Jun 24, 2022, 4:09 pm
Last edit by: Tobias-UK
LATEST UPDATE: 7 July 2022
British Airway's employed ground staff, based mainly at LHR. have voted in favour of strike action in respect of a dispute relating to pay and conditions. This strike ballot is valid for 6 months, and allows the unions to nominate strike dates, provided the employer has 2 weeks notice of the strike. The general tendency in the UK is for relatively short strike dates, typically a day or two, but several of them separate by several days.
Updated: 7 July/2022, no strike dates have been provided and an agreement in principle has been reached with the Unions. Two weeks notice must be provided by the unions. This means there will be no strikes before 21 July 2022. However though the ballot is valid 6 months, the first strike needs to be within 4 weeks, which is 23 July 2022. This can extended by a further 4 weeks if the employer agrees, for example to facilitate a ballot of the agreement. So that suggests there won't be a strike in July and there may well be no strikes at all for this employment group.
Those involved in this strike are check-in staff, baggage handlers, lounge staff, gate agents, some turnaround managers, and related airport staff. Cabin and flight crew are not in this dispute. LGW and LCY flights are not in this dispute. Contract ground agents - at LHR and out stations - are also not involved. Some roles can be performed by management, but it is unlikely that core activties at LHR Terminal 3 and Terminal 5 can avoid significant disruption. If flights are disrupted by strkes then usually BA allows people to move their flights to alternative dates and other arrangements (e.g. rebooking on AA). There is a separate dispute being worked through involving call centre staff and engineers, but there is no ballot at this point, so any strike is some way off.
British Airway's employed ground staff, based mainly at LHR. have voted in favour of strike action in respect of a dispute relating to pay and conditions. This strike ballot is valid for 6 months, and allows the unions to nominate strike dates, provided the employer has 2 weeks notice of the strike. The general tendency in the UK is for relatively short strike dates, typically a day or two, but several of them separate by several days.
Updated: 7 July/2022, no strike dates have been provided and an agreement in principle has been reached with the Unions. Two weeks notice must be provided by the unions. This means there will be no strikes before 21 July 2022. However though the ballot is valid 6 months, the first strike needs to be within 4 weeks, which is 23 July 2022. This can extended by a further 4 weeks if the employer agrees, for example to facilitate a ballot of the agreement. So that suggests there won't be a strike in July and there may well be no strikes at all for this employment group.
Those involved in this strike are check-in staff, baggage handlers, lounge staff, gate agents, some turnaround managers, and related airport staff. Cabin and flight crew are not in this dispute. LGW and LCY flights are not in this dispute. Contract ground agents - at LHR and out stations - are also not involved. Some roles can be performed by management, but it is unlikely that core activties at LHR Terminal 3 and Terminal 5 can avoid significant disruption. If flights are disrupted by strkes then usually BA allows people to move their flights to alternative dates and other arrangements (e.g. rebooking on AA). There is a separate dispute being worked through involving call centre staff and engineers, but there is no ballot at this point, so any strike is some way off.
BA ground staff at LHR: Summer '22 strike threat suspended after deal agreed
Jun 24, 2022, 1:10 pm
#166
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
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yeah, sure. Whilst companies like Ba are just loving angels who live to sacrifice themselves to the greater good of their employees, their customers, and humankind and give give give with heartfelt and unbound generosity bless them…
Jun 24, 2022, 2:29 pm
#168
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 94
You know a key reason we have low unemployment in this country is due to the flexible labour market. If you don't like your job, go and interview elsewhere. Lots of BA staff learnt this during the pandemic...
Healthy labour markets and free business is based on competition, choice and flexibility. Unions are just bullies who wait until the time to screw people over comes and then go on strike. They dont create anything, they dont invest in anything, they just take take take.
Healthy labour markets and free business is based on competition, choice and flexibility. Unions are just bullies who wait until the time to screw people over comes and then go on strike. They dont create anything, they dont invest in anything, they just take take take.
Jun 24, 2022, 3:12 pm
#169
Join Date: May 2005
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Yes: can we break out a clear post with solid information about when the strike could or will happen, what the effects are likely to or will be, and what travelers can/should do in case of disruptions? Maybe as the first post (wiki?) or move the general discussion to somewhere else?
Jun 24, 2022, 3:36 pm
#172
Join Date: Jul 2014
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Jun 24, 2022, 4:07 pm
#173
Join Date: Mar 2020
Programs: British Airways GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond & Marriott Gold
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You sign contract, you work to that contract, you don't like it, leave. Going on strike, breach of contact - should be fired.
Jun 24, 2022, 4:08 pm
#174
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,659
No, but BA as a business have invested capital into running a company, they operate at risk. Unions dont, they just take members subscriptions and blackmail firms - What do they do for the UK economy?
You sign contract, you work to that contract, you don't like it, leave. Going on strike, breach of contact - should be fired.
You sign contract, you work to that contract, you don't like it, leave. Going on strike, breach of contact - should be fired.
Jun 24, 2022, 4:13 pm
#176
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
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I have created a wiki to give what I think are the key aspects in a factual way. By all means correct any errors.
I suspect a lot of lurkers and occasional flyers are quite worried about their holiday plans, so they will be looking through this thread for information on that, rather than the broader issue of the role of trade unions in society.
I suspect a lot of lurkers and occasional flyers are quite worried about their holiday plans, so they will be looking through this thread for information on that, rather than the broader issue of the role of trade unions in society.
Jun 24, 2022, 4:36 pm
#177
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 161
Personally I think the staff deserve better than serving someone so self indulgent.
You describe a workforce, there to serve you, but desperate (and fully entitled) to be paid what they were paid pre pandemic…as childish.
BA staff getting what they deserve and you getting away on your holiday are not mutually exclusive. You mention it’s a free market…use it.
Alternatively show a little sympathy and if you’re impacted BA will find you an alternative flight.
You describe a workforce, there to serve you, but desperate (and fully entitled) to be paid what they were paid pre pandemic…as childish.
BA staff getting what they deserve and you getting away on your holiday are not mutually exclusive. You mention it’s a free market…use it.
Alternatively show a little sympathy and if you’re impacted BA will find you an alternative flight.
Last edited by MH1981; Jun 24, 2022 at 4:54 pm
Jun 24, 2022, 5:54 pm
#178
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Brisbane
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Do you think there is any chance they will ground the airline completely like Alan Joyce did at Qantas? A slightly stressed Ausie here. We haven't been able ro travel in UK and Europe for 2 years and now another actual or potential hurdle.
Jun 24, 2022, 6:02 pm
#179
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: UK - Hampshire & London
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My view is that a total grounding is at the least likely end of the spectrum.
Jun 24, 2022, 8:37 pm
#180
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,596
No, but BA as a business have invested capital into running a company, they operate at risk. Unions dont, they just take members subscriptions and blackmail firms - What do they do for the UK economy?
You sign contract, you work to that contract, you don't like it, leave. Going on strike, breach of contact - should be fired.
You sign contract, you work to that contract, you don't like it, leave. Going on strike, breach of contact - should be fired.