[VintageKrug]

It would be interesting for Tete to set out how the most recent ballot result of 5,811 out of about 13,600 cabin crew (BA has been busy hiring Mixed Fleet people since the previous ballot!) can be interpreted as anything other than 43% of all cabin crew – a minority in anyone’s book.

[Alasdair]

There will always be scabin crew, or shall I say cowards who are all too willing to extract the benefits of union membership including their agreed salary and terms & conditions and not support their elected representative body. But I, like many on here and all over the country don’t see the need for strikes… Instead balanced negotiation. If this fails which it has historically then so be it.

Voting union membership essentially represents LGW and LHR the former not particularly motivated or affected by the 10 points of this dispute hence refraining from voting (or indeed yes/no). This is not to mention the population of new fleet not represented unite.

Basically, 6000 yes votes represent a huge vocal portion of this eligible work group. Indeed, it’s an enormous group of disgruntled workers and it is pleasing that BA are now jn sustained dialogue with the elected cabin crew representative union body.

The cabin crew department have apparently achieved their cost savings already with the introduction of new fleet etc.. Surely the way forward is clear and should be harmonious?

When we talk of other BA departments making sacrifices let’s not forget it was a rather lowly 67% of BALPA members which agreed to their new pay deal. This was applauded by BA at the time. Say no more.

[Hippocampus]

Alasdair

There is an irony in your post in that you say 6,000 yes votes represents a sign of disgruntlement amongst cabin crew. Yet at the same time you chastise those who did not vote yes for not following the union line. Are they not entitled to think for themselves

So which is it? Are the yes votes individual expressions or blind adherence to the union line?

[Alasdair]

Clearly, the individual makes his or her choice to join a union and be represented by them. Therefore the yes votes are indeed individual expressions… Which happens to have been shared by 6000 people, most of whom are LHR based.

If you do not wish to be represented by a union and what it has negotiated previously then (according to Krug) there is a perfectly fine alternative contract to sign. Which I might add doesn’t seem too popular amongst the cabin crew population.

[VintageKrug]

It was actually very popular, though I’m not sure it’s currently available:

http://uniteba.com/ESW/Files/151010_Revised_Offer_Collectivev6.doc

[VintageKrug]

Duncan Holley, BASSA Brach Secretary, has lost his Employment Tribunal.

He also isn’t blogging as much as he used to….hopefully this is a sign of Unite gradually taking charge of their maverick Branch and asserting some common sense into the situation.

[Hippocampus]

Another strong month of traffic growth for IAG in March, particularly in the all important premium market, and this is in spite of current economic and political uncertainty.

BASSA’s militancy seems to be barely registering.

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/External.File?item=UGFyZW50SUQ9ODgzNzF8Q2hpbGRJRD0tMXxUeXBlPTM=&t=1

[CallMeIshmael]

“Group premium traffic for the month of March grew by 18.1 per cent compared to
the previous year….. We estimate
that the recovery from strike disruption in March 2010 accounts for roughly half this month’s premium traffic growth.

So for just 3 days strike in March 2010 BA lost over 9% of their premium traffic for the month.. Barely registering??

[Hippocampus]

Indeed. Barely registering. The strikes in March 2010 were the first strikes where the impact amongst the public was an unknown and the company was being very conservative with its schedules (many VCC repeatedly sent home). Plus there was the media attention following the inexcusable “12 Strikes of Christmas”.

Fast forward 12 months. We’ve had two ballot results in the past couple of months, political turmoil in the Middle East and Africa, a disaster in Japan and the company is posting very strong year on year growth in premium traffic.

The supports many anecdotal claims that the public are not particularly troubled by the threat of strikes anymore.

BASSA has exhausted its one and only weapon.

[VintageKrug]

One should also remember that if a significant proportion of those who supported IA are “part timers” on 33% contracts, then the actual number of strike supporters may appear higher than their actual ability to affect the operation is – potentially equivalent to as few as 2,000 supporting a strike.

BASSA has really got itself into a difficult situation; let’s hope Daddy Unite can come to the rescue.

[VintageKrug]

Latest from Holley, it does look to me like BASSA is on the backfoot, and preparing its membership for a climbdown:

——–

BASSA – Latest News BASSA STATEMENT Apr 8th, 2011 by admin

Firstly, please accept our sincere apologies for the lack of updates this week; this was not deliberate but a prudent necessity.

Please be assured that there currently is no need for concern, though concern is of course understandable. Be reassured, things are happening behind the scenes involving your senior BASSA reps and the highest levels of BA management, it is the first time this has happened, it is tentative and exploratory, the fragile first green shoots if you like of a possible peace; it remains a fragile peace, but it is encouraging that there are even signs. There is a long, long way to go, but everything has to start somewhere and we would be irresponsible if we did not at least play our part in allowing this to be given oxygen.

Mr Williams brings with him a different perspective, and we intend to give him the opportunity to solve this dispute if we possibly can.

This will not be at any price.

As cabin crew, we still have ten points of dispute between British Airways and ourselves; these still remain and must be resolved.

Strike action is still very much a tool at our disposal, AND LEN HAS STATED THAT HE WILL NOT HESITATE TO ANNOUNCE STRIKE DATES, IF REQUIRED.

However, as long as there remains a possibility of achieving that without resorting to strike action, then obviously that must be the preferred path.

Every opportunity will be given to British Airways to join us in that aim.

We totally accept that it is extremely frustrating for you not to hear specifics, but please bear with us a little longer, we know what needs to be solved and your reps will be directly involved in trying to do so.

This does not mean that we will be successful in this dialogue and the fact that we have remained fairly silent, communication wise, does not mean strike action has gone away, it has not, far from it, but we hope you will see the sense in exploring every opportunity first.

A cynical view could be that this is just a stalling tactic to delay any action until after the Easter holidays, but we do not believe this to be the motivation, we will accept these approaches as genuine, until proven to be otherwise.

We will update you further after the weekend but for now, enjoy the sunshine and let us do what we do best, look after you.

We haven’t come this far to let you down now.

[Tete_de_cuvee]

Very sad desperate bump of a mendacious thread.

Latest ?? how passé. You are a card VK, this report was posted, on its date of origin two days ago, on the current pertinent thread entitled 83.2% vote for industrial action, a fact reported in March broadsheets and tabloids alike.

[Potakas]

To all those who don’t like the working conditions that BA offers…

Swiss has a Cabin Crew Recruitment event!!!!!

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=197108270328605

Regards

[Bullfrog]

& @ those who don’t like the working conditions that BA offers,

GO take a job @ Swiss & take your militant behaviour with you !

[Alasdair]

And they would be just as “militant” (read pro-active) there as would the rest of the Swiss workforce if they needed to take issue with their management I assume.

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