British Airways vs. BASSA (current Airline Staff Only)
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>>>3449 voted no to reject the offer
1686 voted to accept
circa 12600 cabin crew in total<<<<
WOW, such strenght amongst the BASSA ranks, what an amazing majority!....oh....how many crew were balloted!!?? Yes that's correct nearly 11,500 members! so not even half voted...
To quote old Blackadder:
If nothing else works, a total pig-headed unwillingness to look facts in the face will see us through.
1686 voted to accept
circa 12600 cabin crew in total<<<<
WOW, such strenght amongst the BASSA ranks, what an amazing majority!....oh....how many crew were balloted!!?? Yes that's correct nearly 11,500 members! so not even half voted...
To quote old Blackadder:
If nothing else works, a total pig-headed unwillingness to look facts in the face will see us through.
Couldonlyaffordafiver
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... but that's the BASSA membership who could be bothered to vote and given those particular numbers, BA's mission to render BASSA irrelevant appears to be working.
What about the "other" 7000 or so crew members who didn't vote? Can it be assumed that none of them are BASSA members? If so, the ex-BASSA numbers have increased a fair bit recently (I know they have but not by that much). If not, an awful lot of people probably saw the result as a foregone conclusion.
Either way, what happens next?
BA will have received a number of acceptances from non-union crew (ie. those who had left BASSA/Unite before the end of June) and presumably those people will be commencing that new contract in the next couple of months (complete with a top-up payment and a return of some staff travel privileges).
Those non-union members who did not reply coupled with those union members who were legally unable to reply (hence the union ballot) will probably find out the consequences fairly shortly. Given that BA have already announced that they intend to crew the full operation (longhaul certainly) in the event of another strike (rendering it irrelevant), I would suggest ninety days notice will be imminent followed by either dismissal or the offer of a "New Fleet" contract as this situation cannot be allowed to continue, especially as the offer in question was extremely reasonable.
What other alternatives are there? (open question - I'm sure I haven't thought of something)
What about the "other" 7000 or so crew members who didn't vote? Can it be assumed that none of them are BASSA members? If so, the ex-BASSA numbers have increased a fair bit recently (I know they have but not by that much). If not, an awful lot of people probably saw the result as a foregone conclusion.
Either way, what happens next?
BA will have received a number of acceptances from non-union crew (ie. those who had left BASSA/Unite before the end of June) and presumably those people will be commencing that new contract in the next couple of months (complete with a top-up payment and a return of some staff travel privileges).
Those non-union members who did not reply coupled with those union members who were legally unable to reply (hence the union ballot) will probably find out the consequences fairly shortly. Given that BA have already announced that they intend to crew the full operation (longhaul certainly) in the event of another strike (rendering it irrelevant), I would suggest ninety days notice will be imminent followed by either dismissal or the offer of a "New Fleet" contract as this situation cannot be allowed to continue, especially as the offer in question was extremely reasonable.
What other alternatives are there? (open question - I'm sure I haven't thought of something)
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This was merely a consultative ballot and the reason for the low return was probably due to many people not receiving or returning their ballot papers in time.
I live in Germany and only received my ballot 5 days ago.
We have had a consultative ballot online before via the BASSA website, but the company objected to that hence the postal ballot.
It was NOT a "reasonable" offer, that is why it has been rejected. Why make an offer you know will be rejected? It just goes to show how out of touch Walsh is with his employees and the fact he is not serious about ending this dispute.
Interesting that no BA managers are available or willing to speak with the Press. They have known for a month that the result would be announced today. Why can't anyone except for Walsh face the Press? Doesn't he have any support?
I live in Germany and only received my ballot 5 days ago.
We have had a consultative ballot online before via the BASSA website, but the company objected to that hence the postal ballot.
It was NOT a "reasonable" offer, that is why it has been rejected. Why make an offer you know will be rejected? It just goes to show how out of touch Walsh is with his employees and the fact he is not serious about ending this dispute.
Interesting that no BA managers are available or willing to speak with the Press. They have known for a month that the result would be announced today. Why can't anyone except for Walsh face the Press? Doesn't he have any support?
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Duggie:
"Interesting that no BA managers are available or willing to speak with the Press. They have known for a month that the result would be announced today. Why can't anyone except for Walsh face the Press? Doesn't he have any support?"
so.....on that note where were the Unite boys then? did they not know it was coming out today either?
Oh yes, they are in the Unite office consulting with BASSA!!!
No doubt they are wondering why BASSA persists in making them look so stupid all the time
"Interesting that no BA managers are available or willing to speak with the Press. They have known for a month that the result would be announced today. Why can't anyone except for Walsh face the Press? Doesn't he have any support?"
so.....on that note where were the Unite boys then? did they not know it was coming out today either?
Oh yes, they are in the Unite office consulting with BASSA!!!
No doubt they are wondering why BASSA persists in making them look so stupid all the time
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Interesting that no BA managers are available or willing to speak with the Press. They have known for a month that the result would be announced today. Why can't anyone except for Walsh face the Press?
Approx. 50% of your membership couldn't be bothered to return their ballot paper; they are war weary, disillusioned, financially hard up and basically fed up of the lies, spin and lack of leadership. Many now finally realise this was a campaign orchestrated to protect those at the top of the BASSA hierarchy, and that they, the masses, your members, have been used as pawns to fight a battle for a very elite few.
It's over; you must feel so proud.
