about the forthcoming BA strike?

[iwastooearlytobeayummymummy]

DS (11)is supposed to be going on a much anticipated school trip next week, but both outward and return dates are strike days.
I can't begin to tell you how much he has been looking forward to this trip.

DD3 (13 )is also away, at the same time, on a choir trip, but flying with another operator.

Excited at the prospect of 2 children away,and happy to leave DD2 ( 18) home alone, DH and I have booked a much needed break ourselves, first time away without the children in 5 years.

Now everything is 'up in the air', no pun intended .

Can somebeody please explain why cabin crew are so aggreived? I've had a look at BBC's overview of the reasons behind the strike, but don't really get it.I also work for an organisation ( local authority actually) that has announced a 2 year pay freeze, recruitment freeze and forthcoming redundancies. Apart from free tea bags and instant coffee I get no other priveliges.

IABU to think they've got nothing to strike over?

Petalbud- I appreciate this is a long thread and reading through it will seem dull, but if you do, you will see where
BA have been negotiating with UNITE, Unite have been letting their members down

The company has looked after travelers, 6000 of the company staff trained and volunteered to look after travelers.

If it were really true that BA had done nothing to negotiate do you really think more members of UNITE would have volunteered as Cabin crew than went on strike as cabin crew?

The management have to manage the company through the recession otherwise 40,000 people around the world will have a 100% pay cut-and for the record cabin crew were not told they would have a pay cut.

True, it is a lengthy thread and I did, indeed skip some pages.

However, from what I can gather the CEO is notoriously difficult to deal with and has even admitted this himself.

"a reasonable man gets nowhere in negotiations"

So, I would expect that dealing with said gent may actually be some of the reason that this strike hasn't been resolved.

True, B.A appeared to handle the strike situation well. However, I've never read anywhere that more cabin crew went to work than went on strike. Where have you procured your figures? Do you work for the airline?

Apparently, the CEO was run out of Ireland, which raises a red flag for me.

All that aside, the reputation of a great airline is at risk here and good Management should do everything to protect this. It's all akin to a cat and dog fight being played out on national television.

There are obviously lots of problems within B.A and to blame the workers is pointless. The buck stops at the top, who if the papers are to be believed are being paid huge salaries and bonuses in a recession. Strange behaviour for a struggling Company, don't you think.

Lets hope all of this can be resolved amicably so that those who like traveling with B.A may do so again, soon.

Bumping for 2shoes