BAA strike

d123

TOMCAT wrote: »

I believe the good English public is behind us, and If you put yourself in our shoes you'd feel the same.

I would not put money on that opinion Tony. :mad:

Neither would I, Tony.

We had a discussion today about this at work, and whether they be good or bad, the English, Scottish and Irish who were present thought you and your "comrades" are scum to do this at this time. Picking on an innocent target for maximum publicity is the way everyone saw it.

Even the ones (like me) who arent going away over the period.

pennypuppy

There has to be another way than ruining the one chance in the year families get to meet. Why not target BAA's directors houses or something, protest there. Target the big customers of BAA so that they put pressure on it would count for much more.There has to be a better way. Unions are still so short term and unimaginative.they could achieve their goals better ways.
No striking particularly at this time of year is mean, people will miss out on seeing loved ones - sometimes even for the last time. That's cruel beyond belief.

pennypuppy

Quick question student son booked to fly back to uni on the 3/1/08 Stansted. I guess if its a 72 hour strike then he will be affected. No insurance either. Will he get a refund or later flight or would it just be totally cancelled?
(Honestly, if he had to stay home a few days extra his mum would be chuffed!)

amaccormack

alanrowell wrote: »

Ryanair from Prestwick to Girona then train / hire car to Bilbao

Or go to Newcastle and fly to Barcelona

Yay, 8 hours in various cars (or even longer on the trains since they don't connect with either of those options and would involve overnight stays), plus rubbish Ryanair baggage allowances, plus vast extra costs. Perhaps I'll get them to send the invoices to TGWU. But hey, if I'm doing that, I'll just get an private jet.

6.714285714

I am a traveller and also have no sympathy for the potential strikers.

The pension scheme is being closed to NEW ENTRANTS only, and does not affect current employees. Potential employees can see what they are being offered before they accept any job.

To the people who say closing the scheme to new employees is the first step to closing it all together - SAYS WHO?? That is just GOSSIP, and you cannot strike / ruin peoples holidays / get togethers / Christmases / New Years based on something that may or may not happen. That is just rediculous! If, five years down the line they try to chuck everyone out of the FS scheme and move them to a new one, strike then!

I cannot simply reschedule. My flight out is to meet a cruise ship. The cruise leaves on the 29th. It won't wait for me! If my flight does no go, I lose my holiday. I cannot simply go the week after - I have children in school.

To the person who complained about lugguing other peoples luggage around - THAT IS YOUR / THEIR JOB! Some people have to unblock other peoples toilets - and that is their job. They know it before they accept employment!

However, I do disagree with the person who commented about the (lack of) skills required to be a baggage handler (only muscle). All jobs are worthwhile, and all need to be done. I feel that comment was uncalled for and rude.

Surfingh2o

As above I have saved all my holiday for a holiday in the US, leaving (hopefully) on the 30th Dec 2007. After many calls to the airline and my travel insurance companies (I have Norwich Union and Insure and Go), I soon realised that my travel insurance doesn't cover me (not only me all of you - sorry, but it's true). Just so you are all aware - if the ballot is to strike, the union will have to provide 7 days notice. So, any one traveling after the 26th could be in trouble. As this is not a 'wildcat strike' and it is published (7 days warning), my insurance doesn't cover us. My airline could only offer to put me on the "next flight" which, due to the possible delays could be after my holiday.
If there is a strike BAA will have to pay millions to the airlines in compensation. What about compensation for joe public?
With regards to the pension - I lost my final salary pension 5 years ago. I had no option but to except it as I didn't have a union backing me up. My company still contribute to my pension which is a bonus.
So as the rest of you I'm awaiting the 20th Dec to see if the end of 2007 and beginning of 2008 is to be ruined. Like the rest of you I've gambled £4k of my families money (2 years of saving) - if there is a strike I may as well put it on a horse!

I do understand the reasons for a strike - just unsure why Joe public has to be punished rather than business people paying over inflated flight prices for their 2hr business meeting. Surely business people are BAA bread and butter. The only reason to strike over the holidays is for greater disruption.

kmt_2

TonyMcQueen wrote: »

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.

The BAA workers are being selfish (and foolish) here. The reality is that final salary schemes are unsustainable and coming to an end everywhere, and most of us have already gone through the loss of our schemes - union or no union.

And do not kid yourselves that all people are losing is a reschedulable holiday. If you strike it is going to cause real pain for some of us. Here's my case: my husband hasn't seen his parents and brothers for a year, and won't for another year if he can't this New Year. This isn't a reschedulable luxury, due to work and a baby on the way he can't go another time! We've already bought an extra flight in case the strike goes ahead (£150 that we can't afford) and if we do actually have to take it then it'll be at least another £300 for a follow-on flight and accommodation (we aren't covered by our insurance, I've already checked). It'll take us a day longer to get there and there will be a extra 5+ hour car/train journey at either end, which of course is great for a pregnant woman like me. Alternatively if the strike happens when we are trying to come home then we will be stranded (no doubt this will cost money too) and will lose holiday days which would have been used around the time my baby is due.

So thanks a lot. There will be plenty people in this kind of situation as for obvious reasons Christmas and New Year is when people travel to see their families. You could have had your strike at any other time of year and would have hit mostly holidays instead. And you expect support from the British public??

stratford_2

There is no reason why 'Unite' (the union involved) cannot offer the public some clarity about when they might call a strike, should the vote agree to action. This would enable people to make alternative arrangements (where possible) and not book flights or hotels for which they may not be able to get insurance to cover (or at the very least they would lose their excess). I'm having to hold off booking some new years celebrations as a result of this.

I understand the reasons for striking, but please do not think that doing so at this time of year would engender much in the way of public support.

The examples above show that it is not possible for everyone to reschedule holidays, particularly those that take place during school holidays or around public celebrations. Shame on you Tony for thinking otherwise :mad:

rubia1409_2

lesley1960 wrote: »

I have a flight booked for the 29th december , so i guess at risk of it being affected by strike action .

However i support anyones rights to take industrial action ,remember most of us wouldnt be in the position of affording holidays abroad had it not been for people willing to fight for the rights of ALL of us over the years .

We have turned into a nation of 'I'm all right jack '

I agree with you. No-one wants their plans disrupted due to strike action, whether it ruins their holiday or just their day to day lives. However, no-one really wants to strike either. I do not know the ins and outs of this dispute, but I'm sure that most of the workers will have thought long and hard about what they are doing and exhausted every other possible way.

We all have to fight to improve our daily lives. If everyone simply sat back and said "oh well never mind, it has happened to other people why shouldn't it happen to us?" or "it's always been this way" we would never change or progress. Remember, the people who are often making decisions about workers rights and pensions in big companies are often the same people who walk out with a golden handshake and full index linked pension when things go wrong!

My New year plans may well end up being disrupted, but I would never say don't go on strike. That is a right that has been long and hard fought for. Leslie is right when he/she says we have become a nation of I'm alright jacks!

debs66_2

So the 'all right jack' tag is ok for those who are who against the strike, but how about using it for those who want to strike? this action is for their own benefit and the comments on this site from those who would be involved show a complete disregard for anyone else.

I will not be traveller this christmas and new year, but i abhor the decision to disrupt the general public at the most precious time to them because it will reap more benefits for those in dispute with their employers. the strike, if it happens, is being planned to affect the maximum amount of people possible, and that is a game plan I cannot agree with.

has any of these would be strikers responded to questions about why they can't picket their employers directly...?

all i keep hearing is what might happen, what they could lose etc etc, but they think everyone else has an expendable amount of money that we can afford to lose. why do you think we are on this site...!!!:mad: