Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
#21
BA/UNITE both at ACAS today,
lets hope fotr a result, one they/we can all live with
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#22
In the interests of the workforce I hope he does smash the Union Keith, but I suspect that you are wrong, all he really wants to do is place BA on a modern footing.
He does not want BA to go the way of British Leyland and so many British businesses, indeed whole industries, in the 70's when they failed in the face of trade union opposition to modernise.
#23
BA and Unite are in public agreement at last, but BASSA the cabin crew arm, are the guys causing the trouble.
As I've said before, there is no support for BA cabin crew in the industry and the sooner the BASSA representatives realise this the better for it's members.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
#24
Barryw
This has NOWT to do with the 70's
a lot of the workin g practices have been agreed
The 2 sides have agreed on many items.
Both sides admit that.
BAZ)(MUCKER) It does no one any good to smash unions whoever they may be.
Its very difficult to negotiate with a gun at your head
thats not responsible negotiations
Iv been many times a negotiator so I have some background on this even done it for a while at national level.
anyway lets hope they settle in a reasonable way soon
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#25
the phrase "smash the unions" sums up one of the biggest problems with our industrial relations.
until management and unions learn that they should be working together for a common objective then there will always be strikes.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
#26
HOWARD
If you listen to the tone of unite leaders you will see they are trying to work with W.W. already given up many concessions/
Then listen to WW much more confrontational.
and using the courts whilst talking to the unions hardly the best way
lets get it settled my motto
Guest 673- Registered: 16 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,388
#27
Sounds like six of one and half a dozen of the other with management and unions equally to blame.
Willie Walsh has seen industry negotiations from both sides. He was a pilot who was a tough union representative. He then changed sides and went on to run Aer Lingus where he was known as Slasher Walsh for the number of jobs he cut.
Now it would appear that he is trying to reduce the power of the unions by hiring non-union cabin staff at minimum wages and keeping them on separate routes from the unionised staff.
It is tempting to play the old dinosaur and equate this with the union strife of the seventies in the motor industry etc but those times are long gone. Lord King privatised British Airways and made it into one of the most profitable carriers in the world. This is the airline we are considering today, not its nationalised forerunner.
There is nothing wrong in taking pride in a national carrier and it is to be encouraged. The constituents of British Airways were BOAC and BEA, and the staff of long haul BOAC used to refer to it as "Bullshit Overcomes All Competition." Short haul BEA stood for "Back Every Afternoon."
There is an element of ageism in all this. BA cabin staff are noted for wrinkly trolley dollies as they serve for far longer than their competitors. Having a constant turnover and an endless succession of nubile trolley dollies on minimum wage is tempting in more ways than one but always going for the cheapest option to compete with all the other airlines doing the same is the way to reduce safety standards to those of the lowest common denominator.
I hope that they resolve their differences as I want to see British Airways go from strength to strength and strikes are self defeating for all concerned. Apart from this, the future looks promising with the link-ups with Iberia and American set to reduce costs whilst the airline retains its separate identity.
P.S.
Can the title of this thread be changed? This confrontation has nothing to do with BAA, the British Airports Authority.
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
#28
There is a theory that Walsh has deliberately failed to agree terms with UNITE in order to distract,offset,disguise BA's current losses by using the Strike as the focus of attention and the reasons for their (BA) heavy losses.
Lets now see a reasonable mutually agreed end to this dispute.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
#29
Rubbish theory put about by lefties Marek. WW and Unite have come to an agreement. Both party's are working together to get BASSA to fall into line.
Good post Ed, except young trolley dollies are not reducing safety standards. I have taken the cabin steward tests and know just how tough they are. I scored an impressive 46%, came last in the group and qualified to fly as a passenger only. Mind you, I didn't have the prerequisite training. However, it demonstrated clearly to me just how well trained cabin staff are these days, and it is fair to say the great majority of airlines take safety training exceedingly seriously.
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
#30
Sid
I am a leftie..so what do you expect me to say but us Poles get rid of our annoying officials and leaders by either sending them by plane to Russia or inviting them to a Teddy Bears picnic in the forest...also,funnily enough, attended by the Ruskies.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)