BA STRIKE BACK ON. Injunction Reversed.

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  • Anonymous
    Guest

    VintageKrug
    Participant

    The Grand Old Duke of York would even be jealous of this result.

    Strike back on from Monday……

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/10130274.stm


    MartynSinclair
    Participant

    Dear All, especially VK and the Grand Old Duke of York!!

    The strike is off – the strike is on – Quie frankly, it appears nothing more than a game off “face” to most of you.

    Walking through T5 yesterday, the hub of BA, it was flatter than a pancake. Empty, lacking buzz, lacking income and most of all lacking any resemblence of an international business centre of connection.

    This whole episode of wanting a long term solution is so not going to work – quite simply, by the time a solution is found, we will all be dead, retired or moved on.

    I am quite happy with a short term solution so that i can travel effectively, to earn a living and put food on my table. To have to run a business, based on whether a strike is on or off, whether ash cloud is a danger or not, to see whether management and unions can play together, is quite simply shambolic.

    For goodness sake, this is 2010 – there are enough problems in this world without the likes of the idiots in Unite/Bassa and the arrogance of Willy Walsh in battling things out together.

    Why on earth wont the 2 sides sit down and thrash out a deal. VK I dont want to hear how long this battle has been going on and how without a new compnay BA will go down the pan. For goodness sake, will the 2 protaganists jsut look at the effects this dispute is having on so many lives.

    Just take a step back, sit down and for G-ds sake T A L K to each other. VK / GEO / Nigel at least support a solution and stop fuelling the fire.

    I like so many people out there, jsut want to be able to work and earn a living!


    VintageKrug
    Participant

    David Cumming, head of UK equities at Standard Life Investments, which owns about 7% of BA’s shares, told the BBC’s Today programme on Monday that the union was “clearly a malevolent force”.

    I am sorry MartynSinclair, but you obviously just don’t get that giving in now would not be any sort of short term solution; it would open up BA to further action at any time, would not address the cost structure issues, which would lead to a slow and steady decline in profitability, and would most importantly give Unite/BASSA a green light to inflict further strife across the broader UK transport industry at a time when this country can least afford disruption.

    Unite has already conceded that most of the issues have been addressed, and wants a settlement. BASSA is now the sticking point, not BA or Unite.

    You turn if you want to, VK’s not for turning.


    MartynSinclair
    Participant

    VK – for once just step bak fromn the grand old throne you sit on!

    I am not suggesting ‘giving up’ – I am suggesting a solution – there is a BIG BIG difference.

    You are clearly an educated man in the principles of theory of economics and economic principles. But what you lack is a clear understanding of the social effects of your economic principles and the devasting effects it has on busienss that rely on being able to travel. This is not a game – this is real life with real consequences. Lets get over the next few years and get a short term fix, prior to the long term solution.

    You are 100% right in that the country can not afford further strife….WE AGREE, thank G-D!

    It time for Walsh to go and bring in a team that knows how to manage effectively, proactively and how to deal with a union hell bent on running its own agenda, The skill needed is communication, not dictatorship. Before you say this is a mixed message, its a solution in how to deal with the union, becasue the way Walsh is dealing at the moment is simply not working and it is effecting a wide circle of people and industries.


    VintageKrug
    Participant

    I think we just have to agree to disagree on this one…

    BA has held the door open for negotiation, and has conceded on many many points already. Any further concession (for instance re-instating crew who have bullied and intimidated other cabin crew, and been fired in a Unite-approved process) would be unacceptable.

    I agree compromise is good, and BA Managemt has demonstrated that it is able come to a mutually satifactory agreement in its negotiations with other elements of the workforce.

    But to make any further concessions having held the door open for nearly a year, and ensured two illegal and highly personal strikes would not be a good idea. At all.

    This cancer needs to be cut out of BA before it spreads more widely within the organisation, and throughout the rest of UK plc.


    Travellator
    Participant

    YESTERDAYS STORY

    Flight to Southern Spain – Club Europe.

    We knew in advance it would be Euro Atlantic but with Business Class.

    Checked this twice in Galleries Lounge T3 – Yes business class.

    We were called late so on second bus to aircraft, when on board greeted as free seating !

    So instead of 2 seats side by side at the pointy end we ended up as the middle two in a row of four ! Row 10

    Pre flight safety announcement in broken unintelligable english.

    Shortly after take off and shortly before landing people were moving around the aircraft unckecked.

    In flight food was most certainly Euro Traveller.

    If I had known this I would have flown Easy, Monarch or even O ‘Leary !

    I had no choice cos flight not cancelled !

    So I now get refund – meant to be offered at check in – so what will I get the difference between full fare Economy and budget Club – maybe £ 50 each – poor compensation.

    I have been treated dreadfully by BA – OK I got there but not in the style I paid good money for months ago.

    WW – new strikes next week – so I am in the luxurious hands of Titan airways !

    Lock yourselves in a room guys and stop using the travelling public as your hostages – both of you.

    By the way Unite you now have the upper hand – bank holiday and world cup approaching – put the knife in Willies back or are you shooting yourself in the foot !

    Seriously pissed off – primary school children act more responsibly !


    NTarrant
    Participant

    Travellator – I have flown Titan Airways on a number of occasions when BA had problems when they operated out of Southampton. I have also done a NCL-LHR sector which was a replacement for a BA service.

    I have to say that the service they gave was very good, the crew were to the standard of BA. That was a few years ago and only on domestic. But I hope that it might give an idea.


