BAA strike

Dick_Dastardly_2

TonyMcQueen wrote: »

I am a BAA worker and I have voted yes for industrial action (and I know most my friends at Gatwick have too).

I'm sorry people have to loose their holiday - but they need to stop being so selfish - there are more important things at play here than their reschedulable holiday.

Sorry for being so selfish but people in the real world find it extremely difficult to reschedule holidays. People in the real world have also had to accept that final salary pensions are no longer sustainable. Some people, like me, don't have a company pension scheme at all. Apologies again from a poor selfish traveller who just wants to get away on a hard earned holiday. Don't expect too much by the way of public support.

blindman

vermont100 wrote: »

mad rich i understand what your saying but lets be honest our pensions are the priority here...... dont know what you have planned for your retirement but if anyone tries to take itaway dont come bleating on here

Who's taking away your pension?

BAA strike
Some quotes:

Two other unions with members at BAA airports, Prospect and the Public and Commercial Services Union, are consulting members about whether to ballot on BAA's decision to close its final-salary pension scheme to new employees from the beginning of December.

If you are already in the pension scheme you're safe surely??

BAA defended its decision to close the scheme to newcomers by saying the move would protect the company and pensioners from stock market volatility and the alternative money purchase schemes would provide more certainty over the level of company contributions.

So they are in fact protecting the ones who already are in the scheme. Keeping the final salary scheme open to all comers indefinitely will surely mean there could be a big shortfall for all in the future

New comers to BAA should weigh up the pros and cons of their salary level with the fact that now the pension scheme is not as attractive.

union noted that BAA's Spanish owner, Ferrovial, had reported a sharp jump in profits, ..........Brendan Gold, Unite's national secretary for civil air transport, said last night: "Our members are saying 'spend some of that money on pensions or face the consequences.' "

So you (the union) want more money basically.

What about letting BAA spend these alleged profits on improving the shabby service at LHR, LGW etc.

IMHO
I think you are shooting yourselves in the foot by asking BAA to spend money on YOU when they really need to spend it on their appalling service.

No sympathy.

debs66_2

I'm so sorry but I have to agree regards sympathy. Most people - me included - have to pay into our own pensions. We work hard all year, try and save a bit for a rainy day, and in the meantime try and use any spare cash we have to do what pleases us most, and for many that is to take a well earned holiday.

These strikes are formulated to hit the most people at the most important time. Why should we be sympathetic knowing that the general public - babies to the elderly - are being used as a political punch bag.

Any tears I shed will be for the families, children and grandparents who are left stranded because of the strike action. The strike sickens me for this reason alone.

TonyMcQueen

Look - if you all let your employers walk all over you then that's your choice. We are standing together to tell BAA that we're not going to be pushed around.
A good living pension is the reason that people have haulled other people's luggage around for 30 years and this is the first step to taking that all away.

Tell me, Is it fair that BAA makes hundreds of millions every year for their shareholders and still try to take more from us? A lousy £100 christmas bonus doesn't buy much festive spirit when some workers are even expected to come to work on boxing day.

Everyone has been given plenty of warning and if 'Grannies', 'Babies' or, as more likely, Rich city bankers haven't recheduled and are caught up, so be it.
But I still don't understand why people think their week skiing in Aspen is more important than our quality of life during retirement.

d123

TonyMcQueen wrote: »

But I still don't understand why people think their week skiing in Aspen is more important than our quality of life during retirement.

You are full of it. Please explain how it has any bearing on your "quality of life" when it has no bearing on your pension.

BAA's decision to close its final-salary pension scheme to new employeesfrom the beginning of December.

It's nasty, I know, but I actually hope something happens to ruin your festive season as much as you are so happy to do to the general traveling public.

debs66_2

Dear Tony McQueen.

It is very convenient of you to put a rich city banker mask on the face of every passenger you will cause massive upheaval to during the strike. makes it nice and easy doesn't it. that way in your mind you are only screwing the super rich, not people actually like you who just want a bit of christmas cheer.

'A lousy £100 bonus for christmas'. I bet there are hundreds on this site who get nothing extra for Christmas.

Re hauling cases around - that's the job description! don't take the job if you don't want to do that work.

Why also do people think they should get a share of heir company's profits?? If the company you work for does well, that keeps you in a job. If you want to be a rich company owner, give up your job and start a business...

... and if you do that, don't forget to pay your staff well and give them pensions and massive Christmas bonuses. if not they may walk out and ruin your business.

Debs
(a normal joe public worker who busts a gut, is debt free, expects no more than she works for and reads the small print before she takes a job).

and no, I'm not going away for Christmas. But I do still care about the fate of others whether I know them or not.

blindman

TonyMcQueen wrote: »

Look - if you all let your employers walk all over you then that's your choice. We are standing together to tell BAA that we're not going to be pushed around.
.

So being pushed around is:

Your firm securing your salary related pension
Getting a £100 bonus for just doing the job

Sounds good to me!

A good living pension is the reason that people have haulled other people's luggage around for 30 years

I think the reason people have lost hauled luggage around for 30 years is because they have no other skills other than muscle.
I won't comment on the monica "Thiefrow..";).

spender

I am just an ordinary person who works very hard and we have sacrificed other things this year in order to take my mother in law on holiday in January. She has recently been widowed so it has been very hard for her and my OH and this holiday is one thing that she is really looking forward to, she has never been away on holiday as such and never with family to boot (however ask me after the week's over whether I would do it again!!!!!!!!!!!!). I have not got the heart to tell her about the impending strike. I wish I was a rich banker skiing in Aspen, however perhaps then I would be flying by private jet.

I could sympathise with the BAA staff but can't understand if it is just for new employees. My place of employment changed the pension rule for new staff and people either accept or opt out but they still have the option of the pension offered.

Andy_L

I believe their fear is that BAA closes the scheme to new joiners then, after a few years and a 2 tier workforce has been created, they close the old scheme as all the new employees won't support the "old lags" in defending it.

jane31

I'm sorry people have to loose their holiday - but they need to stop being so selfish - there are more important things at play here than their reschedulable holiday.[/quote Tony McQueen]

Well, Dear Mr McQueen

So i've saved a year and a half to buy a very expensive flight to australia to see one of my best friends get married and now it seems i may not. Not only do i lose my very hard earned cash (or at least some of it knowing what insurance is like), but i may also miss the big day something i've been looking forward to and have planned my entire Christmas/NY around, for over a year. How dare you call me selfish and say there are more important things to play than a reschedulable holiday. What about savings... weddings... once in a lifetime opportunities.. seeing friends... family...? Not to mention the budgeted CHristmas i'm having to allow for the Oz holiday... the work cover organised, the time off, rent.... the list goes on...

I'd like to see you voice your views in front of everyone else missing that flight - see how selfish we all are then..

I understand that this strike is important for you and that you have very important issues to fight for. Don't get me wrong on that. But don't you dare try and shift responsibility for yourselves onto us innocent holiday makers either. Posting comments like that are hardly going to get us on side and support you, are they?!