BAA strike

sturll

lackingwedge wrote: »

It worries me that many on here are having a go at BAA workers for trying to preserve their rights.

Because many of us have lost our final salary pensions recently (which were promised to us when we started work) does not mean that others should suffer the same fate.

Companies always plead poverty when it comes to pension provisions and giving a decent pay rise yet find money to fund outrageous bonuses for their senior management as well as platinum handshakes when they get rid of them.

Maybe if people in all sectors used collective bargaining like the staff of BAA to threaten to withdraw labour we all might have better pensions and a higher wage.

But this issue isn’t about the preservation of rights. Its about some baggage handlers striking for issues that don’t even directly effect them.

Added to that it is about workers of BAA coming on here stating quite arrogantly that the majority of public is behind them - when it is not.

It is about a strike that will affect only innocent travellers at a very special and important time of year.

There are many ways to address issues with your employer. People have gone on strike over the years for extremely important issues. Yet in the last 2 years the airlines have been hit by workers striking because someone was fired, striking because BAA have decided to alter their pensions plan etc. If the staff were striking over equal oppertunities then they would have my full support. But for this!

BAA is a company, and as a company they should be able to make decisions just as much as workers - if they don’t like it have a right to move jobs.

I just cannot believe all this over a few people who simply pick up a bag and move it.
Its like the Cabin Crew at Virgin - some of them are comparing what they do to the likes of Doctors.

Really.

Surfingh2o

Just been emailed this link

http://airport-blog.my-ani.com/node/93


It confirms that 65.44% voted for strike action. Not the full gone conclusion BAA staff through but enough.

Still no mention of dates.....

lackingwedge

" in the last 2 years the airlines have been hit by workers striking because someone was fired, striking because BAA have decided to alter their pensions plan etc...
"

Sturll with all due respect, i think this is a very good reason to strike.

I don't really know if the majority of the public who will not be directly affected by the strike are behind the BAA workers or not, but that should not affect their right to strike at a time when their hand is at its strongest (ie a busy time for BAA).

And these comments.

"BAA is a company, and as a company they should be able to make decisions just as much as workers - if they don’t like it have a right to move jobs."

"I just cannot believe all this over a few people who simply pick up a bag and move it.
Its like the Cabin Crew at Virgin - some of them are comparing what they do to the likes of Doctors."

Are quite staggering and shows the level of contempt you have for people who work in the airline industry, are you the Chief Executive of BAA by any chance?

notamused_2

Lacking Wedge,

Collective bargaining? I've heard it all now! Striking is more akin to blackmail or more basically a tantrum.

I try my hardest to ensure that my kids know that they won't get their own way by throwing a wobbly and now I have the task of telling my kids that they can't go on holiday because some jumped up middleaged workers are doing just that.

Strapped

sturll wrote: »

But this issue isn’t about the preservation of rights. Its about some baggage handlers striking for issues that don’t even directly effect them.

Added to that it is about workers of BAA coming on here stating quite arrogantly that the majority of public is behind them - when it is not.

It is about a strike that will affect only innocent travellers at a very special and important time of year.

There are many ways to address issues with your employer. People have gone on strike over the years for extremely important issues. Yet in the last 2 years the airlines have been hit by workers striking because someone was fired, striking because BAA have decided to alter their pensions plan etc. If the staff were striking over equal oppertunities then they would have my full support. But for this!

BAA is a company, and as a company they should be able to make decisions just as much as workers - if they don’t like it have a right to move jobs.

I just cannot believe all this over a few people who simply pick up a bag and move it.
Its like the Cabin Crew at Virgin - some of them are comparing what they do to the likes of Doctors.

Really.

I know I said don't feed the trolls BUT

...did you even read my link? :wall: :wall: :wall: :silenced:

(Biting my tongue also not to list all the multitude of skills needed to keep an airport running or my first class degree and postgraduate qualifications)

Pete111

This all strikes me as rather unnecessary.

I'm due to fly out on the 5th (no heartwrenching mission of mercy - just a well earned holiday) and am obviously hoping that I won't be affected -though that probably makes me very selfish indeed judging by the self rightousness of some of the posters on here.

It's impossible to get round the fact that this is all kicking off due to a proposal that as yet non existant future employees will not be able to enter an outmoded and increasingly rare if not obsolete pension scheme. If existing staff pensions were directly threatened then this would represent a good reason to strike but realistically, the current rationale is remeniscant of 70's style union sabre rattling at it's very worst..

Looking forward to seeing the results of the ballot but for the record (unsurprisingly) this is one member of the public who won't be behind the strikers!

lackingwedge

Notamused, equating people striking to a bunched of jumped up middle-aged people throwing a wobbly\tantrum is a bit silly.

Clearly you don't think much of their contribution and the fact that they can close down most of the UK airports at will shows that maybe they are more important that you think.
Maybe they should spitefully go on strike a bit more often so that people like you and Sturll give them a little more respect.

sturll

lackingwedge wrote: »

" in the last 2 years the airlines have been hit by workers striking because someone was fired, striking because BAA have decided to alter their pensions plan etc...
"

Sturll with all due respect, i think this is a very good reason to strike.

I don't really know if the majority of the public who will not be directly affected by the strike are behind the BAA workers or not, but that should not affect their right to strike at a time when their hand is at its strongest (ie a busy time for BAA).

And these comments.

"BAA is a company, and as a company they should be able to make decisions just as much as workers - if they don’t like it have a right to move jobs."

"I just cannot believe all this over a few people who simply pick up a bag and move it.
Its like the Cabin Crew at Virgin - some of them are comparing what they do to the likes of Doctors."

Are quite staggering and shows the level of contempt you have for people who work in the airline industry, are you the Chief Executive of BAA by any chance?

Perhaps i didnt explain myself clearly enough.

There are many ways to address issues with your employer and i do not feel striking is justified in this case. As a user said it is nothing short of blackmail and bullying.

Strapped:
There is no need to mention what level of education you have attained in order to justify your point. I work for a large Law Firm in the centre of London - Does that make my contribution any more justified? No it does not.

Have i once mentioned my education - No, i thought that as a user of this forum we were all on the same level? Please do not try and seperate yourself from me by throwing your 1st into the arena. You are not the only one here to have a good education, granted i have a higher second, but its quite irrelevant if you enjoy the salary i do

I hve made my feeling exceptionally transparent on this issue. I know there is more to running an airport than simply moving a bag. I think you most likely targeted my post as an oppertunity to show everyone just how educationally qualified you are.

FWIW here is what you need to be a baggage handler - Nothing more than an ability to hold a job in the UK

http://www.learndirect-advice.co.uk/helpwithyourcareer/jobprofiles/profiles/profile952/

Remind me again how this compares even remotely to a Doctor?

sturll

lackingwedge wrote: »

Notamused, equating people striking to a bunched of jumped up middle-aged people throwing a wobbly\tantrum is a bit silly.

Clearly you don't think much of their contribution and the fact that they can close down most of the UK airports at will shows that maybe they are more important that you think.
Maybe they should spitefully go on strike a bit more often so that people like you and Sturll give them a little more respect.

So in two posts you have gone from justifying striking for a decision that affects no current employee, to suggesting a strike just to show how powerful they are?

Your posts have lost any credibility from me.

What a ludicrous suggestion.

Toto

I just want to know what the hell is happening, sitting here waiting for news is horrible at any time but it seems a lot worse at this time of year. I'm worrying about if we'll go away but I'm really worried about what happens with the £3500 we've paid for the flights if the strike is happening.