Dealing with potential BA stike

[Mal]

It appears that QF have stopped selling J seats on QF301 (ie: BA10), so perhaps they are starting to make some plans. Still selling Y though.

And Qantas has released this bit of information:
Fly - Major Disruptions

British Airways Cabin Crew Industrial Action

British Airways (BA) has advised that its cabin crew have voted in favour of industrial action. No dates or other details are available at this stage.

Any industrial action would have no impact on Qantas operated services.

Qantas is closely monitoring the situation and developing contingency plans to minimise the impact on Qantas customers booked to travel on BA services, should the need arise.

 

[N860CR]

At least they're being proactive. There are 3 J seats on QF1 that day... not sure if I should bother trying to be moved onto them given nothing is set in stone yet.

** scratch that, as expected they aren't very interested at the moment. I was told however that, should the flight be cancelled, they will reacommodate me on a QF service. I did specifically ask if it makes a difference that I'm booked on BA10 and not QF301 and was clearly told "No, it doesn't", however time will tell.

 

[Danger UXB]

At least they're being proactive. There are 3 J seats on QF1 that day... not sure if I should bother trying to be moved onto them given nothing is set in stone yet.

** scratch that, as expected they aren't very interested at the moment. I was told however that, should the flight be cancelled, they will reacommodate me on a QF service. I did specifically ask if it makes a difference that I'm booked on BA10 and not QF301 and was clearly told "No, it doesn't", however time will tell.

Please keep us informed of your discussions once/if dates are announced
cheers Danger UXB

 

[serfty]

I'm on QF29 to HKG in early march; in the last few days it's gone from Quite open to chockers.

 

[N860CR]

I hate to be the one to make the early call... but I don't believe they will strike. I think with the reduction in support since pre-xmas, along with the recent court ruling and BA's strong threats to those who will walk off the job, BASSA/UNITE will just use this to try and achieve something close to what they want. Even if a strike eventuates, I believe BA will overcome it as the turnout won't be as big as the vote suggests.

Remember, many people voted before the court ruling and before the threat of removal of staff travel.

 

[MJ Coliandris]

I fear I may have a more long term & damaging issue.

I am a Qantas Gold card holder who lives in London. I visit Australia a couple of times a year, but obviously the primary route to maintaining my status is by using BA whilst flying domestically or around Europe.

Should there be considerable disruption this summer, I stand to lose out on the necessary status points to renew my Gold Card. The worst case scenario of course, is that BA go belly-up altogether & my chances of ever maintaning a decent level of privilege with ANYONE within oneworld are gone forever!

A few years ago a similar thing happened whilst I had a bmi Gold Card. I spent six months in Australia just after Ansett left us & therefore missed out on many thousands of miles. I wrote to bmi who were very sympathetic & to their credit they renewed my Gold Card.

Perhaps I should think about rejoining their scheme, but then they have no Australian affiliation! I can't win!

It seems inconceivable that the UK & Australia would not have an airline alliance of some sort, but it is a very real possibility at present.

 

[N860CR]

An update... a meeting in London today (25/02/10) by UNITE/BASSA has revealed that "talks are continuing" and no strike dates will be set as yet.

This stretches the earliest possible date for a strike to March 5th. I'm close to breathing a sigh of relief... for those with travel in mid-late March, though, keep an eye on things.

 

[Mal]

An update... a meeting in London today (25/02/10) by UNITE/BASSA has revealed that "talks are continuing" and no strike dates will be set as yet.

This stretches the earliest possible date for a strike to March 5th. I'm close to breathing a sigh of relief... for those with travel in mid-late March, though, keep an eye on things.

And still with no strike action planned, the start date of any potential action keeps dragging backwards. I think you're now right for your outward journey - not sure what date your inward is.

From everything in the media, and various internet chatter - BASSA have big internal issues to deal with. One suspects they won't declare a strike for at least a few days more - assuming they don't self implode!

 

[N860CR]

Yes my sigh of relief is now totally exhaled. Return leg is on QF from HKG so no concerns there.

It has been very interesting monitoring progress. They do seem to have pushed themselves into quite a corner.

 

[codash1099]

Yes my sigh of relief is now totally exhaled. Return leg is on QF from HKG so no concerns there.

It has been very interesting monitoring progress. They do seem to have pushed themselves into quite a corner.

I'm turning blue! If they'd decided immediately and had a 12 day strike I'd have been OK.

Now they're in danger territory for me. I'll let the sigh out if they delay long enough that they eliminate the last half of March. 6 BA flights in that period

 

[Danger UXB]

Now it looks like there is a pilot problem too.
BA Strike News Blog Archive BA pilots rule out Easter strike
I'll be glad to get this trip on the 23-3-10 out of the way
Danger UXB

 

[Danger UXB]

Sorry old story. Still be glad when the 23rd is past
Danger UXB

 

[Mal]

Update:

BBC News - British Airways strike talks 'to end Tuesday'

"On the initiative of Brendan Barber, both Unite and British Airways have now committed to the objective of completing these negotiations by close of play on Tuesday 9 March to determine whether or not a mutually acceptable settlement can be achieved."

So things should be a lot clearer by Wed morning Australian time.

 

[codash1099]

Hopefully some light at the end of the tunnel (or is that an oncoming train:?

