Though most of us had moved on from the BA cabin crew strike in March, it seems that BA and the union have still not come to an agreement that suits all.
This time the BA cabin crew are threatening to hold a 20 day strike (starting on 18th of May 2010) after the British airline sacked one of its senior stewards. This time Unite (the union behind the strike threat) are proposing four 5 day strikes, should the flight attendants vote in favour of a strike and against BA’s latest offering.
The latest development follows the news that Duncan Holley (a long serving cabin member and one of the senior members of Unite) failed to report for work because of union business. Holley is planning an appeal against the sacking.
BA CEO Willie Walsh said that Unites ability to hurt BA has been “Significantly restricted” by the airlines forward thinking and planning.
The constant striking (this is a running issue that has been ongoing since January) is now upsetting and annoying several members of the holiday business and the public. “BA and Unite must resolve this long running issue once and for all, and behind closed doors. There needs to be an end to the customer misery to allow the British travelling public to regain confidence in the airline and to travel without disruption.”
It seems that the strike combined with volcanic ash threats may tip some people over the edge. Many are beginning to question if BA can really afford to loose any more money, since loosing millions when the volcanic ash cloud prevented flights over British airspace. Is this a matter of both BA and Unite being stubborn and unwilling to compromise? Or are the arguments and negotiation legitimate?
Have your say….
About Tessa Biddulph
Other articles by Tessa Biddulph
Tessa Biddulph works in the marketing department and is new to Bales Worldwide. She is spending a year at Bales Worldwide before heading back to university to complete a PR degree. Tessa’s favourite destination she has travelled to is Sydney, Australia, but since working at Bales she has already drawn up a long list of places she’d like to visit (number 1 being Machu Picchu, in Peru). 
I am a fan of BA and fly the airline often. With the ongoing world wide recession I find BA’s management’s changes reasonable in order to cut costs. I am stunned that Unite risks destroying BA with their staggered strikes. It seems all too often they don’t see “the big picture” — BA is losing money and Unite has to recognize this, adapt, and help BA remain a viable business. I am losing respect for the employees. They risk destroying their employer.
I am amased that in this day and age, with people gratefull to have a job, the union wants BA staff to go on strike AGAIN! Who is going to pay theyr wages when BA goes bust as it will, when this goes on and on. Who would bookBA flight these days?We certainly won,t and have found andifferent carier for our trip to the US later this year.
Volcanic ash is one thing but another BA strike, no thank you,BA… you are not the only birds in the sky.
Marlyse Blair
The BA cabin crew at Heathrow need to come into the real world and accept that the fantastic package that they have enjoyed for years and years is no longer sustainable in the present deeply worrying financial climate for the world and BA. Gatwick accepted the terms ages ago. Do the Heathrow staff want a job with a successful airline? If not get out because there are plenty that do. Stick to your guns Willie and see off that shambles of a Union that is Unite. They seem to be a Union living in the past and vying internally for power at the expense of BA, their employees and the travelling public. The results of the general election should be a warning to them.
It seems the same old story. BA flight attendants just don,t seem to realise they are, in this day ,way overpayed with far too much time off and other benefits. If BA goes to the wall these same flight attendants will have to take a 50% drop in salary and more in condiitons if they want to work again in the airline business.
Give BA the chance to introduce NEW flight attendants at realistic wages and time off. They have to be able to compete with the likes of Ryan and Easyjet who offer zero in inflight care.
RDB
bomarblair@yahoo.com