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

[Mal]

And BA is going to court to try and stop the strike:

BBC News - BA in legal challenge to strike

British Airways is to take legal action to try to prevent a cabin crew strike set to begin on 22 December.

BA said it hoped the legal action would "protect customers from the massive stress and disruption" threatened by the 12-day stoppage.

It has highlighted "irregularities" in the strike ballot which it believes makes the outcome of the vote invalid.

 

[ANstar]

I got the impression from the news reports that the main sticking points were the reduction in numbers of each crew on the plane, .

Yep - they want to reduce the LHR crew numbers to be in line with the LGW fleet.

They also want to have new staff who join the company put onto a contract paying less. Currently BA have some of the highest paid crews.

From BA.com

Our Heathrow crew will remain the best paid in the industry. Average earnings for cabin services directors are £56,000 on long-haul and £52,000 on short-haul. For junior crew, they are £35,000 and £26,000 respectively. According to the Civil Aviation Authority, average costs of BA crew are twice those of their Virgin Atlantic counterparts.

 

[Fyfie]

For anyone who is booked from Australia to the UK/Europe during the strike time, it's worth going to 'Manage your booking'. It looks like they have tentatively re-routed passengers on other carriers for some legs.

And thank you Mal for the kind welcome - I've lurked for a little while and thought I should finally take the plunge and post.

Fyfie

 

[bambbbam2]

 

[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.

Well they must have sorted everyone out, or are hopeful that the planned strike action is averted, as this flight has now opened up to include 1 N/Q seat:
J9 C9 D9 I5 Y9 B9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N1 Q1 O0. Or they found enough seats for PAX going to SYD on QF's SYD flights.

 

[pauly7]

Well they must have sorted everyone out, or are hopeful that the planned strike action is averted, as this flight has now opened up to include 1 N/Q seat:
J9 C9 D9 I5 Y9 B9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N1 Q1 O0. Or they found enough seats for PAX going to SYD on QF's SYD flights.

Nice little Xmas bonus for Qantas the exodus from BA to their metal.

 

[aus_flyer]

Seems to me that the cabin crew and willing to cut off their nose to spite their face.

As someone over on FT described their decision - it's like turkeys voting in favour of Christmas.

 

[Mal]

Looks like the strike will be canned:

BBC News - British Airways cabin crew strike illegal, court rules

A strike by British Airways cabin crew planned for Christmas has been declared illegal in a High Court ruling.

The court agreed with BA that the cabin crew's union, Unite, had not correctly balloted its members on the strike action.

The union will not be able to re-ballot their members before Christmas and declare a strike, so strike action will be off until at least mid-Jan.

Of course there is probably the opportunity for appeals, but I doubt they will succeed.

 

[straitman]

Looks like the strike will be canned:

BBC News - British Airways cabin crew strike illegal, court rules



The union will not be able to re-ballot their members before Christmas and declare a strike, so strike action will be off until at least mid-Jan.

Of course there is probably the opportunity for appeals, but I doubt they will succeed.

A sensible outcome to a messy situation.