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?

Fine if you never use staff travel Bakersmum, won't matter to you at all, but a lot of crew do use it a lot, many commute in on it to lhr for longhaul flights as I am sure you are aware It's only stressful if you are ill prepared, I have taken my kids all over the world with it.

Dh look forwarding all the crew losing concessions, flights will be so much easier to get on to!

These strikes and threatened strikes probably have already damaged BA, as I know of several companies and individuals that are now avoiding booking flights with them. I sympathise with BA staff, I would hate to have to try and deal with the changes that have been proposed if I worked for BA, but at this point perhaps management feel they need to bring in the changes so BA can survive in a competitive environment.

If one less member of the cabin crew means I don't get my 'service' I'd be quite pleased. I could do without the shopping trolley, endless 'teeeaa/coffeeeee' and tin foil tray of stodge

I don't fly for the 'service', I fly to get from A to B, with whoever suits my particular criteria the best. barely edible meals and stewed coffee is hardly something to crow about

Get rid of 'service' and job done. We all do it quite happily on the cheap-frills flights.

and for what's its worth I'm due to fly to the US in May with BA, (if they don't go bust) not because of their 'service' or the fact they could deliver a baby or provide me with medicine, or heaven forbid, make up a Kir Royale, but because its the only carrier that goes direct to my destination, and from Heathrow

I'll also be 22 weeks pregnant, so don't upset me

Ladies, I'm going to bow out now. I come onto MN for fun, not to argue. I only commented on this thread to try to inform those who have only heard the BA spin. As has been stated, Unite haven't put their side across.
I reiterate, the vast majority of us DONT want to take strike action and are sadened by the whole thing but feel we have no choice
AthomeSal and MABS thanks for your comments from our colleagues on the other side of the flight deck door. I am truly astounded your DHs can be so short sighted. Once BA have broken the cabin crew there is nothing to stop them coming after the pilots. Trust me, they will. In the meantime there has been a major breakdown in relations between pilots and crew - a vital part of both our roles.
Have a good evening, ladies

I have not at any point said that my dh is a pilot, he is not. Please do not assume things Bakersman.

YANBU
record loss

If BA was making a profit maybe there would be some sympathy for BA Cabin Crew. Surely if BA WASN't trying to cut down cost they would be considered irresponsible.

Strike action, or even threatened strike action, just results in passengers choosing other airlines whenever possible.

My brother lives in Canada and his children in England so he regularly books flights. He will NEVER book BA again. End of!

His children got caught in the catering strike in 2005 - can you imagine these poor kids who have been counting down the months, then weeks, then days til they see their dad?
They had driven four hours to the airport in a state of anticipation to find out their flight had been cancelled. After a few days delay they got out to Canada, but then money was lost (and claimed back) on hotels etc.

My husband took a pay cut but in these times we are just grateful he still has a job! Tough times.

I've never flown with BA (can't afford it!) so can't comment on the service but do think that they have a right to strike. as onestonetogo said in her previous posts, they have nothing to lose as CC if they strike later this month. Surely it's better to fight your corner and try and get better T&C's (and I personally don't think this dispute is about pay - I think there is alot more to it as has been pointed out by BA staff on this thread already).

If CC do end up losing their jobs after they've striked then at least they can walk away knowing they tried to make a change for the better.

As to the MW who commented on this thread (Sorry, can't remember your name!) I agree MWs and also nurses have it bad in terms of working conditions, staffing levels etc. But the difference being that working in the NHS means you have a moral responsibility not to strike (comes with the job doesn't it really - you have patients who come first and need your help). I have worked in the NHS and remember what it was like, sometimes not getting breaks when you were supposed to, no one to relieve you to let you go home on time etc. It is crap. Nurses and MWs are a commodity in the world so to strike would jeopordise many lives - it just wouldn't happen!

CC that work at BA however are not doing a job which is a necessity (sorry, trying to be objective here!). If people can't fly with BA, they just 'oh well I'll just find another company to fly with' and that's the problem solved. No biggy.

To the OP - that is sad about your DC maybe not being able to fly with BA on the designated dates, but if you can afford to have them fly BA I'm sure you can afford to just buy them another couple of tickets with another company to solve this problem. And what about your travel insurance? Will this not kick in if the flights are cancelled due to the strike??

and OP - try using a budget airline next time! they're not THAT bad! I've used plenty in the past.

They may get better T&C's but will they still have a job and an airline? £401m LOSS last year.

Lovechoc - I would never strike even it it was a possibility. I love my job and genuinely care for the people I look after.

My point was that maybe ba cc could see that other professions don't get a good deal either in regards to working conditions and pay. Sometimes its a dammed site worse.

but that's my point 2old4thislark they've nothing to lose by taking industrial action. If there is already a huge loss in the company then they might as well try and get what they can from the company before it collapses!

They realise they may lose their jobs, but they can always work for other airlines. Just like anyone else would if they were in a position to stand at the picket line.

