I wouldn't be surprised if TW and DS try and drag this one out as long as possible, then really put the thumbscrews on the 'clowns' at BASSA (Simpsons own words!) to ballot their members on it, on pain of having Unite support removed if they don't.
With the time it takes to ballot the members, their strike mandate will expire, so either the members accept the offer (likely) or if they don't, by the time the offer is rejected (BASSA will have to recommend rejecting the offer, if they are to be consistent), they will have to re-ballot to strike again. Crucially, that will then take the next strike to a date after the general election.
Anyway, here is the article.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
April 12 (Bloomberg) -- British Airways Plc has put forward new proposals on pay and staffing levels for 12,000 cabin crew as Europe’s third-largest carrier seeks to avoid a fresh spate of strikes.
The airline is waiting to hear whether the Unite union will recommend the plan to members or call a further walkout, Chief Executive Officer Willie Walsh said in a staff newsletter.
British Airways flight attendants staged strikes spanning a total of seven days last month, the first at the company since 1997. The stoppages cost as much as 45 million pounds ($69 million) as the carrier scrambled to book passengers onto other flights and hired outside planes and crew to boost services.
“I very much hope that our customers are not once again disrupted by unnecessary action,” Walsh said in this week’s edition of ‘British Airways News,’ adding that he “genuinely” believes the new offer will be acceptable to cabin crew. “But I am confident that we are ready.”
Talks with British Airways are making “serious progress,” Unite spokesman Andrew Murray said today in a phone interview. Neither BA nor Unite would discuss terms of the proposals.
Walsh is seeking to pare costs after the global recession ravaged demand for air travel. Cuts to staffing levels on long- haul flights were imposed in November, prompting Unite to hold a ballot on strike action. Talks finally broke down on March 19.
British Airways said March 11 that it may log a record 600 million-pound pretax loss for the fiscal year through March. The London-based company is scheduled to report earnings on May 21.
Unite must give a week’s notice of any fresh action. In order to preserve its mandate the union also has to start a strike within 28 days of the last one, meaning that it would have to announce a walkout by April 20, unless British Airways agrees to extend the authority granted by the ballot.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=conewsstory&tkr=BAY%3ALN&sid=anNWQQshmPIM
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Beagle9
Why doesn't BASSA want New Fleet?
The answer is very simple and I don't think they are only looking after themselves. Once New Fleet is up and running it's only a matter of time before we are all stuck on the ground because there won't be any trips left for us to operate. It's not scaremongering. It's exactly what will happen.
New Fleet gets a couple of destinations, let's say HKG, DEL, GVA and MAN. That's four destinations. We remain untouched until further. Then they are transferring another group of destinations. Less crew will be needed on EF and WW. Another group of destination goes and here we go again. BA might leave us as we are for the moment but not not a chance in the long-term perspective.
All of you can argue as much as you want that this won't happen but unfortunately I don't have this amount of trust.
Why doesn't BASSA want New Fleet?
The answer is very simple and I don't think they are only looking after themselves. Once New Fleet is up and running it's only a matter of time before we are all stuck on the ground because there won't be any trips left for us to operate. It's not scaremongering. It's exactly what will happen.
New Fleet gets a couple of destinations, let's say HKG, DEL, GVA and MAN. That's four destinations. We remain untouched until further. Then they are transferring another group of destinations. Less crew will be needed on EF and WW. Another group of destination goes and here we go again. BA might leave us as we are for the moment but not not a chance in the long-term perspective.
All of you can argue as much as you want that this won't happen but unfortunately I don't have this amount of trust.
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I'm pretty sure Bloombergs analysis is incorrect. BASSA don't need to call a strike by 20th April to preserve their mandate, that only applies to the first strike after the ballot. The mandate now rolls continously.
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MissM
Miss M
Right. So BA are going to continue to pay people basic wages of up to about £44,000 a year, and just let them all be stuck on the ground doing nothing. Do you really think that BA are even going to pay someone a basic of £11,000 and let them do nothing? You honestly, really think that? Hand on heart?
