BA Strike Action

[bruce]

Carolyn have you considered the unsociable hours CC work ?
They are highly trained professionals who are responsible for the safety of hundreds of passengers both during and before an emergency. However, I think the BA CC are being greedy and should realise that this beleagured company cannot exist under the present terms, the public are already disillusioned with BA and this could be the final nail in the coffin. Aircraft will be available for lease along with the availability of many hundreds of ex BA employees - they will not be able to dictate their terms of employment if this is the scenario.

[dodger]

Carolyn have you considered the unsociable hours CC work ?
They are highly trained professionals who are responsible for the safety of hundreds of passengers both during and before an emergency. However, I think the BA CC are being greedy and should realise that this beleagured company cannot exist under the present terms, the public are already disillusioned with BA and this could be the final nail in the coffin. Aircraft will be available for lease along with the availability of many hundreds of ex BA employees - they will not be able to dictate their terms of employment if this is the scenario.

Unsociable hours?????

Right then that'll mean a pay rise is due for milkmen.posties,bakers,butchers etc?

Noncense.

[bruce]

Right then that'll mean a pay rise is due for milkmen.posties,bakers,butchers etc? (quote by Dodger)

As far as I know my milkman, postman and butcher (dont have a baker) dont have to deal with delivering in several different time zones in the course of a 12 hour shift. I never said I thought the BA cabin crew should have a pay rise, I think they are on a suicide mission.
Much easier to adapt to a routine of unsocial hours than to have no routine.

[carolyn]

I agree Bruce - re hours, safety etc, but reportedly Virgin staff do the same job (and presumably EJ, Ryanair) for around half the pay! So as you say they are being greedy. Whatever happens, they have already damaged the company .

Maybe going bust would be the best option - if a 'new BA' could rise from the ashes, they would be rid of the stranglehold of the unions, and would then be able to take forward the reputation that BA once had?

[laserblazer]

BA should bring O'Leary in to handle the negotiations.

[Michael Crane]

BA should bring O'Leary in to handle the negotiations.

He'd tell 'em to feck off!

[SAM SPARKLE]

Actually, Willie Walsh is no slouch when it comes to Unions, he is the ex chief negotiator for the Irish Airline Pilots Association, whilst he was a pilot with Aer Lingus, he eventually became their CEO before joining BA. Mind you, if I had my way, I would sack the lot of them (cabin crews that is) and re-hire them on reduced terms. . The fact they are on inflated salaries alone is enough to prevent them getting any public sympathy.

[bruce]

Exactly SamSparkle !

[shanagarry]

They do wear a badge (of sorts) - it's/they are very easy to recogise - they are the self righteous, world owes me/us a living moaners and they are invariably employed (I nearly wrote working) by a state/semi-state/pre-state owned, now privatised organisation.

Before all you civil servants start jumping 'up and down' - some of you do a worthwhile job - Hospital Nurses in the NHS for one. I can't think of any more.

Meanwhile in the real world it's great

[laserblazer]

Hospital Nurses in the NHS for one. I can't think of any more.

Teachers?

[shanagarry]

Trying to draw a parallel between Nurses and Teachers is akin to comparing day with night - there is no comparison. Fortunately nurses do not have the radical tendencies that most teachers have. Teachers on the other hand are as radical as the BA strikers - griping that they want parity with the private sector. If they worked the same hours with identical conditions - they might have a case - they don't.

There are many people in the private sector who would like parity with them - holidays and pensions to name but two.

They have the option to leave if they don't like it and work in the real world - they wouldn't dare - they know how well off they are

[White Rabbit]

I dont know if anyone interested but I paid for a " friend " to go back to the UK - Gatwick , on the 23rd of December returning 3rd January. She has B......d off and the flight is still available. If anyone wants it ( it cost me 100 euros ) , It costs 30 euros to change the name , pay for that and give me another 30 and its yours. Call 916450717 Mandy aka WR /WR2

[laserblazer]

I'm not a teacher but I do work in a school. Most teachers I come into contact with are satisfied with their pay, It's the conditions they gripe about. I would say they work longer hours than most people in industry. How many people in your company are threatened daily with physical violence? Trying to teach 30 kids is exhausting when there is at least one in the class who is deliberately disruptive and the rest just can't help themselves. There is little that can be done to discipline these kids, in fact the most disruptive do not get detentions but it is considered detrimental. In principle, they can be exited but this seldom happens as it is frowned upon from on high.

Then an inspector comes in and tells you that you are unsatisfactory, based on a 30 minute observation. Teaching is not a bed of roses.

So unless you really have first hand knowledge of what teaching is like, please don't knock it.

[shanagarry]

Firstly, I don't have first hand experience of teaching but I know a number of teachers who in the main are decent hard-working people. We have had this conversation many times and invariably resort to 'get a proper job if you don't like it'. I maintain that stance now.

Secondly, I do have first hand current experience in running businesses - 3 in fact. I have to make sure we generate sufficient cash to pay salaries each month to people who in turn have mortgages to pay and families to feed. We get no state aid - our bank may as well not be there, in the event we need assistance and we do not have a guaranteed state pension when we can't work anymore.

What was that you said about disruptive kids

[laserblazer]

I didn't question your business acumen, I asked how many managers in industry get threatened with violence every day? I also asked if you had first hand experience of teaching, which you confirm you have not. So please don't say teaching is not a proper job because you are clearly talking out of your backside.

Are you suggesting we don't have teachers and an education system?