New BA Cabin Crew Strikes - 18/5 - 22/5, 24/5 - 28/5, 30/5 - 3/6, 5/6 - 9/6 2010

[Dave Noble]

Sorry but if told my boss I wasn't coming to work because I didn't like his conditions I would be looking for a new job. I equate the right to withdraw labour with the right to withdraw employment.

Lucky that there are employment laws in place to protect against 19th century attitudes then. There are laws in place that protect the right to withdraw labour without such response by employers

 

[Mal]

There are laws in place that protect the right to withdraw labour without such response by employers

And when striking workers (and their union) don't follow those laws, then the employer has certain rights available to them.

 

[Dave Noble]

And when striking workers (and their union) don't follow those laws, then the employer has certain rights available to them.

Yes and should BA believe that the union's planned action is not in accordance with UK law then they can refer it to the High Court

 

[Dyslexic traveler]

This is just wonderful , my guy at centurion rang today to tell me about the strike. my wife and I are off to Paris on the 28thMay in FC there trying to see if they can get us on to QA the only reason I did the BA thing was that centurion saved us 20k on the trip.

 

[Mal]

Qantas have published their re-accommodation policy:
Fly - Major Disruptions

The following outlines the options available to Qantas customers holding a valid Qantas (081) ticket for travel between 18 May to 11 June 2010 (inclusive) and travelling on British Airways operated services.

Passengers may, without penalty:

* Defer travel for up to 30 November 2010
* Re-route travel via the most direct routing using Qantas or British Airways
* Return to the origin port via the most direct routing using Qantas or British Airways
* Retain the value of the ticket in credit for future travel within ticket validity 12 months from the date of issue. If the new fare is lower than the existing ticket fare, a refund of the residual value will apply. If the new fare is more expensive then the existing ticket fare, the fare difference is payable by passenger. Applicable taxes may apply.

Conditions:

* All changes to travel dates must be made prior to original ticketed departure date
* New travel dates must be no later than 6 months after the original flight but no later than 30 November 2010
* The new flight must be booked in the same cabin and same booking class of travel (eg First, Business, Premium Economy or Economy).
* Lowest available booking class in the same cabin as original ticket can be used when rebooking to a Qantas or British Airways flight number if original booking class is not available during travel period 18 May to 11 June 2010 inclusive.
* Any additional ticket taxes applicable to new routing must be collected at time of ticket reissue
* All other rules and conditions of the ticket remain unchanged
* Any third party costs/penalties, such as hotel or other ground operator fees incurred will not be waived by Qantas

Frequent Flyer Classic Award Tickets

Customers are able to rebook/reroute a Classic Award booking due to the BA strike. Qantas Frequent Flyer will honour the original points & taxes quote provided customers are rebooked to another Frequent Flyer Partner Airline (in the same class, subject to Award seat availability) and are rebooked to the most direct route possible.
Normal service fees will not apply.
Refunds
Commercial/Any Seat Award

* If BA cancels any services and Qantas is unable to provide an alternative option a full refund will be provided.
* Bookings made with Travel agents must be referred back to the issuing agent for refund processing.

Classic Award

* If BA cancels any services and customers are unable to re-book subject to award seat availability, bookings can be cancelled and the Cancellation Refund Fees will not apply.

BA's master page regarding the strike is here: BA cabin crew strike 2010 - latest information - British Airways

 

[samh004]

I dont think so. The rights to strike are covered under law and such attitudes of "just sack them" belong in the 19th century imo

And the attitude that you can strike when a company is making losses, and has other environmental problems that’ll cause even more losses randomly and unexpectedly is perfectly fine?

I believe in unions to an extent, but their actions in this current climate are just stupid and don’t reflect favourably on them.

 

[Dave Noble]

And the attitude that you can strike when a company is making losses, and has other environmental problems that’ll cause even more losses randomly and unexpectedly is perfectly fine?

I believe in unions to an extent, but their actions in this current climate are just stupid and don’t reflect favourably on them.

Is it the union's fault that there were weather issues? There is nothing to suggest that they are striking due to recent weather issues and would seem that the situation would be the same if there hadn't been recent weather related issues

Should a union just ignore the ongoing issues with the company just because the company has been affected by weather issues which were nothing to do with them.

Maybe the 2 sides can come to an amicable agreement

 

[Voyages]

Attached is the file I received this afternoon from my Travel Agent re alternative carriers in case of cancellations of QF codeshare services operated by BA.

 

[samh004]

Is it the union's fault that there were weather issues? There is nothing to suggest that they are striking due to recent weather issues and would seem that the situation would be the same if there hadn't been recent weather related issues

Should a union just ignore the ongoing issues with the company just because the company has been affected by weather issues which were nothing to do with them.

Maybe the 2 sides can come to an amicable agreement

I’m sure the 2 sides don’t talk all that much, but I’m sure the best thing to do would be to make a statement that they intend to strike, once the airline has returned to profitability/the instability for whatever reasons has ceased. They can word it how they like, but basically saying that they’re not trying to bankrupt the airline, but they do want to discuss their rights/pay at some point, but they acknowledge that while everything else is going on, while their airline is haemorrhaging money, they wont strike as it doesn’t further their cause.

Of course, they wont.

 

[serfty]

To outline the basic legislation in the UK, as far as I can make out, if a strike has been voted for then:

• Employees can strike for up to a 12 week period.
  
• During this time the employer cannot sack an employee for striking - this is considered "unfair Dismissal" with heavy penalties applicable.
  
• After the 12 weeks are up, if an employee continues to strike, the employer may indeed dismiss them.

It's actually not so cut and dried, with the latter option certain to incur much court action.

