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Title: british airways strike Post by: sonicyouth on Monday, December 14, 2009, 16:21:17 anyone else flying with BA over xmas?
Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: nevillew on Monday, December 14, 2009, 16:21:44 It would seem that very few will be.
Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: sonicyouth on Monday, December 14, 2009, 16:22:55 very true, perhaps i should rephrase it to say "anyone else clinging on to a vague hope of flying somewhere with BA over xmas?" or "anyone else planning to take a sleeping bag to heathrow over xmas?"
Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: Bob's Orange on Monday, December 14, 2009, 16:29:59 I have 2 flights booked. Lux to Gatwick this coming Friday, then back on Sunday 27th December for a day and a half work (I didn't have enough hols) and then the plan is to fly BA from Lux to Edinburgh via Gatwick on the 30th December, flying back to Lux on 3rd Jan.
Perfect scenario for me would be unable to return to Lux and then I can go to the Yeovil game on the 27th. Drive up to Edinburgh and then fly back to Lux after the strike is over on the 3rd. Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: Batch on Monday, December 14, 2009, 16:32:49 I assume you are Sonic. Or probably aren't. That sucks.
-- BA rant: BA are the most incompetent organisation I have ever had to deal with. The cabin crew/flights are OK but there Customer Service department were even worse than NTL at their peak of incompetence. As a company I would happily do a jig of joy over there corporate grave if they go under. There are of course probably thousands of decent people who would lose there jobs, which isn't so good. Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: sonicyouth on Monday, December 14, 2009, 16:44:18 my girlfriend wants to go home for christmas and see her family for the first time since august. we have a flight booked for the 22nd and returning on the 29th - if our flight back to the UK is delayed/cancelled then that's not a problem, oslo gardermoen isn't far from where her parents live so we're fine.
flights on other airlines are all over £300 from tomorrow until xmas eve. BA won't give us a refund. we can change our flight for £120 which neither of us can afford. i don't know the circumstances so can't really comment on the validity of the strikes but why over christmas? it's going to ruin the holidays for countless people :/ Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: Batch on Monday, December 14, 2009, 16:48:26 i don't know the circumstances so can't really comment on the validity of the strikes but why over christmas? it's going to ruin the holidays for countless people :/ Maximum damage/publicity to try and force BAs hand. Not nice for you given the strikes are set to begin on 22 December and run until 2 January. Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: BANGKOK RED on Monday, December 14, 2009, 16:50:37 Quote British Airways cabin crew have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action in a dispute over job cuts and changes to staff contracts. Are they not aware that there is a recession on? Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: Arriba on Monday, December 14, 2009, 17:03:31 just because there is a recession shouldn't mean they accept being walked all over.good on em i say.
Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: leefer on Monday, December 14, 2009, 17:08:23 Are they not aware that there is a recession on? If big companies had treated there workers fairly and more generously when the many years they made big bucks then workers may take that into account....the do you know theres a recesion on statement is fair enough.....but you never hear the do you know there isnt a recession on argument when these companies are fleecing us and making millions but not rewarding the workers. Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: sonicyouth on Monday, December 14, 2009, 17:11:27 i don't blame them for striking and ordinarily would support them but it doesn't mean i'm any less angry that my christmas could potentially be ruined.
Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: leefer on Monday, December 14, 2009, 17:14:45 Thats true sonic.....my feeling is it wont happen on account that if there is a 12 day strike then British Airways will be a goner...it has to be sorted before then.
Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: jonny72 on Monday, December 14, 2009, 18:16:24 I just don't get what they think they are going to achieve by going on strike. They might get their demands met eventually but at what cost? Just announcing the strikes will have lost BA a lot of business, which means more job cuts and if the strikes go ahead it will be even worse.
The actual workers just let themselves become the pawns in the middle, between their union and the BA management (neither of whom really give a fuck as they aren't going to lose their jobs over it). Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: STFC_Gazza on Monday, December 14, 2009, 18:21:25 Surely no one is going to sympathise with them if they fuck up Christmas for everyone flying at that time. Good way of getting bad publicity and being greedy cunts although I can see they are more likely to get their own way if they strike over an important time of the year as BA will panic.
Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: Iffy's Onion Bhaji on Monday, December 14, 2009, 18:22:13 Bloody hell we're slowly turning into the French. It's sickening.
Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: yeo on Monday, December 14, 2009, 18:26:03 Surely no one is going to sympathise with them if they fuck up Christmas for everyone flying at that time. Good way of getting bad publicity and being greedy cunts although I can see they are more likely to get their own way if they strike over an important time of the year as BA will panic. I sympathise with them,they have to work over Christmas so why should they care about other peoples holidays when their jobs/pay are on the line? you need to take action when its most effective.Off course I do feel sorry for the people effected as well. Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: Barry Scott on Monday, December 14, 2009, 18:36:22 Exactly, it's a fucker for the holiday makers, but that's why they're doing it, to hit them where it hurts. My Dad used to work for BA and his wife is cabin crew, so she'll likely be striking i imagine. Having spoke with them about it last time, after the Open Skies contracts debacle, i've no doubt they'll talk of BA with the same contempt again. They treat their staff like shit.
Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: Talk Talk on Monday, December 14, 2009, 19:54:48 I'm sure that all of those hard done by employees will feel truly happy when BA goes tits up (as the government hasn't got fuck all money to bail them out ever again) and they all lose their jobs. Wanky ex-public sector mentality.
It will serve them right. Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: jonny72 on Monday, December 14, 2009, 20:05:06 They treat their staff like shit. So why don't they just go and work for someone else? Its not like they're slaves or tied in on contract. I just don't get the mentality of people that don't like their jobs, so they blackmail their employers by striking. Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: Bogus Dave on Monday, December 14, 2009, 20:05:50 Its a bit fucking hard for them to get a job at the moment
Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: jonny72 on Monday, December 14, 2009, 20:08:20 Its a bit fucking hard for them to get a job at the moment Then shouldn't they be grateful they've got a job? Plenty of people out of work would be happy to take their place. Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: Talk Talk on Monday, December 14, 2009, 20:11:41 Its a bit fucking hard for them to get a job at the moment Well lookee at the airlines that are doing well, like EasyJet and Ryanair. I am sure they have vacancies as their routes are always expanding. I bet their staff costs are lower than BA and that's one of the reasons they are successful companies. Would BA cabin crew go to one of them? Nah - they love overmanning and overpay. Wankers. BA is a dinosaur. Time to die. Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: Barry Scott on Monday, December 14, 2009, 20:37:20 So why don't they just go and work for someone else? Its not like they're slaves or tied in on contract. I just don't get the mentality of people that don't like their jobs, so they blackmail their employers by striking. jonny, that's just a silly thing to say. The vast majority of people hate their jobs and working within that industry isn't like working in a call centre. You don't just walk out and get a similar job elsewhere. Also, have you even considered how hard it is to get a job with BA? Thousands of applicants apply for positions in BA. Just because they get treated like shit, doesn't mean you quit your job to then try an get a job with a competing company (which barely even compares with BA) and fight with thousands of others for a tiny number of positions... I'd also like to add, both my Dad and his Wife LOVED working for BA, but that doesn't mean BA are not complete cunts. When my Dad retired (after 21 years with BA) he was in essence shown the door and given a £200 gift voucher for something he got for free anyway. Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: Talk Talk on Monday, December 14, 2009, 20:47:41 Compare BA to Virgin Atlantic. From Wikipedia:
