British Airways strike union error?

[mumrar]

This thread is in relation to the called of strike on BA. Whilst I am in agreement with the reasons behind the strike ballot, I think the union Unite have made a bad misjudgement in when they chose to strike. Read this article www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/simon-calder-a-suicidally-misjudged-blunder-1844248.html
It seems like suicide for public support which is hard to come by at the best of times. The quote to save reading the whole article, surrounds the question 'why was the strike called at Christmas' the answer in the quote is 'to destroy the dreams of one million travellers'. Rarely in more recent times has a union come across as either so vindictive and thoughtless. What are others thoughts on this?

 

[Old Timer]

The cabin crew website forum has many comments on it. Apparantly no-one knew that it was going to be called over 12 days during the whole of Christmas.

As someone pointed out the impact is not felt by the Union whose officials will still have a job even IF BA goes to the wall.

It is also very difficult for a group of staff who earn considerably higher money than even many managers in outside industry and many other airlines to gain any public support particularly at a time when many firms are cutting wages, increasing hours, and closing down Pension Funds.

The BA cabin crew I know have a very good lifestyle despite what they may say. Their conversation tends to revolve around which Country / city is best for what shopping.

 

[cawky22]

BA wanted the crew on a 747 reduced from 15 to 14 !!

KLM operate the same planes with a crew of 13 !!!

this company is on its knees and the unions are cutting its throat .

 

[flymo]

Well I'm flying with BA on the 28th / 29th Dec this year Hong Kong - Heathrow - Newcastle and these will be my last flights with BA for some considerable time I think.

In the past I've used other carriers and this choice of BA was purely to try to lend my support to their financial predicament, but wish I hadn't bothered. I had the choice to rebook when the strike was called but chose to ride it out until the outcome was decided by the High Court, so thankfully it looks like I can take my original flights.

I never realised a strike was imminent when booking the flights but when I heard, I thought the strike would be one day or maybe two but twelve days and over Christmas, what were they thinking of? I also think the union was glad the Court decided against them as I believe they underestimated, or didn't care about, the strength of the feelings of the travelling public and the Court's decision gave them a way out to save face. i.e. they realised the strike was a bad idea but didn't want to back down and the Court gave them the way out they were looking for.

Still, the flights may well be empty now so more chance of a snooze across the 4 centre seats of cattle class on the 747. Somehow I think the 'call' button might get some use just to keep the cabin crew on their toes.

 

[Old Timer]

........ Somehow I think the 'call' button might get some use just to keep the cabin crew on their toes.

They don't like that even in First Class, and have a rude name for people that do it !

 

[flymo]

They don't like that even in First Class, and have a rude name for people that do it !

Yep, they're called passengers.

 

[jon0844]

The video that was shown of the meeting where they were so clearly upset about the ballot verdict (!) didn't do them any favours at all. Suddenly, it became clear the union was really up for causing as much hardship as possible - and seemed to be getting off on it.

I also agree that they must have been relieved by the court decision, as they had a 'get out' that allowed them to save face.

I am flying BA on the 23rd to Sweden and am relieved that I no longer have to spend about £800 on alternative arrangements, but I am really going to be looking at the cabin crew in a different light.

What an impact this will have on BA as a whole. Unlike the FCC situation where management were at fault, I put this all down on the union and the cabin crew. I actually feel for BA management and other staff.

For so long, BA crew had a reputation for being incredibly rude and always looking down on its passengers (and I experienced this countless times myself too) - but in recent years, I have to admit that they've been pretty much perfect. I'd even go as far to say that I'd put them up there with Virgin, and coming close to the far eastern airlines. Even though I'd expect them to talk about awkward passengers in the galley, they always acted professional.

Sadly, I will now look upon them all with contempt - even if many of them are now saying they never actually supported the action.

Let's wait and see what the outcome of the next ballot is. If they were against such harsh action, the vote should be a lot more even next time around.

 

[me123]

The cabin crew website forum has many comments on it. Apparantly no-one knew that it was going to be called over 12 days during the whole of Christmas.

And they called the verdict to overturn the ballot an "insult to democracy". If anything's an insult to democracy, that is. You should always know what you're voting for, especially in this kind of decision.

 

[Tom B]

And they called the verdict to overturn the ballot an "insult to democracy". If anything's an insult to democracy, that is. You should always know what you're voting for, especially in this kind of decision.

I often find it amusing that comments on forums like these, whenever there is a strike, generally go along the lines of how evil the management are, and how evil the media are for believing what management say - whilst generally lapping up the union's point of view, even though the latter are just as bad (if not worse).

 

[jon0844]

You are probably right in most cases, which just highlights how wrong the union is on this one - as nobody is siding with them, despite there potentially being many similarities in other industries (especially the railway).

What they were going to do would have been devastating and probably killed BA - and it's not as if all those unemployed cabin crew would have found it easy to get another job, let alone one with the same pay and perks.

I am sure some cabin crew think that way too, but how will I know the next time I travel with BA? Chances are I simply won't fly with them ever again.

 

[me123]

I often find it amusing that comments on forums like these, whenever there is a strike, generally go along the lines of how evil the management are, and how evil the media are for believing what management say - whilst generally lapping up the union's point of view, even though the latter are just as bad (if not worse).

Tom, I think you misunderstood my post. I was calling their ballot procedure an insult to democracy, because of the aforementioned errors; polling workers who took voluntary redundancy, and not telling the staff that they were voting for a 12 day strike over Christmas.

I'm generally against union strike action, and I make no exception in this case.