If everyone took the defeatist attitude 'oh well I'm low paid in my job but hey who cares, I will just lie back and take it because there's nothing else for me to do - we're coming out of a recession' it just means management have won. They may lose their job too, but at the end of the day, they are the ones who walk away with the biggest pay packet compared to CC at BA. let's face it, the fat cats are rolling in it. Similar to DH's company at the moment. It's ridiculous.

better to try and fail than to have never tried atall IMHO

but lovechoc they are not low paid... i believe that the average length of service for CC is 12 years - that is a long time to stay in one job - also i believe the travel perks include a 90% discount on standby tickets and after 5 years a pair of tickets return to any destination BA flies....

oops i meant the ave service for those at heathrow

I was making the 'low paid' remark to those who think industrial action isn't necessary for any industrial dispute amongst employees, but for CC at BA it is more than just better pay they want. I'd gather that their T&C's have been mucked around with, like so many others at the moment. Companies think they can get away with anything because of these difficult financial times. Employees are like puppets on a string to them. They are taking advantage.

Lovechoc I live within 5 miles of Heathrow airport. If BA were to go tits up it would have a devasting effect on the area as they must be one of the biggest employers around here. What about all the other people who work for BA? Is it fair to drag them down too? I think some other BA staff HAVE accepted pay cuts/freezes in order to protect jobs.

'They realise they may lose their jobs, but they can always work for other airlines'
Errr whay jobs with other airlines would that be then?

And yes even the cabin crew have got something to lose......doh........their jobs too!

Again £401m LOSS! Necessity not taking advantage!

Hi Lovechoc

This is trip organised by DS's school so I had and have no say in the choice of airline.
I've only used no frills airlines in recent years and they do the job just fine.

The posts on this thread have been very interesting, espscially the dialogues between those BA staff who appear to support and those who disagree with the strike.

Afaid to say nobody has really explained what they will be losing in terms of pay and conditions apart from onestonetogo describing the problem of not knowing if she will be rostered for 3 or 6 days and also retirement age being raised to 65(but that's the same for all of us isn't it- actually i can't retire until i'm 67)

The message i'm hearing loud and clear is a general dissatifaction with BA and its customers voting with their feet and booking elsewhere if they can.

My concern is that this strike, or even the threat of it will bring about the downfall of BA and all the associated industries that go with it, especially in the Heathrow corridor

Surely a job with reduced terms and conditions is better than no job for thousands?

iwastooearlytobeayummymum you'd think that wouldn't you......As far as I'm concerned, the strike is commercial suicide.

Though I guess people think the govt will bail them out rather than see them go tits up. More debt for us then..........

The impact on the city of London will be huge - I think the loss of business travel to BA will be huge. Loss of jobs will impact other smaller businesses too.

I think we'll just have to agree to disagree on this one. I could say more but we'd end up going round and round in circles me thinks...

Just to add the cynical note - Unite reps going to Washington for emergency talks with the US version of union. Jolly anyone? Lets hope they aren't flying BA on the way back, assuming they are coming back or even flying BA.

Sorry - but I think Unite are taking the piss in general with BA cc and feel sorry for those who are being forced into a strike by those Unite members. Sadly like others I can't see this ending that well for BA as it currently stands.

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8413529.stm

This throws some light on the reasons for the strike.

Thanks Pink

I'd looked at much the same on the BBC site yesterday before my initial post.
As I said then the proposals don't look any different to those being put forward by my own employer.
And they also don't appear unreasonable, especally when one poster said senior cabin director took home £26 k
That must equate to £40 k plus before tax

No wonder you would want to have promotion based on seniority rather than merit if that is the reward!

I didn't realise companies still existed that did that.

OP, YANBU to be disappointed in that your break is ruined. However, I do have very much sympathy for cabin crew and the pressures they face in their job.

I flew BA in January with my 2 year DD on a very long haul, multi-stop with three stopovers. On one of the night flights, DD who was completely confused due to time changes, woke up and demanded to get on my lap. I was being ultra careful but the man in front of my seat had his seat shoved right into my face (we were on the last seat). He then proceeded to yell at me to stop DD from kicking the back of his seat [she was not, by the way, I was pressing buttons on the TV to get a cartoon for her] The cabin crew member heard him and proceeded to take my side, requesting him to adjust his seat and give me some space as well. She then defused the situation by taking me out of there, sat with me, comforted me (I was in tears by then!!) and then put me in crew seat through the rest of the flight.

Now that's what I call service. Perhaps other crew of airlines offer similar, but for me, the kindness shown by this crew member made my day. I have travelled a lot, and this was the first time I had someone stand up for me and DD. I wish I had found out her name, so I could thank her, but at the time I couldn't even remember my own name, I was so tired

So, yes, if cabin crew are being bullied by the management, I fully support their right to strike and hope it all turns out well.

OP - I am sorry all your plans are now being shredded.

I have always flown BA domestically and Virgin Long Haul - but I like consistency and reliability hence why I shall now be booking with a different airline in the UK.

I am wondering is people who work for BA live on another planet - perhaps those who work for BA can confirm the following:

1. The average days absence per BA employee was twice the national average ? What other business can afford that ? and surely customers pick up the tab in increased operations cost.
   I believe that in 2005 British Airways? gave a £1,000 bonus for staff taking less than 16 days sick leave over the next two years.

2. Also recently the pilots, through Balpa, had argued that their holiday pay should be based on basic salary plus other extras including flying supplements and allowances for time spent away from their base airport.

An example given to the court was that while working, a pilot could earn an average of £8,037 a month plus a flying supplement of £709 and an allowance of £86. But, for holiday pay, the amount paid would be the basic £8,037.