Well, BASSA have put forward plenty of proposals with New Fleet. BASSA certainly are looking after themselves, by making sure the CSD doesn't have to work on a trolley, and that LGW crew take a pay cut to make it happen.
If BASSA were worried about a new fleets on worse t's and c's, they wouldn't have allowed the post '97 contracts and LGW to happen.
Originally Posted by MissM
Once New Fleet is up and running it's only a matter of time before we are all stuck on the ground because there won't be any trips left for us to operate. It's not scaremongering. It's exactly what will happen.
Right. So BA are going to continue to pay people basic wages of up to about £44,000 a year, and just let them all be stuck on the ground doing nothing. Do you really think that BA are even going to pay someone a basic of £11,000 and let them do nothing? You honestly, really think that? Hand on heart?
Originally Posted by MissM
Why doesn't BASSA want New Fleet?
The answer is very simple and I don't think they are only looking after themselves.
The answer is very simple and I don't think they are only looking after themselves.
If BASSA were worried about a new fleets on worse t's and c's, they wouldn't have allowed the post '97 contracts and LGW to happen.
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The suggested pay cut is a lot more than allowing crew to be put back. It's about protecting transfer rights, union's power and keep a good eye on New Fleet.
It might be in their offer as they are willing to discuss New Fleet and have control over how it's developed. It doesn't necessary mean that they want it but I think everybody knows that any settled deal with BA has to include a new fleet one way or another as long as there is secure and legal protection for existing crew.
It might be in their offer as they are willing to discuss New Fleet and have control over how it's developed. It doesn't necessary mean that they want it but I think everybody knows that any settled deal with BA has to include a new fleet one way or another as long as there is secure and legal protection for existing crew.
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Ottergirl-blown slides
Thought this had already been answered when it happened. Someone I think posted that it looked like a blown slide from a distance but that it was actually just a stairway placed at a door? Not really a big deal in the grand scheme of things.
Controversial, moi?
All of you can argue as much as you want that this won't happen but unfortunately I don't have this amount of trust.
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Different incident Bentley. AFAIK a door was left in automatic (by who we don't know) and a caterer opened the door resulting in the slide pack falling onto his gangway. Slide didn't inflate and we don't know if it occurred on the 2 strike days or the 5 non-strike days that particular week. It could very well have been a 4Xer who did it!
Controversial, moi?
From post #1778
That is incorrect. With Unite having taken strike action within 28 days of ballot closure there is a 12 week protected period in which strike action can be taken with no need for re-ballot.
However they do have to give 7 days notice of further strike dates.
Unite must give a week’s notice of any fresh action. In order to preserve its mandate the union also has to start a strike within 28 days of the last one, meaning that it would have to announce a walkout by April 20, unless British Airways agrees to extend the authority granted by the ballot.
However they do have to give 7 days notice of further strike dates.
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Caterers only ever open doors from outside the aircraft. Opening an aircraft door from outside disarms the slide. IF a slide has been blown it was done from inside
Timothy Claypole,
If it was a highlift, the door would usually opened by the crew member resposible for that door.
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That aside blown slides (and speculation about blown slides) have nothing to do with the debate and, along with this off topic post by me, I am sure deletion by the modz will happen shortly if we don't desist.
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Juan
So why was I trained to always check under the door to see if the girt bar was engaged, when opening from the outside?
(Sorry mods, just curiosity. I know I'm off thread)
(Sorry mods, just curiosity. I know I'm off thread)
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You still need to with an aircraft like the 737 but the rest of the BA fleet is modern enough (in design I mean, I appreciate the 737 is still in production) not to have girt bars which need to be physically attached - they have a handle on the door instead and opening from the outside will first disengage the girt bar on these types.
(The VCC are only on Airbus and Widebody which all have this feature)
(The VCC are only on Airbus and Widebody which all have this feature)
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Simple safety double check. If it were not a safety check can you remember how to disarm the door from the outside? The reason that you cannot is that opening from the outside does this anyway. The check for the girt bar is a check for a failure - if it is in place you do not continue to open the door and seek engineering help. Incidently this is only a function on older model doors - I am assuming it was teaching on 737 or something equally elderly in design.