The never ending dispute between BA and Unite continues to damage the BA brand and what little faith customers have in being able to rely on BA running a 100% interruption free service.
Unite have warned of further strikes, unless there is a negotiated settlement to the dispute.
The union will ballot for action "at the right time".
Thus customers can expect problems around Christmas, if this dispute is not resolved.
www.baisshite.com the latest news and views on British Airways, the world's "favourite" airline. This site contains updates on the ongoing strike action, and dispute between BA and Unite.
Tuesday, 7 September 2010
Monday, 9 August 2010
Prats!
From the Telegraph:
"Cabin crew at British Airways have been told by union activists to refuse to close aircraft window blinds after each flight because it could risk their health and safety.
The latest example of restrictive union practices at the airline was revealed in a memo circulated to workers who have taken 22 days of strike action since March in an ongoing dispute over pay and conditions.
The notice, posted on an online forum for the 11,000 cabin crew members of Unite, urged workers to "politely refuse" to close the shades because the task had "not been agreed" with union.
It follows the news that crew refused to distribute hot towels to passengers in its premium economy cabin, World Traveller Plus, unless the number of crew on each Boeing 747 flight was increased from 15 to 16. The hot towel service has now been introduced, but some cabin crew reportedly still refuse to give them out because it is not a union-sanctioned activity.
Cabin crew were asked by the airline to lower the shades after passengers disembark because direct sunlight can cause aircraft cabins to become uncomfortably hot while the planes are parked on stands.
The memo, seen by The Sunday Telegraph, says: "It has been brought to our attention that crew are being asked to close all the window blinds at the end of each flight. This has not been agreed with BASSA [branch of Unite] and no safe working practice has been trialled.
"The normal practice when anything new is introduced is that the Health, Safety and Welfare committee would carry out a risk assessment to confirm that everything is safe.
"Please note that no provision has been put in place for this extra duty and therefore you should not be carrying it out. If we do this it will become normal working practice and you will then become obliged to do it and then what next – pick up all the litter?
"Please politely refuse if you are asked to do this at the end of your flight."
A spokesman for Unite said it had "repudiated" the memo because unofficial action was illegal, and said the instruction should be ignored. "This just shows the level of ill-feeling on both sides of this dispute," he said.
A BA spokesman said: "Asking crew to close window blinds before they leave the aircraft is a reasonable request with absolutely no health and safety implications.
"Closing the blinds helps to keep the cabin cool while the aircraft is parked. This allows reduces the need for air conditioning power units on the ground, saving carbon emissions.
"It also provides a comfortable environment for customers and crew boarding for the next flight, and helps to ensure a punctual departure."
Talks between BA and Unite are set to continue on Monday in a bid to avert more strikes next month.
www.baisshite.com the latest news and views on British Airways, the world's "favourite" airline. This site contains updates on the ongoing strike action, and dispute between BA and Unite.
"Cabin crew at British Airways have been told by union activists to refuse to close aircraft window blinds after each flight because it could risk their health and safety.
The latest example of restrictive union practices at the airline was revealed in a memo circulated to workers who have taken 22 days of strike action since March in an ongoing dispute over pay and conditions.
The notice, posted on an online forum for the 11,000 cabin crew members of Unite, urged workers to "politely refuse" to close the shades because the task had "not been agreed" with union.
It follows the news that crew refused to distribute hot towels to passengers in its premium economy cabin, World Traveller Plus, unless the number of crew on each Boeing 747 flight was increased from 15 to 16. The hot towel service has now been introduced, but some cabin crew reportedly still refuse to give them out because it is not a union-sanctioned activity.
Cabin crew were asked by the airline to lower the shades after passengers disembark because direct sunlight can cause aircraft cabins to become uncomfortably hot while the planes are parked on stands.
The memo, seen by The Sunday Telegraph, says: "It has been brought to our attention that crew are being asked to close all the window blinds at the end of each flight. This has not been agreed with BASSA [branch of Unite] and no safe working practice has been trialled.
"The normal practice when anything new is introduced is that the Health, Safety and Welfare committee would carry out a risk assessment to confirm that everything is safe.
"Please note that no provision has been put in place for this extra duty and therefore you should not be carrying it out. If we do this it will become normal working practice and you will then become obliged to do it and then what next – pick up all the litter?
"Please politely refuse if you are asked to do this at the end of your flight."
A spokesman for Unite said it had "repudiated" the memo because unofficial action was illegal, and said the instruction should be ignored. "This just shows the level of ill-feeling on both sides of this dispute," he said.
