Lite

Most of the £3.00 hourly rate is taxable. We undergo a tax audit with the HMRC annually where they ask for a sample of cabin crew to submit their downroute expenses and set the tax rate accordingly depending on how much of the £3.00 they deem is being spent downroute.

Simon Schus

Thank you, and that aligns with the HMRC link that I shared. Presumably the part of the £3.00 that is non-taxable is considered to be a business expense rather than income, leaving whatever is left to be considered as income (which you suggest is the majority of the £3.00) . Nonetheless, even if a high proportion of the £3.00 (e.g. £2.50) is considered income... I certainly query how BA get to the £21k.

But, I've probably offered too much of my own thoughts on what is a really serious issue (and for which BA MF have my support, though I appreciate and understand those who have opposing views/targets of support).

Robespierre

HMPS

If you are not entitled to paid sick days per the contract then yes tough to be sick and lose pay. If things work on seniority for scheduling then understandable the last in gets the " poorest " sifts / flights.

All this is known before one accepts the job.
And yes figures can be twisted around by both sides. The old adage " Figures can lie and liars can figure" comes to mind.

When is a good time to announce layoffs ?
Just when Lite's very clear and well articulated posts are winning a lot of sympathy for the union members ...your post may ignite fires which may work against you all. Wish you had posted who and where at the same time.

If they were laid off four weeks before X Mas, or day after would it help them ? Could one then say if they were told earlier they would have pared down their X Mas expenses , put off a mini vacation etc ? Layoffs are terrible and most of the time the person who delivers the bad news feels the pain, perhaps even thinking " but for the grace of god, there goes meself"

Outsourcing is a fact of life, surplus of labour from many other countries is a fact of life. Cannot make it go away. As long as there are people much poorer than those of us living in an affluent society, the conflicts will go on.
Although those at the top who decided to lop off X % of expenses by means A B or C hardly ever give it a second thought.

UKtravelbear

Except BA have made great play in how the strike is ruining passengers christmas yet have no compunction in ruining their own staffs.

HYPOCRITES.

sxc

Any news on how the discussions went?

zat_dude

Here's the article about BA's lay off in Germany.

bealine

Two things:

1. "I note a clear statement from BA earlier today stating that no full time MF crew get less than £21k / year."

Rubbish: Many full time Mixed Fleet crew earn far less than that! If they wish to "progress" their career, they have to undertake a few months in the Training Centre as a trainer where they earn little more than their flat salary, and then the majority of "trips" as an Acting C.S.M. are spent on short haul where the £3 an hour allowance does not mean much.

2. "The strike will ruin Christmas for our customers."

Again, that's rubbish. Legally, the strike dates could have been set for 23rd and 24th December which would have been far worse. Plans have been put in place, with union co-operation, to minimise the impact and customers whose flights are planned cancellations have been emailed in good time to make alternative arrangements.

I find it rather galling that BA management express surprise that this strike has been called. The low morale among Mixed Fleet crews has been well known in management circles since the day Alex Cruz was appointed.

HMPS

If you are referring to the German layoffs quoted before, again nothing hypocritical about that. Whether close to date X or not the layoffs have the same impact. We don't even know the demographics of the 140 laid offs to see it they even observe X Mas.

As to ruining the pax's Xmas, some truth in there if they are stopped from traveling to their loved ones or their visits are cut short. Pax were not at fault!

As to hypocracy....perhaps you have not been close to labour management interactions.....often the moves are known beforehand by both parties and Personalities of both parties have great impact on the flow and outcome of negotiations. even choreographed !

strichener

You can say the same about strike action. We don't know the demographics of the people affected by the strike action to know if they are travelling specifically to meet people for Xmas or just having a holiday where they managed to obtain cheap flights.

ahmetdouas

Full schedule?

Guys is this possible?

Globaliser

It's also possible for gals too.

Heathrow Tower

Is it possible that the £21k is an 'equivalent' salary which would be subject to the normal income tax bands/allowances?

If some (significant?) part of the salary is taxed at a lower/zero rate then it's possible that someone who is actually paid, say, £18k before tax takes home the same someone paid £21k in another job.

Tim1975

yes, the maths works. But it only makes sense if you equate reimbursed expenses with income and I don't think that that is right. Either the allowance is for genuine expenses so couldn't be counted as income or it is income disguised as expenses in which case that is tax fraud.

Agent69

The quote attributed to BA was quite clear. Nobody earns less than £21k. If it was manifestly incorrect you would have thought that unite would be waving around P60's showing lower figures.

Looks like Swissport have called off their strike, so happy to see people will be able to travel at Christmas relatively unaffected.

All it needs now is for somebody to knock some sense into the railway unions. 56 strike ballots in a single year, couldn't believe it.