    MarcusUK
    Participant

    I agree Martyn.

    Times Article – http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article7131762.ece

    Whatever our sides or perceptions in this matter, objectively, this is a Company & a Senior Management team, that has lost the confidence of it’s employees. In such a service industry, it critical that the feel of the people at the end of the service delivery, the staff connecting with passengers, is positive.
    The PR has been catastrophic for BA worldwide. Large Companies, Consolidators,Business& leisure travellers, Insurers stating they won’t cover proposed strikes, are avoiding BA. They have a reputation for poor management, unreliability, & are hardly admired for allowing the situation of conflict within. Other Airline staff cannot believe their Companies would ever reach this derisory level.

    ANY organisation that reaches this pathetic level of relations between so called “Teams”, has failed. Anyone with sense, & basic business skills, would remove Walsh. Certainly in my field i have removed Directors & senior managers when situations are simply about individuals that will not compromise, lack communication & remain stubborn with an autocratic style of management. It is outdated for contemporary Business, & in the current economic crisis…double dipping with Europe in crisis, people need to work together, as teams, give their all & get support in Business, not divide within.

    The only way forward is for Walsh to be removed, & have someone start again with the staff – this “Company” is in dire straits, & will also announce tomrw huge losses again.
    Every Airline in The World has & is facing exactly the same situation. Yet not one of them in this state as B A. The poison within the Company between staff groups is toxic.

    It is pathetic & missing the point, for BA to be so desperate as to find legal technicalities again, and offer no capability to address the substance of the issue .It is avoidance, & shameful.
    There was no technicality, the most senior Judges in the Appeal Court found.
    With the downward spiral of BA in every aspect of an Airline or Business, it really would be better to close down the Company. It will no longer be viable in the coming months.

    Walsh should be dismissed. He has failed.
    The Board are appearing negligent in allowing the business to degrade itself, & PR is at an all time low for a once respected brand. Either they change the people, or the viability of BA is lost.
    Time is running out, & The City regarding Walsh as a liability for future survival of the Airline.
    Public confidence in the brand has been demolished.
    Worldwide regard for it has dropped, competitors outshine & take their business.

    B A Has become a National & an International Disgrace!


    Travellator
    Participant

    Thanks Ntarrant – OK but NO business class which BA has a contract with me to offer !

    Still think WW and Unite need their heads knocking together !


    NTarrant
    Participant

    Glad to be of help Travellator.

    See we have the usual diatribe from Mark Roberts, almost as bad as Geohoveuk


    MartynSinclair
    Participant

    If Unite took strike action on the basis of 7% of its members supporting a strike the spears would be sharpened and Unite would be ridiculed.

    So David Cummings of Standard Life (a 7% shareholder of BA) speaks out on the radio that he supports Walsh – so what – lets hear from the other 93% offering similar support for Walsh.

    Walsh should either have the balls to sack the entire Unite membership or step down from his position within BA. The cost to the airline in the short term is immeasurable.


    NTarrant
    Participant

    Given that most shares in big companies like BA are owned by the likes of Standard Life, it is a fair bet that they agree with what WW is doing.

    As a very small portion of the remaining 93% I too support the BA board and WW. What you are suggesting Martyn that he sack the entire Unite membership is just plane (pardon the pun) silly, that is illegal in itself and Unite would defend every case. WW standing down is not an option either, he is soing what the board have discussed and support, effectively if WW doesn’t do it then someone else would and then you would be saying they should stand down.

    If Unite are serious about ending this dispute they will call off the planned strikes and get around the table. I doubt anyone will take Unite seriously until they can show they are mature enough to stop damaging the airline anymore.


    MartynSinclair
    Participant

    the point i was trying to make, albeit incorrectly, was that Walsh should do more than just sit there doing sweet FA, either burying his head in the sand and hoping the problem will go away or thinking he is on a throne and all around him should bow and scrape.

    The fact a 7% shareholder (who is also a 9.75% shareholder of Easyjet) comes out and supports Walsh is insignifcant because had Unite gone on strike based on 7% support that would have been laughed at.

    I am not a supporter of Unite – but am a supporter of British Industry. In the big wide world of finance, Britain is beginning to look like a thrid world country in terms of this dispute. I hear all the talk about how Unite are bringing the airline down ya di ya (booooooring)………and quite frankly, I hope they bring themselves down. However, the hard facts are that BA ARE ON STRIKE AGAIN and for 5 days.

    If the board of directors cant resolve this dispute OR they are resolving it by just sitting still and freezing Unite out – they are being irresponsible.

    As I keep on saying this is not a game – a solution is needed NOW that will keep the airline afloat for the short term. In 5 years time, the worlds economy will again change and G-D forbid another “911” or financial collapse occurs – it could undermine and undo the long term solution that you are all hoping will happen.

    The sad fact is that parts of British Industry wont suffer, becasue the purchase invoices (for tickets) will just go to overseas carriers.

    Its stupid, its shambolic and its a totally irresponsible way to run a business.

    Walsh should resign and bring in fresh management with a resolve to solve the issues by business skills not by arrogance!


    MartynSinclair
    Participant

    Geo – I do not agree with the strike one bit. Neither do i take Unite as a serious entity.

    I do not accept that that the board of BA should hold by their arragant attitude of we will get it right eventually. They have had 2 years and too many strikes within those 2 years. They have failed. We agree that Walsh should go, but please do not consider i am in any way a supporter of Unite.

    I support a different route to a solution.

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