Hi everyone, some important developments over the last few days that seemed worthy of a “blog” or message from me, if only to let you know I am still around.
Firstly, the important things. Tomatoes! You will all be pleased to know my 9 plants have blossomed in the post-Bedfont warm summer and it is now a struggle to get into the greenhouse. I reckon I shall start harvesting in a week so it is salad for breakfast, lunch and dinner!
Talking about salads, an update on my post Bedfont diet. I was determined to lose the Bedfont bulge so, immediately after the last day of action, I weighed myself - 13st 10lbs. Horrified the diet started that day, No fat Greek yoghurt and fruit for breakfast, salad for lunch (low fat salad dressing of course), and grilled fish for dinner. I stuck rigorously to this for 3 weeks and encouraged by Louise took up jogging again. Full of expectation I then got on the scales. Bloody hell - you could have knocked me down with a feather, I was still 13st 10lbs! I was convinced the scales must have got stuck or I was in a time warp, but no all that work and not one pound lost. I guess it is an age thing or perhaps as Louise has suggested, “an alcohol thing”. Looks like when this dispute nightmare is ended the next battle will have to include giving up or at least cutting down on the beer/cider.
For the last 24 hours part of an old Frank Sinatra song that I have on my juke-box has been going around my head. It’s called “Cycles” and the final verse contains these lines
“ but I’ll keep my head up high
although I’m kind of tired,
my gal just upped and left last week
Friday I got fired.
You know it’s almost funny,
But things can’t get worse than now, so I’ll keep on trying to sing
But please don’t ask me how”.
Well yesterday wasn’t Friday but the final nail in my 35 year BA career coffin was hammered home as I received the letter that told me my final appeal had been turned down. It really is quite sobering to realise BA have been able to sack me simply because I chose to prioritise critical union work over flying, in the middle of a dispute.
10 years ago I would have not envisaged that being allowed to happen but we live in strange times and under different regimes (BA, UNITE). It seems that the job of BASSA branch secretary is a dangerous one as Mike Coleman, my predecessor was also sacked by BA in the same year as a dispute (1997). BA never change their spots!
I have an employment tribunal booked for February but BA are sparing no expense in hiring the top lawyers in opposing my claim. My expectations (having revised my opinion of the judiciary over the last 12 months) are not high. However on the bright side, unlike Frank “my gal has not upped and left” ...........yet!
But as another song goes, I have no regrets, I would do it exactly the same way. We simply cannot have BA dictating to us how and when our important union work should be done. If the big Union leaders accept that principle then they might as well pack their bags and go back to the world of free wills and cheap life insurance. We are all at the crossroads. They need to take that on board and quickly.
BA and Walsh are far more powerful and ruthless than previous BA regimes. They have assiduously "courted" the media and convinced the City that dismantling the union is the only option if costs are to be cut to help profits and bonuses to be raised.
The whole trade union movement is watching our situation with baited breath. I was invited to speak at a lecture in the House of Commons on Monday night and in attendance were leaders of other trade unions such as RMT, the Firemen’s union, Communication Workers and Prison Officers and they all sent their best wishes to BA striking cabin crew and told me how much respect they had for us because we are standing up to the big corporate bully. Their admiration for you all was quite humbling and almost frightening because their future they believe is in your hands with this dispute. (I know, I gulped hard too!)
They were as keen to learn the result of yesterday’s consultative ballot as we were. There has since been talk of a disappointing turn out but it was no surprise to us. Crew are sick of ballots and this was the second one on a deal that was very similar to the first. You said no then and now, by a 2 to 1 majority, you have said no again, and this time without the urging of BASSA. Had we not remained neutral the vote and the turn out would have added another 15% and we would be back where we were last February. Plus, the lie insultingly peddled by Walsh that crew only say no because BASSA tell them to has been buried for good. So the battle goes on - it has to, as yet there is no acceptable alternative. BASSA is still here, slightly underground maybe but very much here and ready for the task ahead.
Finally, now I have “been terminated” I know there are many of you I may not meet again (don’t worry you can put your Vera Lynn records away). I have said this before but I want to say it again - you (ie BA cabin crew) have all been an integral and massive part of my life. It has been an absolute pleasure to fly with you, an absolute delight to party with you and more recently an absolute privilege to represent you. I will never forget you or my life among you.
Bedfont brought it home to me just how great a community cabin crew are - long may, no hang on a moment, long WILL that continue.
Regards Duncan