Quote Slogans Over the years, Virgin has used many slogans, including: * "Mine's Bigger Than Yours" Written on the back of the Airbus A340-600s because they are the longest passenger aircraft in the world[35] (but the title of the longest passenger aircraft will be claimed by the Boeing 747-8 when it officially enters passenger service in 2011). * "4 Engines 4 Longhaul" Originally an Airbus slogan when newer versions of the A340 were built until Virgin inherited the slogan. The slogan was written on the engines of the planes, because all Virgin's planes at the time had four engines as opposed to BA's long haul twin-jet Boeing 777s and Boeing 767s. The slogan was removed in 2006 because it "had run its course and it was time to move on"—Virgin would later order Boeing 787 twin-jet aircraft in 2007, as well as the Airbus A330-300, another twinjet, in 2009. * "No Way BA/AA" Used in the late 1990s on several 747-400s to express Branson's displeasure with the proposed British Airways/American Airlines partnership. BA/AA combined held 100% market share on several US-UK routes (e.g. Dallas-Fort Worth to London), and a market share of more than 50% in several more (e.g. Chicago to London, JFK to London). The slogan was brought back starting in September 2008 after merger talks between British Airways, Iberia Airlines and American Airlines began.[36] * "Still Red Hot For 25 Years" 25th anniversary slogan for 2009. Others Include: "More experience than the name suggests," "Virgin, seeks travel companion(s)," "Love at first flight," "You never forget your first time," "Extra inches where it counts," "Fly a younger fleet," "One call does it all," "Hello gorgeous", "We're better by four" and, in a campaign featuring Austin Powers, "There's only one Virgin on this T-shirt (or bus, etc.) baby," and "Twice a day to London" in which Austin Powers is seen riding on the fuselage of a Virgin Atlantic 747. During that time G-VTOP was temporarily named "Austin Powered". On that alone, BA don't deserve to still be in business. BA = boring Virgin = sex If BA do go bust (hopefully), Virgin will clean up and fair play. Ever seen a strike at a Virgin company? Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: Hammer on Monday, December 14, 2009, 21:04:06 I cannot really see this strike taking off, despite the re-emergence of flying pickets.
Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: Talk Talk on Monday, December 14, 2009, 21:08:48 I cannot really see this strike taking off, despite the re-emergence of flying pickets. "Only You" at No.1 again, 26 years later? Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: jonny72 on Monday, December 14, 2009, 21:11:49 jonny, that's just a silly thing to say. The vast majority of people hate their jobs and working within that industry isn't like working in a call centre. You don't just walk out and get a similar job elsewhere. Also, have you even considered how hard it is to get a job with BA? Thousands of applicants apply for positions in BA. Just because they get treated like shit, doesn't mean you quit your job to then try an get a job with a competing company (which barely even compares with BA) and fight with thousands of others for a tiny number of positions... I'd also like to add, both my Dad and his Wife LOVED working for BA, but that doesn't mean BA are not complete cunts. When my Dad retired (after 21 years with BA) he was in essence shown the door and given a £200 gift voucher for something he got for free anyway. That doesn't make sense. If it is so shit working at BA, why do so many people want to work there?, why is it so hard to get a job there (due to the competition for the jobs)? and why do people not want to leave their jobs? The union tried to block the changes via the courts and failed, so now they turn to strike action to force the issue. Scheduling the strikes for christmas is just pathetic and shows the true motivation - to cause BA as much trouble as possible and force them in to complying with the union demands. Which in my book is blackmail. But as I said before, the dumbest thing is that this is just going to cost BA even more money which means even more redundancies and even lower salaries in the future. Pretty bloody stupid if you ask me. The staff that keep their jobs will be ok and have better working conditions, but what about all of those that lose their jobs? Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: Talk Talk on Monday, December 14, 2009, 21:17:45 "Only You" at No.1 again, 26 years later? PS so apt - it was a Christmas No 1. :D Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: leefer on Monday, December 14, 2009, 21:19:57 Jonny this company had many good years...instead of looking after there staff they chose not to.
Many companies are using the recession as a tool to beat the workers...its no coincidence that the companies who treated there workers well during the good years will get loyalty from the workers when tougher times arrive... Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: Talk Talk on Monday, December 14, 2009, 21:36:28 That's a rubbish argument Leefer.