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Doug said
........... so who's fault is that? No use blaming a poor ballot result on a time frame organised buy your union, talk about shoot yourself in the foot
This was merely a consultative ballot and the reason for the low return was probably due to many people not receiving or returning their ballot papers in time.
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The ballot was a bit of mess IMO. On Bassa's website it states membership of just over 9500. I can tell you its a lot less than that. I left weeks ago as did a friend yet we both got ballot papers. Flew with a girl last week who left Bassa in March, ad she got a ballot too!!!!. It shows to me that there are around 3500 strikers - no more. Let them strike. It will be another nice few weeks flying with crew who you know are on your side. Seems time to stoke up the braziers. Word of advice. Don't get your fingers burnt - in more ways than one!
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There are similarities with the dispute at the Royal Mail and British Airways.
After a series of bitter national strikes, industrial relations were only normalised at the Royal Mail after its CEO Adam Crozier left for ITN.
Walsh departs BA in October. Then perhaps there will be a settlement.
After a series of bitter national strikes, industrial relations were only normalised at the Royal Mail after its CEO Adam Crozier left for ITN.
Walsh departs BA in October. Then perhaps there will be a settlement.
It was NOT a "reasonable" offer, that is why it has been rejected. Why make an offer you know will be rejected?
Duncan , you need to have a maths lesson..... the offer has not been rejected by the majority of BA Cabin Crew
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Welcome to the BASSA members' website
The British Airlines Stewards and Stewardesses Association (BASSA) is a branch of the Transport & General Worker's Union (T&GWU) exclusively for British Airways cabin crew. Our membership currently stands at 9757 which makes us the largest branch of the T&GWU.
BASSA is an active and progressive union, which is entirely staffed by elected representatives, all of whom work as BA cabin crew. We are therefore fully involved in every aspect of cabin crew working life, including rosters and scheduling, pay, hotels, allowances and all working agreements and conditions.
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The above is the welcome note to any prospective new members. I've highlighted the red bit as its just laughable - obviously written by the old scribe DH!! ' An active and progressive union' Whaaaaaaat!! 'We are fully involved in every aspect of CC working lives.!! Thats when they can be bothered to leave their £100/day office. Surely someone could easily sue them under the trades description act
The British Airlines Stewards and Stewardesses Association (BASSA) is a branch of the Transport & General Worker's Union (T&GWU) exclusively for British Airways cabin crew. Our membership currently stands at 9757 which makes us the largest branch of the T&GWU.
BASSA is an active and progressive union, which is entirely staffed by elected representatives, all of whom work as BA cabin crew. We are therefore fully involved in every aspect of cabin crew working life, including rosters and scheduling, pay, hotels, allowances and all working agreements and conditions.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The above is the welcome note to any prospective new members. I've highlighted the red bit as its just laughable - obviously written by the old scribe DH!! ' An active and progressive union' Whaaaaaaat!! 'We are fully involved in every aspect of CC working lives.!! Thats when they can be bothered to leave their £100/day office. Surely someone could easily sue them under the trades description act
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Duggie
It was NOT a "reasonable" offer, that is why it has been rejected. Why make an offer you know will be rejected? It just goes to show how out of touch Walsh is with his employees and the fact he is not serious about ending this dispute
That's why there are further VCC's to be trained..because many staff are angry at your ill conceived stance. Staff that have NOT had pay rises for three years, though adapted to significant change in working practises, and certainly do NOT have guarantees . Furthermore, we absolutely refuse to let a minority of la la land die hards hold the company to ransom.
My (our) patience has exhausted.
You will not win. That's a guarantee.
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BASSA is an active and progressive union, which is entirely staffed by elected representatives, all of whom work as BA cabin crew.
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oh, and Duggie
Walsh departs BA in October. Then perhaps there will be a settlement.
The Board back Mr Walsh.
If the above is still incoherent, please advise and I'll try again.
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The explanation why so many groundstaff have volunteered to be VCC, is they think that this is a bypass of the system to become full time cabin crew, rather than any loyalty to British Airways.
Most groundstaff are envious of the cabin crew and very few crew ever leave flying to work on the ground, unless it is for medical reasons.
Most groundstaff are envious of the cabin crew and very few crew ever leave flying to work on the ground, unless it is for medical reasons.
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In theory he is off late in 2010 to become CEO of IAG, hence technically Duggie is correct. Though he is twisting the fact to suit his argument!
Last edited by ranger07; 20th Jul 2010 at 14:38.
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The only reason that I, as a fully licencsed BA aircraft engineer, would want to become cabin crew would be to get a pay rise. Otherwise that last sentence had me laughing my a##e off.
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Duggie Fashion
BA urged the union to accept the offer, arguing that the low turnout meant Unite had "lost the moral authority" to represent the views of staff.
"We are encouraged by the result of this ballot which shows that 73% of our cabin crew did not reject our offer," the airline said.
"With only around a quarter of our cabin crew voting against the deal, support for Unite is ebbing away.
"We would urge them to come back to the table to sign the agreement and end the dispute."
"We are encouraged by the result of this ballot which shows that 73% of our cabin crew did not reject our offer," the airline said.
"With only around a quarter of our cabin crew voting against the deal, support for Unite is ebbing away.
"We would urge them to come back to the table to sign the agreement and end the dispute."
Cabin Crew Reject BA's Final Offer: Unite Reveals Ballot Result That Raises Threat Of More Strikes | Business | Sky News