Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

BA Christmas Strikes

63 replies

Octohohohoho · 14/12/2009 19:21

To think that maybe they are selfish gits who are screwing up my family's christmas and thousands of others? It really could wait til the new year.

Shame on you.

OP posts:

MollieO · 14/12/2009 20:17

Should add that I have no connection with BA other than my Executive Club membership left over from my pre-children worldwide travelling job days!

grenadine · 14/12/2009 20:24

Why do Virgin pay their staff so badly though? I would feel happier travelling with an airline that treated its staff well.

That used to be BA but I think their request for staff to go a month without pay was awful. They don't appear to be the company they used to be.

MollieO · 14/12/2009 20:28

Many other companies are laying off staff, making pay cuts so I don't understand why BA cabin crew think they can buck the trend.

The going a month without pay was voluntary but if I had the choice between 11/12ths of my salary or no salary it would be (and was) an easy choice to make.

lisianthus · 14/12/2009 20:30

They are definitely one of the worst airlines I have flown with, hence my decision some time ago never to fly with them again.

Hurting the employer and "sending a message" is all very well, but in this case, they are choosing to strike at a quiet period for business travellers and a busy period for ordinary families, so they have chosen to hurt ordinary families and send a message via them. If they had decided to strike just before the end of a financial year and disadvantage business travellers, thereby really kicking BA in the profits, that's one thing, striking at this time of year and hurting families is quite another.

MrsSantaChemist · 14/12/2009 20:32

Surely if BA don't make these cutbacks, then they will haemorrhage even more money, and have to lay off more staff.

grenadine · 14/12/2009 20:34

why are they losing more than other airlines? - the MD should go.

MollieO · 14/12/2009 20:37

Other airlines have already made the cutbacks that BA are now seeking to do. They should have done it 2 years ago but didn't and now they are at serious risk of failing. If this strike goes ahead then BA will not be an independent airline this time next year.

2rebecca · 14/12/2009 20:38

If the workers don't like their conditions then they should resign if they think they can get a better deal elsewhere, same with the train drivers when they are moaning. If you think you're worth more resign and go for the better job, or preferably the other way round.
Striking at Christmas just makes everyone hate you and the company you work for. People not flying with BA because their staff are always striking doesn't help these workers at all.

deste · 14/12/2009 20:46

They are not stiking for more money.

LouIsAWeetbixKid · 14/12/2009 20:50

I was talking with a friend who is BA cabin crew and they were under the impression when they voted that the strike would be for two days or so. Many were not aware of this 12 day strike plan. I know she and some others are consulting lawyers about it. She does agree with a strike but 12 days is ridiculous!!

MollieO · 14/12/2009 20:57

Last time they striked it was for 3 days and they lost loads of business. At that time we had a company travel policy of BA only and that ended following that strike. I'm sure we weren't the only UK based company to do that.

I will be amazed if the strike does go ahead. I'm not a labour lawyer but I would have thought that the terms of the strike would have to be clear on the face of the ballot paper. If not then it may be an illegal strike.

StewieGriffinsMom · 14/12/2009 20:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

ilovemydogandmrobama · 14/12/2009 21:00

a legal ballot doesn't have to have the date on the ballot paper.

LeninGrotto · 14/12/2009 21:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MollieO · 14/12/2009 21:02

Not the date but surely the time frame? Particularly as it will be unpaid. Isn't there a right/expectation for the union member to know how long the strike is planned for - one day, five days etc?

Original poster

Octohohohoho · 14/12/2009 21:04

I'm with hulababy on that one.

I assume they are not going to get paid during the strike.

OP posts:

Hulababy · 14/12/2009 21:05

No, I am not being ridiculous. I simply disagree with a 12 day strike over Christmas where the disruption will affect families and friends trying to get home to see their loved ones.

Don't care how many holidays other people get. It is irrelevant to this discussion IMO. Many of the people travelling may well be taking annual leave in prder to do so. This is about people who have paid good money and possibly taken holidays off to go and be with people over Christmas.

I stand by my opinion that it is morally wrong.

Original poster

Octohohohoho · 14/12/2009 21:07

I don't think they are getting screwed personally - I think that they shoudl accept that change is essential like the pilots and engineers have. Refusing to accept anything is not the way forward - they are only screwing themselves and the future of BA.

OP posts:

lisianthus · 14/12/2009 21:10

And I would have thought that people who get less annual leave than British people and have chosen to use it to see their families would be even more sensitive to having it wasted by a strike which hits at this time of year.

Original poster

Octohohohoho · 14/12/2009 21:14

My sister has taken a pay cut and hours cut and only gets 10 days holiday a year - she paid a huge amount of money to fly with BA to be home for christmas - there simply is no justification.

OP posts:

Kaloki · 14/12/2009 21:27

Does anyone know what this strike is about? All I can find is job losses and contract changes, but no details. It's understandably irritating, but unfair to judge without knowing what they are attempting to achieve.

whooosh · 14/12/2009 21:42

I'm with Hula-and my own PERSONAL view is that the mentality of these cabin crew has to be called into question...they are the best paid cabin crew in the industry,their employer is on their knees and they decide to do something which will fundamentally affect not only their employer (and thus their jobs) but many thousands of innocent people at a very emotive time of the year. SHAME ON THEM

purpleduckUnderTheMistletoe · 14/12/2009 21:45

They are using the customers as a club to beat the airline with - seems like everyone will get hurt.

I understand why they are doing it - greed, and the belief that they are somehow immune to the job losses that have hit countless others.

I agree with the OP...shame on them.

DaftApeth · 14/12/2009 22:01

From discussions with a friend (who's husband is a BA pilot), it's also to do with the difference between long haul and short haul priviledges.

They (BA) want to stop having cabin crew who only do long haul and a separate group who only do short haul. Obviously, if the long haul crews change to short haul, they get fewer privileges i.e. less money because they are away for a shorter time.

I'm sure there are more ins and outs though

When my union voted for strike action, I ignored it and still went in to work because I believed it was not fair on my patients to not be there.

Surely, the union members who disagree with the length of the strike could do the same which would at least enable BA to offer more flights.

Kaloki · 14/12/2009 22:12

Thankyou DaftApeth, I'm always amazed at how little information is actually released about the reasons behind strikes. Makes it difficult to tell the differnece between valid strikes and greedy ones.

Flip

1 2 3