BA ground staff at LHR: potential strike action, July 2022
Jul 1, 22, 7:34 pm - Wikipost
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Jun 20, 22, 6:50 am
#46
Join Date: Dec 2021
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 15
Originally Posted by QF Lad
Exactly, BA and its contractors can barely get enough employees to work for them, let alone be firing them.
The remuneration being offered for some of these airport jobs is ridiculously low, eg. 20k for baggage handler jobs at LHR with Swissport, early starts and late finishes, working outside in all weathers, and the wear and tear it has on their backs and bodies. I'd hate to be travelling with BA in July and get caught up in this, but if the staff revolt who are working day and night on these wages, I don't blame them.
I realise in this case the potential strike is concerning management, but some of these airport jobs are hard work for very low pay.
The remuneration being offered for some of these airport jobs is ridiculously low, eg. 20k for baggage handler jobs at LHR with Swissport, early starts and late finishes, working outside in all weathers, and the wear and tear it has on their backs and bodies. I'd hate to be travelling with BA in July and get caught up in this, but if the staff revolt who are working day and night on these wages, I don't blame them.
I realise in this case the potential strike is concerning management, but some of these airport jobs are hard work for very low pay.
I can see why staff feel frustrated, it just does not add up!
As a customer I feel frustrated. I'd happily pay another Ł50 on a Ł1000 long haul ticket if it meant that staff got paid fairly, and in return that built a better business model where there was less queuing/pain/hassle etc at airports!
Jun 20, 22, 7:30 am
#47
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 6,109
Originally Posted by FlyingNowhere
You're spot on - most of these jobs seem to be around Ł11/hr. In London where a small 1 bed flat costs Ł350k. And with shifts that start at 5am where you then have to pay for parking and so on!
I can see why staff feel frustrated, it just does not add up!
As a customer I feel frustrated. I'd happily pay another Ł50 on a Ł1000 long haul ticket if it meant that staff got paid fairly, and in return that built a better business model where there was less queuing/pain/hassle etc at airports!
I can see why staff feel frustrated, it just does not add up!
As a customer I feel frustrated. I'd happily pay another Ł50 on a Ł1000 long haul ticket if it meant that staff got paid fairly, and in return that built a better business model where there was less queuing/pain/hassle etc at airports!
Unfortunately, it won't change until investors demand so. But even that is unlikely, for the one and only question analysts ask is how are the airlines keeping costs down. Look at the post immediately above yours; the riot among investors is because of IAG wanting to raise its own share benefit scheme, not workers' pay.
Jun 20, 22, 1:59 pm
#48
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,919
Originally Posted by FlyingNowhere
As a customer I feel frustrated. I'd happily pay another Ł50 on a Ł1000 long haul ticket if it meant that staff got paid fairly, and in return that built a better business model where there was less queuing/pain/hassle etc at airports!
I’m not saying wages aren’t too low, far from it. Just that it’s not as simple as saying we should all agree to pay more.
Jun 20, 22, 2:19 pm
#49
Join Date: Dec 2021
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 15
Originally Posted by Confus
The problem is that it’s an unequal marketplace. Airlines tend to hire the most staff in their major hubs, so BA in the UK would have a higher cost base than a carrier based in a low-wage (often also low-safety) economy. So without international regulation equalising price rises, your Ł50 to BA might only need to be Ł20 to another carrier, which skews the market.
I’m not saying wages aren’t too low, far from it. Just that it’s not as simple as saying we should all agree to pay more.
I’m not saying wages aren’t too low, far from it. Just that it’s not as simple as saying we should all agree to pay more.
Other problem is consumers seem to have short memories. They take a flight with easybudget2jet airlines, loads of queues, loads of hassle, pay Ł35 for a cup of tea on board and then moan when bags are extra.
Yet when their next holiday comes around, they simply sort SkyScanner by price and easybudget2jet airlines are Ł10 cheaper than BA, so they fly with easybudget2jet again!