 

[simongr]

I am sorry but if someone chooses not to come into work then they shouldn't be entitled to a job. You may think this is 19th century thinking but it was because of the 19th century conditions that the labour movement started - we are a very long way away from that. These people are not striking because they are being forced down the pit with no security gear - they are striking to hold onto benefits that other FAs dont get.

 

[Dave Noble]

I am sorry but if someone chooses not to come into work then they shouldn't be entitled to a job. You may think this is 19th century thinking but it was because of the 19th century conditions that the labour movement started - we are a very long way away from that. These people are not striking because they are being forced down the pit with no security gear - they are striking to hold onto benefits that other FAs dont get.

As long as the strike meets the criteria for a legal action, then they have the right to do so and have the protection as provided under law

The strike announcements have necessitated making an alternative booking for a LON-AMS that I had booked in case the BA flight does not operate and cemented the decision on whether to use BA or CY for flight to LCA. CY does look to have a decent business cabin to LCA

 

[Dave Noble]

I’m sure the 2 sides don’t talk all that much, but I’m sure the best thing to do would be to make a statement that they intend to strike, once the airline has returned to profitability/the instability for whatever reasons has ceased. They can word it how they like, but basically saying that they’re not trying to bankrupt the airline, but they do want to discuss their rights/pay at some point, but they acknowledge that while everything else is going on, while their airline is haemorrhaging money, they wont strike as it doesn’t further their cause.

Of course, they wont.

or , of course, do the strike whilst it is permitted under the vote which was taken. BA having been affected by weather , if anything, would be a good time to pursue since that same reasoning might provide more incentive for the airline to change their stance on the claims

 

[simongr]

As long as the strike meets the criteria for a legal action, then they have the right to do so and have the protection as provided under law

I don't dispute that it is legal - I do think though that the law is wrong.

The strike announcements have necessitated making an alternative booking for a LON-AMS that I had booked in case the BA flight does not operate and cemented the decision on whether to use BA or CY for flight to LCA. CY does look to have a decent business cabin to LCA

Side topic - have you been to LCA/Cyprus much? When are you headed there?

 

[Aikicoops]

18/5 - 22/5, 24/5 - 28/5,


Both of these stuff me up totally.

I have inter-Europe flights from LHR right in the middle of these two.

be totally p!ssed if this happens.

Cheers
Coops

 

[Mal]

Both of these stuff me up totally.

I have inter-Europe flights from LHR right in the middle of these two.

I'm fairly sure the first strike will occur. Not so sure about the other ones. At the moment it's a case of watch, listen and take appropriate action.

Who is your ticket booked through? Qantas? BA? Travel Agent? Start talking to them about alternatives, or if they can't offer any right now that are suitable - watch the BA website for strike updates.

 

[Aikicoops]

I'm fairly sure the first strike will occur. Not so sure about the other ones. At the moment it's a case of watch, listen and take appropriate action.

Who is your ticket booked through? Qantas? BA? Travel Agent? Start talking to them about alternatives, or if they can't offer any right now that are suitable - watch the BA website for strike updates.

TA booked my ticket. They were the ones that informed me of the strike action.

I will be flying into Marco Polo Airport Venice so will have to get the TA to look into options then.

Coops

 

[Sue Hailes]

Ugh, have LHR-CDG on 31/5 and CDG-LHR on 4/6. Maybe I should book Eurostar now....


I too think there must be a better way. :evil::evil::evil::evil::evil:

ugh ugh, have LHR-BCN on 7/6 (to start a cruise, with the family), not sure what to do but at least I'm not worrying about the ash cloud so much

 

[digga]

**rant**
My, how the Australian social landscape has changed in the last 25 years! How glad am I that I left! I'm leaving 22/05 for a different destination from the one I was originally booked to, have to book a hotel and a car to get to where I was originally going, can't cancel existing reservations, lost money yada yada. That's life, and them's the breaks. I'm not thrilled, but I'll cope. I won't be living in a gutter, or a cardboard box as a result. Even if I was, I wouldn't totally respond by negating the fundamental right of an employee to withdraw their labour ... just because my vacation got scr*w*d around. And it sure doesn't make me want to suddenly give human qualities to companies (it's a company for f's sake, not a baby), and put a curse on "evil organized labour" for "daring" to say something about their working conditions. Even in the 21st century. Nope, they don't work in mines against their will, as has been so astutely pointed out. But I'm sure if someone bought a house and one day the original owner came along and took back one of the unused bedrooms and 250m2 of excess garden, there'd be b*tching about a breach of contract and unfair withdrawal of contractually - and legally - protected rights. And I'm fairly certain that no one here would be sitting around saying that there was no basis for complaining, because of extenuating circumstances like the weather, freak geological events or an adverse prevailing economic climate.

I get that this is a forum of status chasers, and all that that entails. I'm here, so I can relate. Some of the comments I've read, however, are so way off-base that I just have a really hard time not saying how truly revolted I am. And how much it makes me sometimes regret my nationality of birth.

EDIT And I hesitated adding this, but what the hell, I AM old. I get that some of the comments are made by people of, shall we say, less life experience. However, shame on you just the same.
**/rant**

 

[Mal]

**rant**
My, how the Australian social landscape has changed in the last 25 years! How glad am I that I left! I'm leaving 22/05 for a different destination from the one I was originally booked to, have to book a hotel and a car to get to where I was originally going, can't cancel existing reservations, lost money yada yada. That's life, and them's the breaks. I'm not thrilled, but I'll cope. I won't be living in a gutter, or a cardboard box as a result.

While it's a rant, people can help you find the best solution... Perhaps some more details about your flights may be a start.