BA Cabin crew set to strike - 22 Dec 09 - 2 Jan 10

[Mal]

BBC News - British Airways cabin crew vote for Christmas strike

British Airways cabin crew have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action in a dispute over job cuts and changes to staff contracts.

The strikes are set to begin on 22 December and run until 2 January.

Cabin crew voted by nine to one in favour of the strike action, with an 80% turnout.

 

[estate]

I guess the unions think they must be in France.

I'm flying BA on Boxing Day and changing flights will cost me $1150. Can't wait...

 

[Mal]

I'm flying BA on Boxing Day and changing flights will cost me $1150. Can't wait...

I have 2 flights affected (24th LHR-IST, 1st ATH-LHR). They're both Qantas award flights, so that makes it slightly more difficult to deal with.

Can't work out whether the strike will go ahead or not.

 

[Chimpy]

Makes me glad that I am flying SQ

 

[estate]

Is this kind of thing typically covered under normal travel insurance policies? I've gotta dig mine up at lunch and have a look through.

 

[Mal]

Is this kind of thing typically covered under normal travel insurance policies? I've gotta dig mine up at lunch and have a look through.

Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't. Depends on the policy. Even if strike action is covered, check carefully the T&Cs around that. The threat of strike action has been around for a while, but the strike was only declared today. Some Insurance co's may claim that as the threat of a strike was advertised in the media on X date, that you should have known etc. It's potentially a battle I may have with my T.I co, but not sure yet...

 

[bambbbam2]

More here
BA passengers facing Christmas travel hell

"Thousands of Australians booked on BA flights between London and Sydney during Christmas and the New Year are likely to be forced to scramble to find flights with other carriers."

 

[kezsco]

Extremely lucky the Mrs accidentally booked Basel through Frankfurt instead of LHR. I was unhappy with her at the time. Maybe I should buy her some flowers...

 

[Kendall Roy]

Will QF scramble additional capacity on the Kangaroo Route in light of this?

 

[Fyfie]

This strike comes at a time most inconvenient - I have 3 BA flights between Christmas and New Year (SYD-BKK-LRH-CPH), and one just after the strike finishes. Thankfully, I just checked my travel insurance policy and it covers strikes...

What irks me the most was the question asked by Unite to the cabin crew: "Are you prepared to take part in strike action". Personally, I don't believe that gives them a mandate for a 12 day strike (despite the 92% that voted 'yes'). Granted, I don't know the history of the trade union movement over there... but I'm getting sick of strikes in the UK affecting me (e.g. Royal Mail strike earlier this year)

/rant

I read the FT thread this morning and someone posted the link to the results of the ballot: http://www.uniteba.com/ESW/Files/BA_BALLOT_RESULT_14_12_09.pdf [hope that link works]

Cheers,

Fyfie

 

[samh004]

I’m all for unions, but enough is enough with BA. We’re barely out of the recession and they’re haemorrhaging money and the unions think now would be a good time to fight over more money. Has no one told them what happens when BA pays them all that money and has no more money to operate the airline?

I’m all for starting to hire new cabin crew on a different contract and firing the lot of them that voted to strike. See how they like that!

Direct link to ballot result.

 

[Chicken]

If the strike does go ahead it will deal a serious blow to company finances at a time it is reputedly losing more than $2 million a day.

$2m a day? I wonder how long would BA last with this strike???

 

[dajop]

Well just checking flights between SIN and Australia on QF over late Dec ... 0's in every class on every route. I was checking my SIN-ADL flight on 23rd was J9 Y5 B5 K0 etc yesterday, today J0 Y0 etc.

Not surprising I guess, given that with the SIN and BKK BA flights that leaves 2 747's worth of pax with no seats ...trying to get to Aus on flights that were already rather full.

 

[markis10]

I’m all for unions, ...the unions think now would be a good time to fight over more money. Has no one told them what happens when BA pays them all that money and has no more money to operate the airline?

I got the impression from the news reports that the main sticking points were the reduction in numbers of each crew on the plane, could be wrong, regardless its going to be an ugly period for staff and pax alike.

 

[bambbbam2]

BA lost £400 million in the last financial year to March 30, 2009 and is expecting a similar loss this year as it battles the worst downturn in aviation history.

The airline has asked for concessions from staff and the pilots and engineers have agreed.

However the cabin crew, who on average are paid twice the pay of Virgin Atlantic cabin crew have refused.

 

[Mal]

What irks me the most was the question asked by Unite to the cabin crew: "Are you prepared to take part in strike action". Personally, I don't believe that gives them a mandate for a 12 day strike (despite the 92% that voted 'yes').

Welcome!

Indeed. I'm not sure that cabin crew actually knew what they were asking for. The problem is that the union/s have now backed themselves into a very dark corner and have no clue what to do.

The general feeling I'm getting at the moment is that the cabin crew are *not* being supported by the public, and there is massive damage being done to BA as a brand. BA is not being blamed though.

So the cabin crew are not going to win...

 

[Mal]

Qantas response:

About Qantas - Media Room - Media Releases - Qantas Statement on British Airways Industrial Action

Qantas said today that industrial action by British Airways (BA) cabin crew from 22 December would have no impact on Qantas operations between Australia and the United Kingdom.

Qantas Group Executive Government and Corporate Affairs, Mr David Epstein, said the airline's first priority was to its customers, including those booked on codeshare services operated by BA.

"All Qantas services between Australia and the UK will operate as scheduled over the Christmas and New Year period," Mr Epstein said.

"The action does, however, have the potential to disrupt the travel plans of Qantas customers booked on BA services.

"We have been working with BA overnight and today, and have determined we have sufficient capacity across the 12 days to accommodate Qantas ticketed passengers booked on BA codeshare flights between Australia and the UK on existing Qantas services.

"This will provide certainty for Qantas customers travelling to and from the UK."

Qantas will provide alternative options, where possible, for other affected customers, such as those booked on BA services into Europe out of London. These will include allowing changes to bookings without penalty and, on some routes, opportunities to travel on other carriers.

Customers will be contacted over coming days regarding their options. Some flexibility may be needed regarding changes to travel dates and times.

Updated information will be available on qantas.com as it becomes available, and customers will be contacted by their travel agent, or by Qantas where their booking was made directly with Qantas.

"We will continue to liaise with BA regarding its plans for the period between 22 December and 2 January, and closely monitor what further action we can take to minimise impacts on our customers," Mr Epstein said.

 

[harvyk]

About Qantas - Media Room - Media Releases - Qantas Statement on British Airways Industrial Action

Edit - It seems both Mal and I saw the same media release at the same time...

 

[anchew]

Wow... I'm flying SIN-MEL on 30 Dec on QF10 and have applied for an upgrade to Y+ so have been keeping an eye on SeatCounter. As dajop mentioned, 0 tix available across all classes - there were plenty yesterday. In fact, it seems that there isn't any QF tx available between SIN & any capital city in Australia during the entire period.

What are my chances of getting an upgrade now that there are zero Y, Y+ ,J or F tx available? Not looking good.

 

[dajop]

What are my chances of getting an upgrade now that there are zero Y, Y+ ,J or F tx available? Not looking good.

Still the hope that strike action will be averted, but given they are reaccomodating Y+, J & F pax off the BA flights as well as Y pax, then not looking good at all. If there weren't many J pax at all, then chances would perhaps be greater than before as Y+ pax might go into J ...etc, and around Xmas that is traditionally low period for J pax, so you never know.