You go to work to earn your salary and any other benefits that you derive from it. That's it. There is no loyalty. The company you work for pays you your wages. That is the deal. It is the contract that you have made with them. This isn't about 'beating the workers'. This is about: Quote BA's chief executive Willie Walsh has said changes at the airline, which analysts believe is losing 1.5 million pounds a day, are essential to help repair its precarious finances. The company last month reported a first-half pretax loss of 292 million pounds, and is expected to report a loss of 601.2 million pounds for the full year, according to a Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S poll of 19 analysts. BA is fucked. The poor hard done by employees can moan as much as they want but they are part of the problem. End of story. Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: Dazzza on Monday, December 14, 2009, 22:09:16 Interesting to see Slimes reporting that BA cabin crew are on an average salary of £29k compared to Virgin with an average of just £14k by comparison.
I do feel for them in their situation reducing crew numbers on flights and redundancies are not something to sit down and take lightly. Just a fucker that ordinary folk are going to feel the effects. I have to say though BA crew are not a patch on Virgin. They’re certainly better than others I’ve flown with but on the whole they’re not the greatest. Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: sonicyouth on Monday, December 14, 2009, 22:35:56 flying out on the 20th now thanks to rich parents-in-law.
hope it gets sorted but sadly think it'll just make everyhing worse - the public won't support the strikes and BA won't cave. Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: Barry Scott on Monday, December 14, 2009, 22:36:19 That doesn't make sense. If it is so shit working at BA, why do so many people want to work there?, why is it so hard to get a job there (due to the competition for the jobs)? and why do people not want to leave their jobs? jonny, it makes perfect sense. I know you enjoy being pedantic for the sake of it, but surely it's not that hard to work out?! :) Firstly, you know as well as the next man, that you can enjoy your job, but hate the people or the company you work for. Secondly, seeing as it obviously needs to be said, BA pay the highest wages in the industry and the perks are also by far and away the best. Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: Talk Talk on Monday, December 14, 2009, 22:45:46 Secondly, seeing as it obviously needs to be said, BA pay the highest wages in the industry and the perks are also by far and away the best. And that is obviously unsustainable. Duh. Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: Barry Scott on Monday, December 14, 2009, 22:48:19 And that is obviously unsustainable. Duh. Evidently. But they wrote the contracts. Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: jonny72 on Monday, December 14, 2009, 22:56:33 Secondly, seeing as it obviously needs to be said, BA pay the highest wages in the industry and the perks are also by far and away the best. I really don't get it. You said BA are "complete cunts" then that they pay the highest wages and give the best perks, how does that work? To be honest, I really don't give a fuck either way as the strike won't affect me. I just don't see the point in striking and feel sorry for the actual workers who will ultimately pay the price for it as it will eventually result in lower pay, worse conditions and more job losses. Or do you think the strike will actually improve profitability at BA? Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: SwindonTartanArmy on Monday, December 14, 2009, 22:57:34 No sympathy for the cunts. BA cabin crew are paid a fucking fortune compared to other airlines. And at this time where people are getting laid off left right and centre they should be fucking grateful for their jobs and the fact that BA arent making shed loads of redundancies.
And Yes, I do have flights booked during the strike period. And yes, both my parents worked for BA as flight/cabin crew Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: SwindonTartanArmy on Monday, December 14, 2009, 22:59:21 Anyway I would rather have a job with less money than no job at all. This strike, if it goes ahead will only make the problem alot worse and make the situation alot worse for the poepl who are actually striking.
Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: ron dodgers on Tuesday, December 15, 2009, 01:33:32 management scum will cave in - the workers will triumph
Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: Crozzer on Tuesday, December 15, 2009, 01:58:00 Everybody loses; lower market share, poorer profitability and eventually a smaller workforce. Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: DMR on Tuesday, December 15, 2009, 02:53:03 Don't see how you can all claim BA staff get shit on seeing as they earn millions more than the equivalent jobs with any other mainstream airline.
