BAA strike

sturll

Toto wrote: »

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.

Toto,
Here is the current legal position:

If there is a strike the airline have a duty to reschedule the effected flight. If you re delayed then compensation will be paid - food provided etc.

If you have to cancel then the airline will refund you. However they will only refund your flights, no connections, hotels car hire etc.

Your travel insurance WILL NOT cover you in most cases. The airline do not have to move your incoming flight if it is not effected.

The likely outcome is that you will be rescheduled on a flight and your holiday will be cut short by a few days.

But hey, at least BAA future employees have a pension

lackingwedge

Pete111

"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."

So why can't new employees not have the same rights as their collegues who have joined before a certain date?
I always hear this stuff about generous pensions being a thing of the past like their is some major shift in the law of economics that renders this obscelete, maybe someone can explain this to me.

"If existing staff pensions were directly threatened then this would represent a good reason to strike"

This is a trend, first you remove the rights for new employees, then you go after the existing ones, this has happened in most industries and is a familiar tactic.

Sturll,

"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."

How are we sure that the union had not exhausted all other channels before considering industrial action? If they hadn't then i stand corrected.

regarding the rest of your post.

"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."

that's true, but then you go on to say,

"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/...es/profile952/

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

You seem to scoff at the level of formal qualifications needed to become a baggage handler in the same post that you complain about a fellow poster trying to use their formal qualifications to win an argument.

Granted you don't have to study medicine to become a baggage handler, but a doctor is pretty useless if you need to fly out of Heathrow for your xmas holidays.
Even menial workers are an important cog in society and if they go through with their strike actions, we are going to get a painful reminder of this.

lesley1960

Toto wrote: »

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.

You should be covered by your insurance , i have checked mine and am covered for the flights and my cruise.

It shows how selfish we have become when no one cares about others rights to complain about their working conditions , whether you agree with what virgin and baa empoyees are asking for is neither here nor there , the right to defend your beliefs / rights / or needs should be upheld by everyone .

lackingwedge

"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."

As you very well know, my comment about them going on strike so that you can have more respect for them was not a serious suggestion.
I don't work in the Arline industry or have any vested interests in this dispute.

Toto

Maybe I am selfish but this strike isn't about people's working conditions is it? If this were the employees (who don't yet exist) striking then that would be mildly different, however I would then feel that they knew the position on pensions when they accepted the job. I did support the firemen and to a point royal mail but this is utter nonsense and I feel I have every right to be annoyed that my family along with thousands of others will be affected.

sturll

lesley1960 wrote: »

You should be covered by your insurance , i have checked mine and am covered for the flights and my cruise.

It shows how selfish we have become when no one cares about others rights to complain about their working conditions , whether you agree with what virgin and baa empoyees are asking for is neither here nor there , the right to defend your beliefs / rights / or needs should be upheld by everyone .

I would certainly call your insurers direct. The insurance to cover the flights is usually very minimal and in most cases the buck is passed to the airline.

I do believe pax affected by BA strikes last year are still in the process of claiming for their losses.

Re your last sentence. It is too vague to support. It is as if you are suggesting that whatever the reason, whoever effected and whatever the proposed outcome we should always support workers?
The coffee machine always seems to splutter a black piece of tar like matter into my cup - im going to strike. Do you support me?

notamused_2

Lesley,

You must have a very rare, policy. i've not yet come across anyone whose policy does cover a strike.

I can't help but feel that if it didn't, that you wouldn't be quite so sympathetic.

Surfingh2o

From my resent post, 65% said yes to a strike. Which means it's happening.

It's clear in this forum that we have heard from both sides. It's now the 20th, Isn't it time to start sharing information (dates/times)? I'm certain both BAA staff are as interested as the people that are intending to use the airport.

So have Vermont or Mr McQueen heard anything?

I understand that what will be will be. I'm just interested in knowing the dates, so I could either look forward to my break or prepare a contingency.

sturll

Toto wrote: »

Maybe I am selfish but this strike isn't about people's working conditions is it? If this were the employees (who don't yet exist) striking then that would be mildly different, however I would then feel that they knew the position on pensions when they accepted the job. I did support the firemen and to a point royal mail but this is utter nonsense and I feel I have every right to be annoyed that my family along with thousands of others will be affected.

I have to completely agree with what you are saying.

When one accepts a job surely the onus is on them to find out what the benefits of the given job are? And upon acceptence of the position they accept the terms and condidtions of their employment.
That is, if the company offers no pension plan then anyone wishing to work for them must surely make provisions and accept that.

Toto

Surfingh2o wrote: »

From my resent post, 65% said yes to a strike. Which means it's happening.

It's clear in this forum that we have heard from both sides. It's now the 20th, Isn't it time to start sharing information (dates/times)? I'm certain both BAA staff are as interested as the people that are intending to use the airport.

So have Vermont or Mr McQueen heard anything?

I understand that what will be will be. I'm just interested in knowing the dates, so I could either look forward to my break or prepare a contingency.

Well said, I'm past caring about what's right or not, I just want to know as soon as possible, after all we are due to fly out to canada in 3 days.