Senior Crew Voluntary Redundancy
 

Announced today.

Worldwide CSLs (Pursers) and Eurofleet CSDs and Pursers are to be offered VR.

:-(

So get rid of the people with all the experience?

Pretty much.

Since the changes to crew compliments several years ago, we have been very top heavy on both fleets, with senior crew working down into main crew positions on both fleets, either as a permanent option, or ad-hoc per trip.

There are no plans to offer VR to main crew, unfortunately, so there will still be a lot of very experienced main crew on both fleets.

An innovative way of dealing with the staff shortages that have been alluded to by some on here....

It seems a good opportunity to go with a payoff. I think its much better when companies offer a voluntary scheme first.

I would bite their left tit off for it.

Kinky

Sad news, but I'm sure it will suit some employees. Good luck to those who go for it!

Yes but seems an odd step given the apparent present crew shortages.

Presumably though - they've been paid as the senior crew members they are right?

So it's an expensive way for BA to keep them flying.

I guess I can understand BA's position and I have to say - I think my reaction is changing to "if I were a CSL - I'd take it" ... I think BA's going to have some challenging times coming up - passenger kilometers were already falling and the economic output isn't looking overly rosy.

Might be better to get out now on a half decent offer than be forced out or go out in a second round scheme that isn't as good.

I get confused between CSLs/Pursers/CSMs, etc. Is there only one senior crew member per flight or do larger aircraft have multiple positions?

The Golden tickets?

Shame. Although I've had some so-so crews, the shorthaul pursers have been overwhelmingly excellent.

:D ^

I don't think so. This allows them to replace some of the expensive ones with cheaper replacements and they will get more cheaper ones for the same money. The peak season will be done before many of these leave too.

Always... ;)

Yes, still paid as a Purser, so as you say, an expensive way to keep them flying.

They have pussy footed around with this issue for a long time, when the decision should have been made years ago as to what they wanted to do.

It varies across fleets and aircraft, but you are correct, that larger aircraft, on some fleets, will have other senior crew onboard to manage a particular cabin or area etc.

BBB you will be offered the money as well, mark my words.
Will you leave, I'm not sure.

We will see.

I took advantage of VR. Best decision I ever made. I had become a right moaning minnie after my job role kept being changed over the latter years of my employment. Looking back I now realise if those changes hadn't been made everyone in the company would have been out of a job.

Get out is my advice, much better than becoming all bitter and twisted.

Bitter and twisted is great when you take control of it and don't let it control you. :D

:D

I don't wish to make comparisons but I have noticed IB cabin crew have improved immensely since IAG took them over. Even the old ones seem to have accepted the changes. Maybe not having an F cabin has helped?

I'm like Hiddy - got an offer for voluntary early retirement when I turned 50 that was too good to refuse.....

Just after I left they started "enhancing" the pension scheme - to the detriment of all those left in (eg, announcing with a couple of months notice that from a certain date pension would be contributory - on salaries which were artificially deflated to take account of the non contributory pension - two of my pals suddenly found themselves £250-300 a month worse off!

My pension was big enough that once I stopped commuting to London and paying a nanny - I was around £100 a month worse off than at work...... No brainier!

Our last offer was £1000 for every year with a maximum of £40,000.

Can't remember how much I got but it was the minimum they were obliged to pay. Although I didn't refuse the cheque money wasn't the motivating factor in my decision anyway.

Why?

Do you not believe that I would go?

Given the offer that would be likely, it would keep me going for 5-6 months, covering all my bills, outgoings and needs till a job came along, and to get out of BA, it would be worth taking a pay cut now that I don't like in the south east any longer, and using the money to re-train should I be able to get a job sooner.

BA is not the be all and end all of this world. It may have taken me a little longer than some others to realise it, but realise it I have.

I'm pleased that you have realised that BA isn't the place for, many have known that for years. ;)

BBB, any thoughts on what you would like to do if yourself careerwise if your VR is approved? I am guessing travel is out of the question ;)

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

You got my language flags wrong... ;)

Just to be clear... I can't apply for it at the moment. I would have to wait for it to be made available to main crew grades.

But yes, there are several options, of which I have already said no to before, but have been approached several times to re-consider my decision. So, we will see.

BAexit

I hope you get it BBB, or that you run into something else so you won't need it!

You come across as someone who was always very enthusiastic about your job (and at some time BA), so too bad you feel this way now.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CkAsO-VVEAAFTBJ.jpg

Ain't that the truth? I never like hearing this, I don't know how necessary it is and I do know it is strife for the people involved anyway. Hope it works out well for everyone.

As a long time reader (and much less frequent poster), it is really sad to see how the morale and attitude towards their employer of our resident BA contributors has deteriorated over the past decade. We've also lost a number of great posters along the way.

As someone who works for a different company which would be viewed by many as a similarly "British institution", it's definitely something I can empathise with. Short term cost-cutting at the expense of the brand (and its former values) seems to be the first chapter of the CEO's handbook.

Good luck to you both BBB and CIHY.

Don't worry about me, I am as happy as pig in ..... :D

That's the spirit CIHY!

It's important to understand what you can and cannot do and not be a victim.