Poll: Do you support the BA Cabin Crew 12 day strike at Christmas?

[DezUk]

Well me and the Mrs are flying to St Lucia on BA on 13th from Edinburgh to Gatwick and Gatwick to St Lucia. Back on the 23rd, hope we dont get caught up in this carry on

Getting married out there!

 

[OCDStevo]

If BA goes down the pan because of the huge losses resulting from these strikes, I really hope these cabin crew do not expect the tax payer to bail BA out so they can keep thier jobs....

 

[Smit]

If BA goes down the pan because of the huge losses resulting from these strikes, I really hope these cabin crew do not expect the tax payer to bail BA out so they can keep thier jobs....

Yep I hope each and every one of them struggle to find anything else, it's quite clear that BA aren't backing down.

 

[gjrc]

its a disgrace how a work force can hold a public company to ransom. their contracts are a relic of a nationalised company they should not have the right to go on strike.

the communist leaders of Unite should be shot for thinking that breaking BA is a good thing for their members. its not and it wont be.

short sighted left wing idiots.

 

[VeNT]

anyone live though the 80s?
STRIKE
lolz fire the buggers

 

[Westyfield2]

The union really is trying to kill the company :/

Dear Mr Bradley,

As you are undoubtedly aware, Unite, the trade union that represents British Airways' cabin crew has announced further strike action.

I wanted to update you on the situation and thank you for your continued loyalty and support.

We were saddened but not surprised that Unite has announced plans for strikes that span 23 days including the May bank holiday and half term. I can assure you that this action will not ground British Airways.

Unite officials continue to show a callous disregard for our customers. A small minority act as if they want to destroy BA and the jobs of thousands of their colleagues. And just when the UK economy needs help to get back on its feet, Unite will deal it another blow.

The offer on the table is very fair. It includes a guaranteed pay rise for the next two years, meets the union's concerns on crewing levels, access to routes and maintains a standard of living that reflects the value and service our cabin crew deliver to our customers.

During the last two periods of industrial action, thousands of staff from across the airline, including volunteers, kept British Airways flying and we flew more than half a million customers to their destinations.

We are confident that many cabin crew will again ignore Unite's pointless strike call and support the efforts of the rest of the airline.

On the strike dates we will operate all London Gatwick and London City services. At Heathrow we plan to operate a substantial part of our longhaul schedule. There will also be a number of daily flights to every destination across our shorthaul network.

We are talking to other airlines about leasing in extra aircraft to support our shorthaul schedule and we will buy thousands of seats from other airlines to help our customers rebook if their original flight is cancelled.

I fully appreciate that information is critical during such a period so we will regularly update ba.com with details of our revised schedule and options available.

Your support, patience and understanding during the recent months have been invaluable and I would like to thank you in advance for your continued loyalty in support of our business.

Yours sincerely,
Willie Walsh

 

[Von Smallhausen]

Anyone remember what Reagan did in the 80s when ATC's went on strike ?

 

[scorza]

Anyone remember what Reagan did in the 80s when ATC's went on strike ?

Bricked up the union leaders?

 

[Von Smallhausen]

Bricked up the union leaders?

He fired over 11,000 of the strikers who ignored an order to return to work as they were in violation of US laww.

 

[Westyfield2]

He fired over 11,000 of the strikers who ignored an order to return to work as they were in violation of US laww.

Now that sounds like a plan!..

 

[drew64]

i can almost understand going on strike if you were say a doctor/nurse/fireman (i dont support it in anyway, but i can see why they would)
but otherwise, if you dont like your job, or the pay, find a new job? thats what other people do.

 

[stockhausen]

i can almost understand going on strike if you were say a doctor/nurse/fireman (i dont support it in anyway, but i can see why they would)
but otherwise, if you dont like your job, or the pay, find a new job? thats what other people do.

I would have thought that many people who did actually enjoy their job and felt that their employer was unilaterally changing their working conditions to their detriment might make some sort of effort to fight for what they saw as their rights rather than simply walking away.

However, that's probably just me, perhaps most of the people you know lack the cojones to fight back

 

[Cosimo]

He fired over 11,000 of the strikers who ignored an order to return to work as they were in violation of US laww.

He’d have been assassinated it he had tried that in Europe.

 

[drew64]

I would have thought that many people who did actually enjoy their job and felt that their employer was unilaterally changing their working conditions to their detriment might make some sort of effort to fight for what they saw as their rights rather than simply walking away.

However, that's probably just me, perhaps most of the people you know lack the cojones to fight back

yea, last line was clearly called for...

im sure there is a huge difference betweem "we're not working till you make things better, please dont fire us"
and "change it, or i quit"

 

[Captain_Slick]

It's just going to get to the point where the vast majority of the public either really don't care about the BA staff striking or really hate them for striking.

 

[oweneades]

its a disgrace how a work force can hold a public company to ransom. their contracts are a relic of a nationalised company they should not have the right to go on strike.

the communist leaders of Unite should be shot for thinking that breaking BA is a good thing for their members. its not and it wont be.

short sighted left wing idiots.

The irony in this case is that by continuing with these strikes they will end up sending BA down the pan, resulting in not a few being made redundant but ALL of them losing their jobs.

Good one unite!

 

[PapaLazaru]

I know a couple of peeps who work at T5, and they are seeing this as a free holiday and nothing else. They have good working conditions are are well paid for what they do. They enjoy their work as well. Bloody disgrace. They should be pleased they are in jobs like that and not on the dole.

 

[Dolph]

He’d have been assassinated it he had tried that in Europe.

It is sad how violent and bullying the union movement in Europe is, I'm glad we have more protection from such pyschopathy in the UK...

 

[Dolph]

I would have thought that many people who did actually enjoy their job and felt that their employer was unilaterally changing their working conditions to their detriment might make some sort of effort to fight for what they saw as their rights rather than simply walking away.

However, that's probably just me, perhaps most of the people you know lack the cojones to fight back

It's already been made crystal clear that the current workforce is not having their terms and conditions changed in any way.

 

[scorza]

The irony in this case is that by continuing with these strikes they will end up sending BA down the pan, resulting in not a few being made redundant but ALL of them losing their jobs.

Good one unite!

All the more reason for management to take up Unite's offer of more talks I would have thought.

Of course, this isn't really about the future of BA - it's about one man's ego and his desire to be known as a strike-breaker, even if it means the company he works for going down the pan. It's the same as Adam Crozier at Royal Mail - as soon as he quit the unions and management were able to reach an agreement and put an end to the strikes that cost the Royal Mail so much.