Fuck em, hope they all lose their jobs... at least hold off striking till NY or get it over with now and not ruin thousands of peoples Xmas holidays. Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: SwindonTartanArmy on Tuesday, December 15, 2009, 08:55:21 Don't see how you can all claim BA staff get shit on seeing as they earn millions more than the equivalent jobs with any other mainstream airline. indeed. They will only make matters alot worse by pissing off the paying customers at an important time of year.Fuck em, hope they all lose their jobs... at least hold off striking till NY or get it over with now and not ruin thousands of peoples Xmas holidays. The posties didnt get much sympathy when it looked like affecting the xmas post. the Cabin crew will get the square root of fuck all sympathy if they do strike. Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: Colin Todd on Tuesday, December 15, 2009, 15:49:07 That's a rubbish argument Leefer. You go to work to earn your salary and any other benefits that you derive from it. That's it. There is no loyalty. The company you work for pays you your wages. That is the deal. It is the contract that you have made with them. This isn't about 'beating the workers'. This is about: BA is fucked. The poor hard done by employees can moan as much as they want but they are part of the problem. End of story. Yep. And they have a pension deficit worth Billions. What the unions dont seem to get is that there is a strong possibility that BA could go bust and that the working practices and salaries that the union demand are part of the problem. If BA go bust obviously that means no jobs, at best a severely reduced pension fund for them with potentially tens of thousands of connected jobs in suppliers etc to go as well. Its so shortsighted its beyond belief. The reason staff dont leave BA is because its cushy as fuck compared to all other uk airlines it seems. Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: leefer on Tuesday, December 15, 2009, 16:08:01 Yep. And they have a pension deficit worth Billions. What the unions dont seem to get is that there is a strong possibility that BA could go bust and that the working practices and salaries that the union demand are part of the problem. If BA go bust obviously that means no jobs, at best a severely reduced pension fund for them with potentially tens of thousands of connected jobs in suppliers etc to go as well. Its so shortsighted its beyond belief. The reason staff dont leave BA is because its cushy as fuck compared to all other uk airlines it seems. You really want to look at the facts before spouting off....so what if its cushy..if you r happy to have a job that isnt carry on.....the fact is 94% of cabin crew voted to strike over Xmas tells you how bad they feel...last week 3 planes from America to the UK only had two cabin crew for 280 passengers...if you get your facts right they arnt striking over money...in fact the pilots have just took a 3% pay cut and cabin crew offered to do the same as long as other aspects ie working hours and pensions were honoured......the reason so many people are whinging is because BA are fully booked because cabin crew with BA are the best compared to cheaper options...too many companies are using the recesion to streamline....at the workers expense, The head of BA earns 800,000 per year and still collected his 200,000 bonus....its people like you groveling to management and bosses that ensures things dont change....saying that if your boss took a massive bonus while you took a paycut your outlook may differ. Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: Simon Pieman on Tuesday, December 15, 2009, 16:22:48 I bet 94% just fancied a bit of time off over Christmas.
Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: Colin Todd on Tuesday, December 15, 2009, 16:57:10 You really want to look at the facts before spouting off....so what if its cushy..if you r happy to have a job that isnt carry on.....the fact is 94% of cabin crew voted to strike over Xmas tells you how bad they feel...last week 3 planes from America to the UK only had two cabin crew for 280 passengers...if you get your facts right they arnt striking over money...in fact the pilots have just took a 3% pay cut and cabin crew offered to do the same as long as other aspects ie working hours and pensions were honoured......the reason so many people are whinging is because BA are fully booked because cabin crew with BA are the best compared to cheaper options...too many companies are using the recesion to streamline....at the workers expense, The head of BA earns 800,000 per year and still collected his 200,000 bonus....its people like you groveling to management and bosses that ensures things dont change....saying that if your boss took a massive bonus while you took a paycut your outlook may differ. The company is on course for a loss of ALMOST A BILLION POUNDS for their financial year. Whats more palatable? Everyone take worse working conditions or tens of thousands losing their jobs and pensions. Fucking think about it you thick cunt. Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: thepeoplesgame on Tuesday, December 15, 2009, 17:20:07 The company is on course for a loss of ALMOST A BILLION POUNDS for their financial year. Whats more palatable? Everyone take worse working conditions or tens of thousands losing their jobs and pensions. Fucking think about it you thick cunt. What changes have been made to Willie Walsh's pay and conditions? Genuine question, I know fuck all about the details of this strike. Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: Batch on Tuesday, December 15, 2009, 17:45:38 the fact is 94% of cabin crew voted to strike over Xmas tells you how bad they feel... Not according to one of the cabin crew on BBC news this morning. He said he voted for industrial action, but that no date was specified. The union had the say on when to hold the strikes. Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: leefer on Tuesday, December 15, 2009, 18:00:19 The company is on course for a loss of ALMOST A BILLION POUNDS for their financial year. Whats more palatable? Everyone take worse working conditions or tens of thousands losing their jobs and pensions. Fucking think about it you thick cunt. In my job everything is better palatable...it makes unloading alot easier...i posted some tosh towards you Toddy but on reflection ive deleted it....theres people dying and ill and really swearing and getting wound up over something so trivial(to me) is abit sad....so apologies...but i am right! Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: BANGKOK RED on Tuesday, December 15, 2009, 18:18:09 Was it 94% of cabin crew or 94% of cabin crew who are in the union?
Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: axs on Tuesday, December 15, 2009, 18:19:26 Was it 94% of cabin crew or 94% of cabin crew who are in the union? Or 94% of cabin crew who are in the union and who voted. Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: Batch on Tuesday, December 15, 2009, 18:37:26 Or 94% of cabin crew who are in the union and who voted. At Heathrow. Apparently Gatwick staff underwent contract changes a couple of years ago Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: BANGKOK RED on Tuesday, December 15, 2009, 18:52:37 Quote Approximately 13,500 Cabin Crew work for British Airways http://www.britishairwaysjobs.com/baweb1/?newms=info42 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Quote Turnout 10,288 In Favour 9,514 (92.49%) Against 772 (7.51%) Spoiled Papers 2 http://uniteba.com/BALLOTRESULT.html ------------------------------------------------------------------ So 75 % are union members, seems high to me. Maybe I have got it wrong somewhere. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Quote A BA letter delivered this morning, which forms the basis for the injunction and a potential compensation claim, centres on the balloting of cabin crew who have accepted voluntary redundancy. About 1,000 cabin crew have accepted payoffs in recent months, but may have filled in ballot forms while they were awaiting BA's response to their redundancy applications. http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/dec/15/british-airways-strike-legal-action So 10% of those who voted have already accepted a payoff? ---------------------------------------------------------------- Don't know what I'm talking about really, just fishing about cos' it's something to do. But I don't think it's a plane as it's made out to be (do you see what I did there?) Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: ron dodgers on Wednesday, December 16, 2009, 20:56:03 Maybe the airline should have invested in it's workers when times were good instead of pissing it up the clacker of the shareholders and executives
worker power - it's back Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: Simon Pieman on Wednesday, December 16, 2009, 21:00:55 How does this affect yeo?
Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: Ginginho on Wednesday, December 16, 2009, 21:35:41 B.A. official statement - "I ain't gettin' on no plane fool!"
Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: jonny72 on Wednesday, December 16, 2009, 21:50:01 worker power - it's back Really? When did that last work out? Probably a 100 years ago. It didn't do the miners much good did it. Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: axs on Wednesday, December 16, 2009, 21:57:50 Maybe the airline should have invested in it's workers when times were good instead of pissing it up the clacker of the shareholders and executives worker power - it's back what makes you think they didn't? It's become apparent they are paid well over industry odds. Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: Talk Talk on Wednesday, December 16, 2009, 22:24:33 worker power - it's back Worker power = redundancy power. Top job, carry on. Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: stfctownenda on Thursday, December 17, 2009, 15:49:23 Strike illegal due to balloting workers that were already leaving on whether they wanted to strike:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8418805.stm Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: SwindonTartanArmy on Thursday, December 17, 2009, 16:19:58 Strike illegal due to balloting workers that were already leaving on whether they wanted to strike: Great! I'll send you a postcard heid!http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8418805.stm Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: RobertT on Thursday, December 17, 2009, 17:08:57 The way BA are heading the best these employees can hope for is that the merged company with American Airlines in about 3-4 years doesn't fancy chopping thousands more jobs due to duplicated schedules and efficiencies through being 1 company - that's the best this one is going to end up. As Alan said, BA is in real trouble, losing money, losing business, paying stupid money to keep hold of Heathrow landing slots they can no longer fill anyway, trying to fund an ever increasing Pension defecit and hampered by years of over paying to it's staff. Top that off by having a pretty contemptable bunch running the show and workers used to years of having it easy, it's a recipe for melt down. The fact it's Unite they are dealing with just made this a PR disaster for all concerned. Unite, an ironic name for a merged Union that still has 2 leaders because they can't agree who should run the show (Oh, and their salary and benefits in kind is pretty hefty as well, so much for Unions representing those in need of help!).