Unite union tables last-minute deal to avert crippling BA cabin crew strike -Times Online

 

[Mal]

Hopefully some light at the end of the tunnel (or is that an oncoming train:?

The sound you hear is the union self imploding. Will be very interesting to see what happens today. If BA reject the offer as "not good enough", then the union either has to strike (and BA are well prepared for a strike!), or lose face by deciding not to strike.

BASSA are in a horrible mess - all of their own doing.

 

[anat0l]

...and BA are well prepared for a strike!...

They are?


Moreover, what's this face thing? After all, BA in UK are like QF in AU. Both are hated. A strike may be viewed by the public as the BA top-heavies are being greedy rather than the unions holding the travelling public to unreasonable ransom.

 

[Mal]

They are?

BA cabin crew strike ballot 2010 - Latest News - British Airways

They have alternative crew trained up to replace cabin crew (other BA employees), wet leased planes/crew(?) on standby, and additional capacity through their airline partners.

A staffer who strikes (or calls in sick without the correct medical report from a BA doctor) will lose their staff travel perks... which for a lot of staff is a very important perk of their role, and some would have to resign in that case (as many commute to/from LHR and other BA bases from overseas/other parts of the UK)

Even if the union calls a strike, it will be over quickly I believe.

Moreover, what's this face thing? After all, BA in UK are like QF in AU. Both are hated. A strike may be viewed by the public as the BA top-heavies are being greedy rather than the unions holding the travelling public to unreasonable ransom.

BA as a company have done very well in the media stakes in the UK and have basically "won" the PR battle. The unionised BA cabin crew have generally been painted as greedy, out to destroy the company, overpaid compared to other airlines and a set of dinosaurs that refuse to change.

The union shot themselves in Dec by declaring the 13 day strike over Christmas/New Year. Public sentiment quickly turned against them due to their "grinch" type behaviour.

There are even union members turning against the union. If they get a "nothing" result after their negotiations with BA, then even more staff will turn against them.

The prospect of a strike has damaged BA substantially , but they still have the support of the stock market and will become a better organisation as a result if they don't concede to the unions demands.

 

[anat0l]

They have alternative crew trained up to replace cabin crew (other BA employees), wet leased planes/crew(?) on standby, and additional capacity through their airline partners.

A staffer who strikes (or calls in sick without the correct medical report from a BA doctor) will lose their staff travel perks... which for a lot of staff is a very important perk of their role, and some would have to resign in that case (as many commute to/from LHR and other BA bases from overseas/other parts of the UK)

Even if the union calls a strike, it will be over quickly I believe.

There's always a question as to whether the alternative crew (who have been hastily trained) will do an adequate job compared to the crew who strike. Of course, you could also have the would-be-striking crew fronting up for their job and doing it half-a**ed, which is probably worse.

I'm surprised that BA can remove perks such as staff travel from a striking staff member. This is probably showing my ignorance of industrial relations and employment benefits laws in the UK. I realise that a striking staff member would be in contravention of their terms of employment contract and hence open themselves to have their rights to perks/pay withheld, but some may view that as heavy-handed behaviour on the part of BA to remove or deter a worker's (open and inherent) right to strike. I know this sounds now pro-union (and I'm not siding with the unions on this one, nor on many other strike situations...), but just pointing out a sticky ethical situation....

 

[Smackbum]

I haven't been following this with any care as my next flights on BA aren't until December, but it seems that BA management have a bit of a one-track mind.

One of the articles stated that BA lost about 400M pounds last year and expect to lose 600M pounds in the current year. They would have to almost eliminate cabin crew completely to get back in the black, so why don't they tackle the problem the same way Qantas did - start up a LLLC airline that hires the absolute minimum cabin crew for the absolute minimum wage and gives them the absolute minimum training to comply with OH&S issues. Then dump all but your most lucrative passengers on the most lucrative routes.

Or maybe they should take a look at themselves in the roomful of mirrors and then they might see that trying to demonise cabin crew as the only problem is fooling no-one but themselves. Oh - and the union bashers.

BTW - would anyone here get out of bed for $20K a year? That's the starting salary for cabin crew, but BA want to put on a 2-year wage freeze and up their workload to boot.

But as I said - I haven't been following this one too closely and may have confused some facts.

 

[Mal]

They would have to almost eliminate cabin crew completely to get back in the black, so why don't they tackle the problem the same way Qantas did - start up a LLLC airline that hires the absolute minimum cabin crew for the absolute minimum wage and gives them the absolute minimum training to comply with OH&S issues. Then dump all but your most lucrative passengers on the most lucrative routes.

They are trying this in a different way, by trying to introduce staff on new agreements (called "New Fleet"). However, it has huge issues.

BTW - would anyone here get out of bed for $20K a year? That's the starting salary for cabin crew, but BA want to put on a 2-year wage freeze and up their workload to boot.

Don't believe all the spin that is spun. With perks and other benefits, the wage is not $20K / year. For example a return flight to NRT earns nearly $1500 (before tax) in allowances for a staffer (4 day return journey). Plus, with the limited hours they are rostered on each month, the job could be considered part time and many BA staff have alternative employment as well.
There are also some staff on extremely generous historical pay rates.