Bad Attitude cabin crews go on strike

[Hells Granny]

With so many of the National Airlines going bust, It's not really much wonder Bloody Awful is playing hard ball, it's trying to keep itself going. It employs many thousands, and the cabin crew are paid better than many other airlines, so I reckon they should suck it up and be thankful they've got jobs in this economic climate.

But as Hugh says, it's gotta watch it's back, plenty of other carriers wanting their blood.

Cheers, HG.

[cheddar-caveman]

Hey HG and I thought I was the only voice in the wilderness who thought the BA cabin crews were cutting their own throats! Yes there are many (better) airlines out there now, f;ying the same routes, and BA really has to get its books in order to compete with them if they are to survive.

Most of the Middle Eastern ones, Emirates, Qatar etc. are just "flag carriers" for their particular Arab State and have billions of oil dollars behind them, hence they can offer realistic fares and do offer great service. They also DON'T have a union to worry about. All staff are on an annual, negotiated, renewable contract! (where have I said that before?)

Unfortunately BA is almost a "hasbeen" airline now. Even years ago they were known for their "granny" cabin crews compared to the opposition. If these strikes go ahead it could well be the death knell for them. £26m losses last year thanks to the last strikes! Just how long do these people think a company can keep going along this road?

[John]

Any group of people who go on strike in this era, put their jobs at risk.

That goes without saying.

But there are groups of people who would never go on strike, not
because they never have grievance. But they are extremely well
paid, expensed and secure.

It is not good enough to vilify a more vulnerable group when we have a society
with great and increasing divide.

[cheddar-caveman]

BA personnel a "vulnerable group"? I don't think so! Not well paid? I don't think so!

They, like so many of the people working in this country are paid well above the EU "average" for the jobs they do. This is what makes our products and services unattractive to the rest of the world as they are also above the average to cover the excessive salary costs.

[Papaumau]

BA have got to bring fare prices down to compete with other air lines, and I cannot see this strike doing themselves or the air line any good at all. I also wonder why its always Heathrow that as problems with the management  

BA don't know how to work cheap fares as they have always had the guaranteed high-amenity fares that the fat-cats are  - or were previously - prepared to pay.

Now that that lucrative seam is worked out and many of the business -class and club-class passengers are going budget all that BA can do is steal from their workers to keep their feet clear.

I say, let Virgin Airways buy a defunct British Airways for a song and then after Willie walsh is sacked Branson will show them how to run a successful airline WITHOUT having to confront or bully his staff in order to do it.

[Hells Granny]

I'll second that motion!

Cheers, HG

[cheddar-caveman]

I wonder if Sir Richard is behind all this anyway? Saw an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone and took it!

[Hugh]

Willie Walsh is fighting the union on behalf of BA. The union as been controlling BA
and they now want to regain control. The war will be won by BA and the once powerful union will very much weakened. The union is one new labours main financial backers. Its put G. Brown in a poor position just before the general election.   

[John]

I do not believe that the BA Unions has as much grip as the Mining Unions.

Unions will never be weakened - anything they lose will be Labour's loss.

There has been so much notice of this dispute, including legal challenge

that Brown has had plenty of time to smooth the waters.

He doesn't seem that interested in anything and if he is involved in
something. It is normally the result of previous disinterest.

[Hugh]

We'll just have to see how strong the union and its members are. Which ever the case I am pretty sure BA will win. The mining union were very strong when coal was an important factor.

[Papaumau]

I wonder if Sir Richard is behind all this anyway? Saw an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone and took it!

Wouldn't be a bit surprised !

Hugh....

You must remember that BA are NOT the powerful force that they once were and these days they are just hanging by a thread of debt.

Willie Walsh is a confrontational bully and a machismatic autocrat who is willing to see BA go down the tubes in order to uphold his enormous ego.

[Hugh]

Calling Willie Walsh a bully when I expect he's only doing what his master tell him is just not on.
As you say BA is hanging on by a thread and the only way it will stay in business is to cut back on over head. Small changes which the unions want will not be enough to save BA. The work force know by now the money no object pasengers have long since gone and they should now get in line with virgin with staff and pay levels
It's quite surprising to see share prices in BA have up

[Papaumau]

Hugh......

Willie Walsh is the CEO of BA and as such he has the power to do as he likes until the board decide that he is either worth his salt or he is a liability.

Such companies are not run by committee as to try to do so would see them grind to a halt.

We both agree that BA needs to find a lot of savings to be able to move into the future with strength but these moves MUST be made by negotiation and not by dictatorial edict. When changes are IMPOSED and not negotiated industrial strife MUST follow.

[John]

BA is no longer special - it is a brand.

In fact re-branded from British Airways. Like Team GB - Great Britain

Words that if spoken in full may upset someone...

[Papaumau]

Good point John !

I have been wound up for many years by PRIVATE companies calling themselves British this and Scottish that when in fact they are NOT national or nationalised entities as their name might suggest but they are in fact using this nationalistic tag to try to give them some extra plausibility in the marketplace.

This kind of branding should not be allowed as far as I am concerned !