Still, the end result could be companies like Virgin, Qantas etc taking over their schedules and providing us all with better service anyway. They'll need to increase staff to manage this, so the BA redundant employees can apply for jobs on lower pays but in companies they may be happy working for. The strange thing for the UK is, we only really have BA in a complete mess of the big carriers - compare that to the US where Southwest are pretty much the only success story in the past 20 years. Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: genf_stfc on Thursday, December 17, 2009, 21:15:06 i think the union leaders all have one eye on the fact that the labour leadership will be up for grabs very soon, and won't be settled finally before the election afterthis one. they are all manoeuvering to up their militant credentials a bit for their CVs. it worked out OK for alan johnson last time around. all the workers think they will get something out of it, and in the short term they might, but then there is a good chance the companies they've stitched up will go bust further down the line. and the customers that have paid a months wages on products they won't get with no recourse for a refund will have exactly fuck all sympathy for them
Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: Talk Talk on Thursday, December 17, 2009, 21:16:32 I lost my patience with BA and gave up on them when after the Paris Air France Concorde crash they decided to only fit five of the seven fleet with Kevlar fuel tank liners. This meant that they could only do one round trip from Heathrow to JFK a day and it effectively killed the Concorde business market. The guys and gals with megabucks wanted to come back the same day.
Air France Concordes were always light on traffic, for them it was just super models, designers and wealthy tourists. BA had the investment bankers and other city types. The ones with serious money. I know that there were only so many years left in that superb aeroplane, probably another five or so, but it really did give BA an edge and reflected well on the rest of their more mundane operations. They became just another carrier afterwards and overpriced at that. When the Concorde scale model was removed from the roundabout at the entrance to Heathrow the magic died and the company followed. Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: genf_stfc on Thursday, December 17, 2009, 21:20:30 the concorde thing is interesting, apparently they suffered really badly on septemebr 11th becasue ~30% of their regular travellers were in the twin towers at the time
Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: BANGKOK RED on Thursday, December 17, 2009, 21:36:01 the concorde thing is interesting, apparently they suffered really badly on septemebr 11th becasue ~30% of their regular travellers were in the twin towers at the time I find that a tad hard to believe. Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: Talk Talk on Thursday, December 17, 2009, 21:40:54 the concorde thing is interesting, apparently they suffered really badly on septemebr 11th becasue ~30% of their regular travellers were in the twin towers at the time Likewise, BR. Sauce, Genf? Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: pumbaa on Friday, December 18, 2009, 20:53:23 BA do take the piss though. Used to fly to Atlanta on business Club Class three times a year. Return ticket = 4500 quid as opposed to Economy at 450 quid. Was always full too, much to my surprise. How on earth anyone can justify that price tag, even several years ago, is beyond me.
Title: Re: british airways strike Post by: genf_stfc on Sunday, December 20, 2009, 13:44:21 Likewise, BR. Sauce, Genf? i think it was on that channel 4 thing about 911 a couple of months ago. or on the concorde thing a few months before that. surprised me too, but they did apparently have a small number of travellers that used concorde once a week, apparently - they must have been loaded -and the business largely depended on that constant income. |