The Truth about BA Pilots
Back to Forum- This topic has 14 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 20 Sep 2011
at 09:07 by CallMeIshmael.
-
- Author
- Posts
- Skip to last reply Create Topic
-
Tete_de_cuveeParticipantThe line about BA Pilots altruistically endeavouring to aid BA through rough economic times has now proved to be a myth.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14937236
Their fight, lasting over 3 years, for holiday pay to be not just based upon salary but also flight/trip allowances has been won by the pilots’ union BALPA, in the European Court of Justice.
Clearly the logic that flight allowances are there to offset costs incurred whilst working so should not apply when on holiday, didn’t wash with the judges.
Hypocritical in the extreme, BALPA’s action to enrich the BA pilots was running at the same time many pilots were seeking to break the cabin crew action to protect their agreements, using the guise of helping the company save money.
Ironically the ruling will apply not only to pilots but cabin crew also across all airlines. It will cost the airlines dear – £50million to BA alone and be back-dated 6 years.
16 Sep 2011
at 21:09
MartynSinclairParticipantIf this extended to pension contributions being based on overall pay, rather than base pay, it could cost the airline more.
16 Sep 2011
at 21:55
Tete_de_cuveeParticipantThe Pilot action was perverse and so was the decision.
Could the logic be applied not only pensions as Martyn suggests but sickness absences also?
16 Sep 2011
at 22:57
MartynSinclairParticipantIf he BA FS scheme had been based on full pay rather than a vastly reduced “pensionable pay” pilots would be far better off in retirement. Interesting that they appear more concerned with having this benefit for holiday pyay. WOuld have been far better office moaning about the pay used for pension calculations.
16 Sep 2011
at 23:48
CharlesJonesParticipantThis is quite unbelievable and incredibly hypocritical. I’m actually stunned at this news. These are the same pilots who were seen by the public as the good guys during the BA cabin crew strike as many of them ‘volunteered’ to ‘Keep the Flag Flying’. Mmm….looks like they were actually keeping their own individual flags flying doesn’t it? Hypocrites of the highest order in my opinion.
And now,because of BALPA’s selfish attitude;(which will no doubt go towards those extra cocktails that they’ll be sipping at their villa in the south of France), it looks like BA will be very much out of pocket to the tune of at least £50 million a year,maybe even more.
What a wonderful way to bring the IAG share price down eh?
17 Sep 2011
at 10:10
CharlesJonesParticipantI forgot to mention that it must be bitter sweet for the cabin crew as at least they’ll be benefitting from the court decision. What a strange state of affairs.
17 Sep 2011
at 10:22
Tete_de_cuveeParticipantIt is likely to cost BA more pro-rata as they appear to have had a propensity to increase allowances and supress salary increases to save on the pension contributions.
BALPA’s hypocracy beggars belief.
17 Sep 2011
at 15:52
Henkel.TrockenParticipantSurely BALPA have looked after their own members professionally and in accord with the law, I don’t understand how that was hypocritical. Other airline crew will benefit and have had a free ride while BALPA have met the legal costs of this action.
One claim which is legitimate and has the backing of law does not mean that another union claiming something different about a different staff group is also right.
Hopefully the legacy BA crew who give pilots a hard time will decline these allowences to which they are now entitled as surely they would want nothing to do with them. Well, here’s hoping but we won’t hold our breaths as my feeling is the pigs will be first to the trough.
17 Sep 2011
at 16:16
CharlesJonesParticipantHenkel.Trocken….I think it’s right that a union should look after it’s members. I agree with you there. I do find it strange that you can’t see their actions as totally hypocritical considering their stance during the cabin crew strike. Trying to save (or rather trying to be seen to save) the company from monetary loss by volunteering to work as cabin crew but then on the other hand taking this “holiday pay” action that inevitably will mean a few more pounds in their pocket a year but at huge expense to British Airways……and no doubt will once again weaken the IAG share price. Can you see it now?
18 Sep 2011
at 08:28
Tete_de_cuveeParticipantThis news has also not gone down well in Waterside and amongst the rest of the BA.
Already suffering from poor morale they are now seeing the most highly paid group, the pilots, with many earning over £100,000 taking even more from limited funds. Pure greed which totally counters the push for one team.19 Sep 2011
at 08:23
DisgustedofSwieqiParticipantYou need to disconnect BALPA and their members.
BALPA defends members rights, in a far more effective manner than BASSA.
Pilots, like other employees, chose to volunteer to keep the business running.
The few BA pilots I have met have been highly intelligent and pragmatic individuals, who take a sensible view on the busness environment and how to get things done.
As to your comment about highly paid individuals, they get a rate comensurate with the responsiblity and skills of the role.
19 Sep 2011
at 09:21
Henkel.TrockenParticipant@ CharlesJones: This action was taking place long before the disupte with BASSA. It has been conducted professionally and in the correct forum. A court of law has determined that BALPA are correct in their plea. A court of law did not support stances taken by BASSA.
I don’t have a problem with that and I don’t see it as hypocritical. In the main, the pilots are a very reasonable group of people and they have agreed concessions before now to assist BA in difficult times. That does not mean that they should not ever claim anything ever again and nor does it mean that they should not assist the company in the face of industrial action brought about by another union when they consider that union to be wrong.
19 Sep 2011
at 09:51
HippocampusParticipantI think in the rush to have a go at BA pilots the subtleties of the difference between this dispute and the BASSA dispute have been lost.
Reasonable people can disagree on the interpretation of a particular contractual/legal position, which seems to be the case here regarding the entitlement to holiday pay.
The fact that BA pilots supported the company during the BASSA dispute does not mean they have rescinded their right to have their contractual/legal rights respected nor that they can never have a dispute with their employer. Just in the same way that those staff (whether cabin crew, VCC etc) who supported the company would be naive and misguided if they thought this afforded them some form of special protection or the right to call in a favour from the company at a later date.
If BALPA ultimately win and the company’s finances take a turn for the worse then I’m sure they would consider whether to maintain their claims.
Instead of the usual name calling, BASSA members would do well to reflect on the vast differences in the way this dispute has been handled compared to the cabin crew dispute. There has been no name calling, no bullying, threats and intimidation, no mass histrionics and self pitying bleating, nor any vandalism to aircraft or disruption to passengers.
19 Sep 2011
at 10:52
CallMeIshmaelParticipantTete start with the premis that most people are self centred and get over it. Cabin crew failed to retain their byegone era agreements, rank conscious pilots failed in their attempt to permanently jump the concession queue, some land crew succeeded in having some away days.
Pilots and cabin crew will get extra holiday pay, land crew won’t.
Hippocampus enough of the wartime consigliere move on, your continued obsession with BASSA is unhealthy, peace has been declared.
20 Sep 2011
at 06:40 -
AuthorPosts