Originally Posted by
golfmad
Without knowing the detail, my understanding is as follows:
The airline wished to make changes to the way it does business and as this impacted on employees contracts it entered into negotiation with the union representing those employees. The union would aim to negotiate the best deal it can for the employees alongside the changes that airline wishes to make. Collectively, the airline and the union came up with a plan. The union then put that plan to the employees they represent who rejected it.
It makes it very difficult for the union negotiators who will now struggle at both ends. They are clearly out of touch with the employees as the employees rejected the deal they negotiated on their behalf. At the other end, they have lost credibility with the airline representatives too.
It will be interesting to see what happens next.
Do you know if the union actually endorsed the tentative agreement it reached with BA?
Often, a tentative agreement will be put to a membership vote
without the union's endorsement, which means the union leadership did not like the deal (in which case a No vote is to be expected, and which actually gives the union additional leverage in further negotiations).