BA to strike

Freefaller said:
BA will end up getting rid of their staff, and start using outsourced staff... I wonder how sure this strike will be... Fingers crossed I don't have to re-book stuff!
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I hope the unions blink as otherwise they won't have any staff in their union. I'm happy I've only got one flight planned with them during this period so hopefully things will be OK. After my poor experiences with them last year at the very front of the plane I thought I'd give them one more chance this year, I knew I should have just booked with swiss.

The question is what do I tell my travel agent for next year? Around 40 flights to book, well that's one airline off the list.
 
I tell you what though I don't miss spending my life travelling by air, so don't envy you one bit!

I've spoken to quite a few charming air hostesses in my time and they've all said to me that although it can be hard work during the flight it's actually a really cushy job compared to "normal" jobs. I remember being told by them that they get several business class tickets to anywhere in the world every year, and they're allowed to sell them if they want! Senior cabin crew (who already are on 50k+ in BA, not sure about other airlines) get 1st class instead!

It is an easy job 90% of the time, sure they have their disruptions about having to be away from home etc... but they get wonderful benefits, good time off, and whilst they have to deal with grumpy passengers and jetlag, it's a small price to pay for a low skilled bit of work. They really are being completely blind, cannot see the wood from the trees I'm afraid.
 
Reginald said:
Stuff... things about breach of contract...other stuff...
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So if there is a clear breach of contract, then how is striking going to help their case? They need to fight this through the courts not through victimising people who have paid for a service that they as workers have agreed to provide. I sympathise with their situation but it has nothing to do with Joe Bloggs trying to get away during Christmas.
 
Reginald said:
Right some of the ignorance in this thread has made me stop reading this on my phone and get on my laptop to post a reply.

No offence intended whatsoever but I feel that if you are going to make such harsh judgements and sweeping statements such as "fire them all and give their jobs to those who are deserving in this climate" then you at least ought to know what you are talking about.

<snip>
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If this carries on, the company will go bust (as happened to GM in the US) due to their massively disproportionate labour costs.

How will that benefit the employees?
 
Gonna phone them after work to see what they can do about getting me out to boston sometime before my xmas holiday is over. If they dont get this sorted i wont be weeping for them when BA goes bust.
 
Reginald said:
Source: I fly on BA all of the time and think they are fantastic.
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Out of interest, is that long-haul or short-haul and in which class? At the front of the plane they're woefully lacking at the moment. I know they have their new club world layout (which I haven't tried yet) and have a large fleet to keep updated but they've got a lot of catching-up to do. When you're paying a lot of money for a ticket just having a good lounge doesn't work (on a side note anybody else found the lounges at Terminal 5 lacking recently?).
 
SteveOBHave said:
So if there is a clear breach of contract, then how is striking going to help their case? They need to fight this through the courts not through victimising people who have paid for a service that they as workers have agreed to provide. I sympathise with their situation but it has nothing to do with Joe Bloggs trying to get away during Christmas.
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They're the most important people in the world though and they deserve justice instantly. It's all about them, and what they want.

If this was me, and I recognised that my employers were in a massive hole and I wanted a better paying job, I'd go and get one. We're talking about CC here making demands, the whole thing feels like a practical joke, they're glorified waiters who know a bit of first aid, seriously.
 
jakeke said:
They're the most important people in the world though and they deserve justice instantly. It's all about them, and what they want.

If this was me, and I recognised that my employers were in a massive hole and I wanted a better paying job, I'd go and get one. We're talking about CC here making demands, the whole thing feels like a practical joke, they're glorified waiters who know a bit of first aid, seriously.
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You forgot the fact that they're there for our safety also!
 
SteveOBHave said:
So if there is a clear breach of contract, then how is striking going to help their case? They need to fight this through the courts not through victimising people who have paid for a service that they as workers have agreed to provide. I sympathise with their situation but it has nothing to do with Joe Bloggs trying to get away during Christmas.
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Well they were going to have the new terms of their contracts imposed upon them in December. They are hoping that by threatening strike action BA will take them more seriously and renegotiate.

Dolph said:
If this carries on, the company will go bust (as happened to GM in the US) due to their massively disproportionate labour costs.

How will that benefit the employees?
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By striking, they are hoping not to ruin peoples' travel plans but rather force BA to reopen negotiations. The media is currently portraying the crew in such a bad light but it is now actually BA's choice to renegotiate and totally avoid any strikes. If they strike, BA will probably never be the same again/go bust etc.. but Willy Walsh knows this and therefore if he has any sense will sort it out!

z3b3dy said:
Out of interest, is that long-haul or short-haul and in which class? At the front of the plane they're woefully lacking at the moment. I know they have their new club world layout (which I haven't tried yet) and have a large fleet to keep updated but they've got a lot of catching-up to do. When you're paying a lot of money for a ticket just having a good lounge doesn't work (on a side note anybody else found the lounges at Terminal 5 lacking recently?).
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First & club, v.occasionally economy on shorthaul... 99% of the time I travel long haul. The new layout in club is alright...although it's really low to the ground and feels a bit like a cafeteria. Either way, the seats are comfy. I know...I saw an article in business traveller with the seats in, ah, what airline...singapore? emirates? Qatar? It was one from that area of the world and you had a little pod with a flat screen tv! I think it's time first had an overhaul!
 
I can't remember which channel it was on, think it might of been channel 4 news. There was an interview with the head of the union was kept saying the main reason for the strike was that BA didnt consult the union about the changes. Basically sounds liked the union is just ****ed that it was left out
 
arknor said:
dont understand why people use BA for personal flights the prices they charge are a joke.
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I have never, ever found them to be competitive. They wanted £200 more to fly to Melbourne than either Malaysia or Sinagapore Airlines, both of which are considerably better airlines
 
Reginald said:
I think it's time first had an overhaul!
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Have they not been overhauled yet? This will be (if it goes ahead!) my first long-haul flight with them since last year and I'm flying first again. I was rather hoping things had been improved since then, it's a pity if they've only updated club world.
 
Reginald said:
Well they were going to have the new terms of their contracts imposed upon them in December. They are hoping that by threatening strike action BA will take them more seriously and renegotiate.
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They need to have new terms imposed on them, the company is suffering massively due to excessive pay and benefits to the workers. The alternatives is job cuts or bankruptcy.

By striking, they are hoping not to ruin peoples' travel plans but rather force BA to reopen negotiations. The media is currently portraying the crew in such a bad light but it is now actually BA's choice to renegotiate and totally avoid any strikes. If they strike, BA will probably never be the same again/go bust etc.. but Willy Walsh knows this and therefore if he has any sense will sort it out!
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Is this an admission that the union are trying to bully/blackmail walsh into making a decision that makes no rational or business sense through bad behaviour?

First & club, v.occasionally economy on shorthaul... 99% of the time I travel long haul. The new layout in club is alright...although it's really low to the ground and feels a bit like a cafeteria. Either way, the seats are comfy. I know...I saw an article in business traveller with the seats in, ah, what airline...singapore? emirates? Qatar? It was one from that area of the world and you had a little pod with a flat screen tv! I think it's time first had an overhaul!
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Where is the money going to come from through? Perhaps if they were paying market rate wages and benefits, they would be able to afford it?
 
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