BA cabin crew to strike at Easter

[handbagqueen]

I can't believe this is happening. Unite the cabin crew union are balloting for stike action over Easter. We have booked a holiday of a lifetime to Orlando and are flying BA over the Easter weekend it has cost a fortune and the kids are really looking forward to it I'm in despair as we won't be able to get alternative flights if the strike goes ahead and we won't find out for sure until 22nd Feb at the earliest (the date they'll count the votes), or even later if it ends up going to the high court again.

I always fly BA and must spend £5-10K a year on flights with them, but I will never ever book a BA flight again. If the cabin crew lose their jobs or worse the airline collapses they'll only have themselves to blame, I'm sure I'm not the only loyal customer who feels this way.

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8465208.stm

mmmm, sorry for disappearance, ds in hospital, not running scared i assure you.

I am well aware of what cabin crew do, i was a csd for ba and an ifs for Virgin as it happens. I have many clse friends who are crew, doesn't mean i agree with some of their decisions.

If dh has to operate as crew, unlikely as they have been innundated with volunteers, it is a 2 week CAA approved course.

However, I do think the crew need to wake up and see the state BA is in, it is NOT a charity and was very close to going down last year, the government will not be bailing it out. Dh and many many others took a big pay cut, and a month unpaid last year to try to buy a bit more time.

BA is still in a very precarious position, JAL went down this week,you see that? 12 months ago they were stronger position than BA, no airline is safe and BA needs passengers trusting them, not worrying about strikes and cancellations.

Not feeling even slightly remorseful about my comments on never choosing BA anymore. Just hadn't got back to the thread TBH.

I won't risk my holiday with the chance of strike. I know others could strike, etc. but with BA as it stands and the cabin crew likely to strike at any time, and to time it to hit big holidays - who'd take that risk of having their holiday spoilt? Not me. I refuse to take the very real risk. So Virgin it is for me this year again.

I do agree with others thouh that staff should not be being assaulted, as is suggested on the thread. I would never condone abuse of any form.

I simply vote with my spending power, and chose alternatives.

of course i agree Hulababy, totally appalling they are being assaulted, dreadful behaviour.

Yeah I agree with you, ggirl.

There was a mention on previous thread that the BA cabin crew had a luxurious lifestyle with the example that at a hotel, the BA crew were drinking champagne and generally living it up.

I have a friend who is BA cabin crew, and he howled when I relayed this to him as champagne receptions isn't really the lifestyle. He suggested that perhaps it was for a special occasion such as a staff reward for meeting targets or something....

Hi Campinggirl and cobblers, just wanted to let you know I've just been on the BASSA website and loads of crew who were temps for BA have been called tonight and been offered a 6 month temp contract for LHR on £11K basic plus £2.40 ph allowances flying on Airbus and 777. New Fleet has arrived!
They have been given a course start date at the end of Feb. I am gutted. This is the beginning of the end and questions are being raised as to whether or not new crew can be employed to do a striking members job. Whatever next?

MABS, sorry to hear your DS is in hospital- really hope he's ok.

MABS hope DS is ok. Will text you at a civilised hour x

Hulababy totally agree with you about not risking BA. We usually go to Florida every year and fly business class from the Middle East. The last few years we've flown BA for the UK to USA leg and now BA back flying from KSA were going to fly the whole way with them business class, 4 from KSA and 2 eldest DC from the UK but we simply won't risk our long awaited and saved for holiday by flying BA. Shame as their skycots are the best

Just wanted to mention something you may not realise. The year before the recession his BA made a MASSIVE profit- somewhere in the region of £1Billion with costs more than they are now. Since then and the arrival of our fabulous CEO BA have paid out over £750 million on fines for price fixing. Had his not been paid they would have made a profit this year.Seems a tad unfair that we have to pay the cost for managers incompetency and underhandedness do you not think?

Hi ess,

Very interesting about the price fixing fines. I'll bet they've tried to keep that under wraps!

Am not altogether surprised about the new fleet being formed. As you say, whatever next!

TBH, am glad that I am well out of it! Feel bad for everyone, it's not a nice time.