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British Airways strike - UPDATE 27/6 LATEST UNION STRIKE BALLOT POSTPONED

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Comments

  • I have no opinions really on BA's/Unite's issues but I know for sure that I wouldn't book a BA flight, my holidays are too important to me to be risked.
    Don't wait for your ship to come in, swim out to it.
  • worldtraveller
    worldtraveller Posts: 14,013 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    edited 7 May 2010 at 12:22PM
    British Airways cabin crew have "overwhelmingly rejected an offer" aimed at ending a long-running row over pay and conditions, Unite has said.

    The union said, with turnout of 71%, thousands had voted and there had been an 81% majority against the proposals offered by the airline.

    Unite had "strongly recommended" its members reject the offer, raising the possibility of more strikes.

    British Airway said the offer had been "very fair" and it was disappointed.
    In a statement, BA said it was "not too late for Unite to put an end to this dispute.

    "British Airways is disappointed but not surprised that Unite has clearly orchestrated a rejection of a very fair offer that addresses all the concerns raised during 14 months of talks.

    "We urge Unite to put an end to this unnecessary dispute and focus on the best interests of its members. There can be nothing positive to be gained from further strikes."

    Unite will have to give a week's notice of any new planned strikes.


    BBC News
    There is a pleasure in the pathless woods, There is a rapture on the lonely shore, There is society, where none intrudes, By the deep sea, and music in its roar: I love not man the less, but Nature more...
  • dickydonkin
    dickydonkin Posts: 3,055 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    What's wrong with the morality of trying to improve your wages?

    Nothing at all but - this issue is not related to wages.

    These people have terms and conditions that most of us could only dream of - in particular, the travel discount which I believe can be as much as 90%.

    I suspect many of us have had to sacrifice something in this recession. Some may have had pay cuts or freezes. Others will have had to perform other duties as well as their own and many have lost their jobs completely.

    Do BA CC believe they are immune from having to move with the times?

    Their competitors have.

    It would not surprise me if Walsh changes their contract of employment citing financial necessity. He won't tolerate being held to ransom for much longer.
  • mackemdave
    mackemdave Posts: 769 Forumite
    I fly regularly with one of the budget airlines to Southern Spain and recently took a BA long haul flight to the US....The cabin crew on the short haul flight do more work both their legs of the journey in half the hours that the BA CC do on the long haul.

    I sat in Terminal 5 when I was departing and it seemed there was more BA staff flaunting around than there were passengers...The only people that have a high opinion of the BA CC are themselves...

    Behind Willie Walsh 100% .......take them on,and the Unions,and let them see how lucky they are to have these jobs.......When I came back from the US the cabin crew had been "stuck" in Vegas for 11 days and were complaining about that they would be stuck in M25 traffic on a Friday evening as they tried to get back to their homes...heart bled for them NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • Lisa9982
    Lisa9982 Posts: 35 Forumite
    Just bumping this thread -hopefully there will be a lot more light shed on this whole thing tomorrow

    I should have booked my holiday with Thomas Cook - supposed to be flying with BA on June 5th to Egypt - the strike mandate that is currently in place ends June 6th -whats the betting they strike that week (seeing as its bank holiday week) .....

    Anyone know where I stand if they do announce strike action for when I am supposed to be going? I booked the hotel and flight as a packahe direct with BA - would I be entitled to a full refund? Obviously there are other elements booked seperately like travel to airport, transfers etc.... would I have to claim that seperately on insurance?
  • nico26
    nico26 Posts: 823 Forumite
    These people need there head examined. After the choas and still ongoing problem of the volcanic ash,a lot of airlines including BA are vunrable. Yes they are entitled to have grievances about contracts but going on strike just could abrupt it permenantly.

    Loads of people are struggling and unhappy with working conditions and have lost jobs in the current climate and plenty are just glad to be still having a job bringing in any salary. I'm sure a lost of forum readers would jump at the chance of their job.
    Maybe a few redundancies will bring them to their senses. Its the working man they are hurting..
  • silkcutblue
    silkcutblue Posts: 635 Forumite
    edited 10 May 2010 at 9:09AM
    I managed to fly without problems (or - rebooking for a week later to avoid a strike day wasn't a problem but a TIME-OFF-WORK blessing :) during the last strike.

    Unfort I've now got to do the same again. Problem being I am off out of the UK until 2011 so a strike now will mean I can't go home to wait it all out as I won't have one. :P

    On the upside, 3mil unemployed + a load of ppl who won't work...solution seems obvious.
  • silkcutblue
    silkcutblue Posts: 635 Forumite
    Lisa9982 wrote: »

    Anyone know where I stand if they do announce strike action for when I am supposed to be going? I booked the hotel and flight as a packahe direct with BA - would I be entitled to a full refund? Obviously there are other elements booked seperately like travel to airport, transfers etc.... would I have to claim that seperately on insurance?

    Keep watching the BA website. Last time it was very informative and uptodate with the ins and outs of everything re: flights running or CANX.

    Not sure about your insurance. Check the small print? (I'm not helping am I) :A
  • worldtraveller
    worldtraveller Posts: 14,013 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    edited 10 May 2010 at 8:06PM
    The British Airways cabin crew union, Unite, has announced fresh strike dates in its long-running dispute with the airline.

    Cabin crew will walk out for four separate five-day strikes in May and June.

    The first strike will begin on 18th May, ending on 22nd May, with the three further strikes, 24th-28th May, 30th May-3rd June and 5th-9th June.

    The newly-announced strikes will see staff walk out for a total of 20 days, covering spring bank holiday and school half-term holidays.

    BBC News
    There is a pleasure in the pathless woods, There is a rapture on the lonely shore, There is society, where none intrudes, By the deep sea, and music in its roar: I love not man the less, but Nature more...
  • Mr_Lahey
    Mr_Lahey Posts: 1,289 Forumite
    edited 10 May 2010 at 10:01PM
    I am intrigued as to how Mr Lahey commutes regularly between Heathrow and Leeds Bradford on BMI on a service which was stopped almost two months ago.

    I am further intrigued why someone would have chosen BA in the past to Manchester Airport, which leaves one of the most difficult 45 mile journeys imaginable, often taking longer by road or transpennine train than Kings Cross to Leeds by GNER (or its successor)!

    Actually, I am not intrigued. I think it is yet more Jackanory from a Walter Mitty character who spends too much time using 'Google' to invent a lifestyle he would love to have...but doesn't.


    Edited.

    ...
    The Summer Holiday of a Lifetime
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