Down Low

The deal on the table just now is a better one.

rossmacd

They aren't being punished. They knew the consequences of taking strike action, so why are they surprised that their travel perks have been removed?

Down Low

Their punishment for striking is having perks taken away but those who did not strike and benefit from the pay deal get to keep them.

The cost to BA of reinstating the perks would be nil - they'd actually benefit financially from staff using their hotlines and staff travel not to mention the fact that the dispute would be over and the need to pay millions of pounds for wet leasing would be disappear.

Can I help you

But BA reinstated the same perks they want to take away from MF to ALL crew after the dispute 6 years ago hence why MF are fighting to be treated in the same way.

Tobias-UK

Perhaps this is the reason they are stubbornly refusing to reinstate them now? They don't want to give other staff the impression they will automatically have their benefits reinstated if they take industrial action? Are there any negotiations going on with other BA staff at the moment?

pennineuk

I was looking for whether service levels were reduced on MF flights and specifically long haul. I remember years ago, before MF, when food in F and CW looked more like that from Y served on a plate.

Any further experience from others would be gratefully welcome so I'll know whether to stock up in advance.

pennineuk

For a flight that distance, this is pretty poor service. BA are not making this clear which I think is disgraceful. The very least they should do is give out vouchers at the airport for some pre-flight shopping of provisions.

When asking on Twitter, I got a very vague response of '[service reduction]...not that we are aware of'.

DrGee

Does seem a bit petty of BA. Perhaps those that didn't take industrial action but are happy to take the benefits accruing might put in a word for those that won them a better deal.

Jumbodriver

Its not petty when you consider how many other BA staff groups are represented by Unite. All of whom are likely to be in dispute (not necessarily Industrial Action) with the company over the next 12 months over pensions and other matters.

Unite clearly want to have a fight over it. That's why they are bribing MF with double their usual strike pay (£60 per day instead of £30). This has a cost to Unite of approx £1.7 million this month alone when MF total subs are only around £0.5m per annum.

Tobias-UK

The fact that we are not being inundated with complaints on here suggests that any service reduction has been very limited.

MPH1980

I've now done 3 sectors (1 SH, 2 LH) all with MF and, aside from service being a bit slower on the 1st long haul - I've noticed no difference.

Club Kitchen was set out, food was all served as it should be, appropriate drinks runs etc.

One of the crew on the 1st LH did admit they were down a person and said they were a bit rushed off their feet, but I, frankly, didn't notice.

LordBuckethead

There's no need to stock up - if anything, there's more food than normal as you get BOTH the dessert and cheese in CW without having to beg for it, and more flights are being fully catered so there's a (slightly) lower chance of your first choice not being available.

The major difference in CW is the meal tray (as above) and the speed of service as it takes a bit more time with fewer staff. For example pre-flight champagne might take longer to arrive and there might only be one crew member per aisle serving meals instead of two usually. But overall the service routine, including pre-meal drinks and dinner options, are the same, and despite having to rush around manically crew are getting it done as best they can with the resource they have, to the extent that most passengers don't even notice.

Ironically sometimes in F it has actually led to a more personalised service as crew are being encouraged proactively to offer 'dine on demand' if working down to even out the dinner rush...

pennineuk

Good to hear. Thanks for your comments.

LordBuckethead

There's a big difference though. Last time BA essentially won the dispute, and offering a small concession allowed the union to call off the strike while still saving a little bit of face. This time the union has essentially won in that's there's a reasonable pay deal on the table, but BA wants to send a message that striking has consequences. The union is trying to have its cake and eat it, and I suspect will have to offer some kind of concession of its own this time for balance.

KARFA

Yes, it was an RAF KC2 Voyager (A330) and was taking the PM to Hamburg for the G20. Some more photos here:

very odd can't link to a facebook post? the link just becomes invisible?

anyway, look up LHR: airside on facebook