Airline passenger news and views

The Unite union have clarified their plans for a campaign of phantom strikes in which they announce strikes that they have no intention of implementing. These phantom strike calls will cause significant damage BA and its passengers, with only minimal cost to the union and its members. 

One cabin-crew member, an ardent supporter of the action, told flights.co.uk that this tactic would work because even the threat of a strike would make passengers think twice before booking with the British Airways. Better yet, the cost to BA of implementing their strike breaking plans and then re-organising schedules afterwards was massive and would bring the company to its knees more quickly than with the current strike program.

Obviously, not all cabin crew staff and probably not all strikers take such a hard line. But, what this conversation did illustrate was a willingness for some to destroy an airline, an employer and thousands of jobs in the name of collective action.

I do not profess to have any solution, or perhaps any understanding of the bitter enmity that drives this action, I just know that I am dreadfully sorry for the state of affairs that threaten to damage us all.