A BA spokesman said: "Asking crew to close window blinds before they leave the aircraft is a reasonable request with absolutely no health and safety implications.
"Closing the blinds helps to keep the cabin cool while the aircraft is parked. This allows reduces the need for air conditioning power units on the ground, saving carbon emissions.
"It also provides a comfortable environment for customers and crew boarding for the next flight, and helps to ensure a punctual departure."
Talks between BA and Unite are set to continue on Monday in a bid to avert more strikes next month.
www.baisshite.com the latest news and views on British Airways, the world's "favourite" airline. This site contains updates on the ongoing strike action, and dispute between BA and Unite.
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
BA Strike Update - Unite To Sue
Unite has announced that it will take legal action against BA over the removal of travel concessions from cabin crew who have been on strike.
Seemingly the core of their case will be that travel perks are a "human right", and that to remove the perks breaches the EU's human rights legislation!
www.baisshite.com the latest news and views on British Airways, the world's "favourite" airline. This site contains updates on the ongoing strike action, and dispute between BA and Unite.
Seemingly the core of their case will be that travel perks are a "human right", and that to remove the perks breaches the EU's human rights legislation!
www.baisshite.com the latest news and views on British Airways, the world's "favourite" airline. This site contains updates on the ongoing strike action, and dispute between BA and Unite.
Tuesday, 20 July 2010
BA Strike Update - Union Votes To Continue
British Airways cabin crew have voted, albeit in a low turnout of less than 50%, to reject BA's latest pay offer by 3,419 votes to 1,686.
This means that there will be more strikes, even though technically less than 50% of the union have voted in favour of continuing strike action.
www.baisshite.com the latest news and views on British Airways, the world's "favourite" airline. This site contains updates on the ongoing strike action, and dispute between BA and Unite.
This means that there will be more strikes, even though technically less than 50% of the union have voted in favour of continuing strike action.
www.baisshite.com the latest news and views on British Airways, the world's "favourite" airline. This site contains updates on the ongoing strike action, and dispute between BA and Unite.
Saturday, 17 July 2010
BA Strike Update - A Summer of Chaos
I see that, aside from the problems caused by the ongoing BA strikes, hapless air travellers may also be subjected to further misery as a result of possible strikes to undertaken by employees of British Airports Authority (BAA) this summer.
Whilst these two disputes may, at first glance, seem to be unconnected it should be noted that the union that is stirring up the BAA workers is in fact Unite (the very same union leading the BA strike action).
Coincidence?
No, this is in fact Unite opening a second front.
www.baisshite.com the latest news and views on British Airways, the world's "favourite" airline. This site contains updates on the ongoing strike action, and dispute between BA and Unite.
Whilst these two disputes may, at first glance, seem to be unconnected it should be noted that the union that is stirring up the BAA workers is in fact Unite (the very same union leading the BA strike action).
Coincidence?
No, this is in fact Unite opening a second front.
www.baisshite.com the latest news and views on British Airways, the world's "favourite" airline. This site contains updates on the ongoing strike action, and dispute between BA and Unite.
Wednesday, 14 July 2010
BA Strike Update - BA Encounters Turbulence
Yesterday's BA AGM was a somewhat turbulent affair; as, unsurprisingly, the subject of the strike dominated the proceedings.
During the 3 hour meeting, Willie Walsh expressed his frustrations at being compared to Hitler and the devil.
He was jeered by the crew members; who accused the management of "bullying", engendering a culture of "fear and loathing" and "damaging the BA brand".
It is doubtful as to whether the investors, and indeed hapless customers, are impressed by either the company or the strikers.
This is a power struggle which may be won, eventually, by one side. However, it will be at the cost of the brand and a large number of jobs.
www.baisshite.com the latest news and views on British Airways, the world's "favourite" airline. This site contains updates on the ongoing strike action, and dispute between BA and Unite.
During the 3 hour meeting, Willie Walsh expressed his frustrations at being compared to Hitler and the devil.
He was jeered by the crew members; who accused the management of "bullying", engendering a culture of "fear and loathing" and "damaging the BA brand".
It is doubtful as to whether the investors, and indeed hapless customers, are impressed by either the company or the strikers.
This is a power struggle which may be won, eventually, by one side. However, it will be at the cost of the brand and a large number of jobs.
www.baisshite.com the latest news and views on British Airways, the world's "favourite" airline. This site contains updates on the ongoing strike action, and dispute between BA and Unite.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)