Originally Posted by
Jackanory
What I see quite clearly, as has been outlined in earlier posts, is that for many years now BA has had industrial disputes with varying departments over the years. This doesn’t seem to happen with other UK airlines at the same rate and so consistently as with BA.
This points, in my view, that BA management is at fault. How can any customer have faith in an airline when the threat of strike is almost a certain factor because of the strained industrial relations. I imagine this will only get worse as BA has effectively told its entire workforce what it believes they are now worth.
Maybe because the travel world has changed significantly over the past 20-30 years with many new low cost airlines into a deregulated market all paying salaries that are considered the market rate? Low cost airlines (long and short haul) seem to have zero problem recruiting staff at these lower rates, even when employment is close to maximum there is still a queue of people wanting to work for these airlines. Simple economics would suggest this is the "market rate"
What BA management is trying to do is to adjust to these new and aggressive external market factors to position itself to still be here in 10 years. Staff on legacy contracts are naturally and fiercely trying to protect this historical higher pay and enhanced T&Cs because they know they cannot get anything close to them with any other airline. This in itself is an admission they know they are being payed way above the market rate in today's market.
IMHO this is why there have been so many bitter and aggressive standoffs in the past few years. 1. Legacy contract staff are fiercely opposed to any removal of what they see as their absolute god given right to continue to earn above market rates for an identical job role to a new BA recruit or those in other airlines. 2. BA management are trying to ensure the basic survival of the airline and to emerge from this in a competitive state, not hampered by higher costs than their rivals when every airline will be fighting for every single passenger.
Simples - again am not taking sides here but it always helps for both sides in a dispute to try and see the other persons view and pressures etc. Only then will a compromise be possible.