From what I understand the likes of EasyJet and RyanAir are actually some of the most 'successful' airlines out there - they generate far more profit/share holder return than the likes of BA. And as airlines are fundamentally businesses that is really all that matters to them. A few people bleeting on Twitter about long queues seems a small price to pay for record profits.
Increasingly there does not seem to be a very strong business model (in the UK) for those like me who are happy to pay a bit more for better service, because the low cost low service carriers are actually more profitable. (I think?)
Jun 20, 22, 3:34 pm
#50
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 17,203
Originally Posted by FlyingNowhere
They take a flight with easybudget2jet airlines, loads of queues, loads of hassle, pay Ł35 for a cup of tea on board and then moan when bags are extra.
Jun 20, 22, 10:36 pm
#51
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AS, US, Hilton, BA, DL, SPG, AA, VS
Posts: 1,526
Originally Posted by FlyingNowhere
I'd happily pay another Ł50 on a Ł1000 long haul ticket if it meant that staff got paid fairly, and in return that built a better business model where there was less queuing/pain/hassle etc at airports!
Jun 21, 22, 5:03 am
#52
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: BA Gold, several other less interesting cards...
Posts: 3,572
Originally Posted by LETTERBOY
The problem is that there aren't enough people who are willing to do the same for the airlines to make enough money doing that.
Jun 21, 22, 11:30 am
#53
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AS, US, Hilton, BA, DL, SPG, AA, VS
Posts: 1,526
Originally Posted by srbrenna
At the moment fares are sky high and people are still booking. People swallow fare rises for fuel, tax, airport costs etc so why not for wages?
If people are willing to pay more for this, why aren't the airlines already doing it? Furthermore, even if an airline was willing to try it, they'd be putting themselves at a competitive disadvantage with all of the other airlines, unless all of the other airlines did the same thing at the same time. All it would take is 1 or 2 airlines saying, "We're not doing that, we're going to keep our fares lower." Guess who will get the most bookings?
Jun 21, 22, 12:32 pm
#54
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA, VS, HH, IHG, MB, MR
Posts: 26,502
Originally Posted by LETTERBOY
The problem is that there aren't enough people who are willing to do the same for the airlines to make enough money doing that.
(For youngsters amongst us, American Airlines once decided to break ranks and rip out economy seats to improve legroom, but charging more. It was a commercial disaster and soon reversed.)
One day someone will write a thesis on why people are prepared to pay anything from Ł20 to Ł1,000 for a hotel room in the same city on the same night but under 2% are prepared to pay extra for a more comfortable journey to get there (based on, say, 10 flights per day across multiple airlines on a typical European city pair and only two of those flights being on legacy carriers and having business class).
We can then move on to a 2nd thesis on why people value their time badly and choose cheaper flights even when it means chopping hours off their trip or having, for example, to take taxis on arrival or stay in airport hotels the night before because of inappropriate flight times .....
Jun 22, 22, 1:58 am
#55
Join Date: Jul 2021
Posts: 26
Hello all - I appreciate the GMB ballot ends tomorrow as I understand it, so we should get news of the result and next steps soon. I have followed the thread with interest as I will be flying back into the UK mid-July so may be impacted. As luck would have it, I have an appointment I have waited 4 months for 2 days after I am meant to get back that is near impossible to move without facing a 6 months delay so starting to mull my options.
Could a kindly soul summarise the known likely areas impacted as there appears to a mosaic of disputes and information is patchy at the moment e.g. LHR - check in/ground staff? Any LGW staff also involved? I have seen mention of maintenance possibly being involved too but that may be press speculation.
Could a kindly soul summarise the known likely areas impacted as there appears to a mosaic of disputes and information is patchy at the moment e.g. LHR - check in/ground staff? Any LGW staff also involved? I have seen mention of maintenance possibly being involved too but that may be press speculation.
