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BA Strikers - you have lost

Jasper Kelly Jasper Kelly
Thursday 24 June 2010

I do feel a bit sorry for the BA cabin crew that have loyally supported their union and hung in there though the duration of the strike. So, this article is for them.

As that awful man on the TV advertisement might say, ‘Relax Dears, it was only a strike’. Actually, it was only your jobs, your future and the food on your table because, and let me say this simply, you have lost. Your union bosses have won, Willie Walsh has won, BA have won, the passengers have suffered and you have lost.

Today’s papers carry BA recruiting advertisements for the new cabin crew teams based at Heathrow – remember when you had a job like that? These new teams will have style, excellence and ambition – do you remember when you had those things?

The advertisements offer ongoing training, development and performance-related rewards and, perhaps most poignantly, an emphasis on empowerment that will enable you to become outstanding.

This means BA want people that are willing to train, contribute and earn their rewards. The past is a distant place, perks are gone, competitive edge is now everything. The airline is fighting for success and survival in a hard commercial world.  BA asked for your cooperation whilst your union asked for your loyalty. I respect you for making the choice but I suspect that you made the wrong one.

On the semi-positive side, you will not be alone; you will soon be joining a lot of other people who have had the wake-up call.

Comments Post a comment
Jack
Jack, Heathrow
24 June 2010, 10:37AM

This is a crap article. Of course we have not lost. We are going to renew the strike into the summer and really show BA that they have to stop their antagonistic and bullying ways.
Someone has to stand up for the rights of the workers. This current so called government of half-baked Eton and other posh school boys has no understanding of the real world. It is BA that took away our travel rights and threatened our legal right to strike. It was Walsh that went to the High Court and got told to piss off.
Anyone that tries to take our jobs as a result of these adverts is simply a scab and that is the kind of person that BA wants as they will not stand up for their rights

  Rating (0)
Brian Kempton
Brian Kempton, Wolverhampton
24 June 2010, 11:46AM

Sorry, Jack - but Jasper is right. The strike is over. BA have survived and I am not even sure whether today is a strike day or not a strike day.
BA were clever, they got their backup crews in place and have stood up to the pressure. They have managed to run a 70%+ long-haul service and keep a viable short haul going. They will now fight to win back customers and will probably succeed.
Your union bosses led you down the proverbial garden path. This was about their power and not the survival of the workers.

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Jane Fields
Jane Fields, Norwich
24 June 2010, 02:22PM

Unite have really devistated the BA workers here. Lets hope we see less union action and strikes that clearly do not help the staff or paying passengers.

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Peter Mount
Peter Mount, Reading
26 June 2010, 07:26PM

Jasper is right. Unite and the Bassa cabin crew members have done their worst without any concern for customers or the other BA employees.
Despite that, BA are now able to fly nearly 100% of their long-haul schedule from Heathrow. They also reckon to run a full service from Gatwick and London City. It will not be long before they are able to run the complete service without the strikers.
Well done Unite !! you have messed up these people's jobs, and probably damaged workers rights in general. There will come a time when worker need to fight for real issues and not just free travel perks. This abject misuse of strike power will damage their prospects.

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Dan
Dan, Dartford
28 June 2010, 12:04PM

Unite have let down the people that matter and have clearly not helped the staff or us paying customers.

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Andrew
Andrew, London
28 June 2010, 05:25PM

Unite have halted the latest of the strikes to allow BA crew to consider the airline's latest proposal. What if they refuse? This has been going on for 17 months and has cost BA £154 million so far, when will it end?

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