Pilots strike talks break down. [2008 thread]
Mar 11, 2008, 6:40 am
#91
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Bronze :(
Posts: 134
No Strike Over Easter
The BALPA website is currently reporting that the union will not be calling a strike over Easter.
No real details on whether they're postponing the strike in general, or even what they're defining as "Easter" in this context. The weekend? The week afterwards? Many people plan breaks in the week after the actual Easter weekend, are those plans safe?
From what I understand they must still declare some dates within the next week or so, or they'll have to re-ballot.
No real details on whether they're postponing the strike in general, or even what they're defining as "Easter" in this context. The weekend? The week afterwards? Many people plan breaks in the week after the actual Easter weekend, are those plans safe?
From what I understand they must still declare some dates within the next week or so, or they'll have to re-ballot.
Mar 11, 2008, 6:52 am
#92
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Birmingham
Programs: Mucci (Chevalier de Sagesse), Betty Ford Alumnus, BA Gold, ScaryTeam Elite+
Posts: 400
BALPA announcement has this as a footnote:
If they are looking for such comfort before calling action (which is probably prudent based on the risk of a damage claim), this could take some time.
Is there a lawyer in the house?
BA is asserting it has a fundamental right under Article 43 of the EC Treaty (“Article 43 EC”) to establish operations in another EU Member State. This right includes both establishing new airline services in other EU Member States, as well as acquiring existing operations from third parties. BALPA is seeking a Declaration from the Court as to whether Article 43 does apply and whether it may rely on the strike ballot to avoid a claim for unlimited damages.
Is there a lawyer in the house?
Mar 11, 2008, 7:34 am
#95
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: LGW.
Programs: Cunard WorldClub-Gold,Silverseas Venetian society,Alitalia Mille miglia,SPG,Fairmont,IHG.
Posts: 733
The BALPA website is currently reporting that the union will not be calling a strike over Easter.
No real details on whether they're postponing the strike in general, or even what they're defining as "Easter" in this context. The weekend? The week afterwards? Many people plan breaks in the week after the actual Easter weekend, are those plans safe?
From what I understand they must still declare some dates within the next week or so, or they'll have to re-ballot.
No real details on whether they're postponing the strike in general, or even what they're defining as "Easter" in this context. The weekend? The week afterwards? Many people plan breaks in the week after the actual Easter weekend, are those plans safe?
From what I understand they must still declare some dates within the next week or so, or they'll have to re-ballot.
Mar 11, 2008, 8:06 am
#97
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Bronze :(
Posts: 134
BALPA have been to court and got a "Stop the clock" against the strike countdown-sorry don't know the proper legal terms but in effect it means the countdown of days they have to announce strike has been halted.Hope that makes sense..just to be clear, they are not saying there will be no strike, just not "over Easter"....
They make direct reference to us members of the public having an Easter break - and for different people that could mean anything from mid-March until late-April.
Are they really saying that they won't strike before then?
I think they need to be clear, because if they just mean "No strikes over Easter weekend" rather than "Easter holiday period" and they call a strike in (for example) early April, I can see a lot of very angry people who feel they've been misled. Which wouldn't help the pilot's campaign at all.
On the other hand, if these dates are safe, they should say so and show themselves in a more positive and understanding light.
Mar 11, 2008, 8:14 am
#98
Join Date: Jan 2000
Programs: Latinpass Million Miler. BA Gold.
Posts: 3,544
Absolutely _Sin. Easter school hols here in Surrey are 7-19 April, and we are taking one of those once-in-a-lifetime trips to Central and South America, linked in with some major once-off family events. I would be devastated if we had these disrupted by a BA strike, and seriously out of pocket too with all the other arrangements already made.
Mar 11, 2008, 8:28 am
#100
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,806
Mar 11, 2008, 8:31 am
#101
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Nottinghamshire
Programs: BA Silver, HH Silver.
Posts: 2,200
Mar 11, 2008, 8:53 am
#103
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 6
Absolutely _Sin. Easter school hols here in Surrey are 7-19 April, and we are taking one of those once-in-a-lifetime trips to Central and South America, linked in with some major once-off family events. I would be devastated if we had these disrupted by a BA strike, and seriously out of pocket too with all the other arrangements already made.
Most schools in my area have their holidays 7-19 April as well. We personally have a trip booked during that period that has taken considerable time, planning and expense to put together. A strike during this period would affect many many families and would not show BA Pilots, or its Union, in a good light.
It would be very useful if BALPA could put some firm dates out rather than keeping everyone on tenderhooks!!!
Mar 11, 2008, 1:06 pm
#104
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 10
I fear Balpa are defining Easter as 21st to 24th March.
My understanding is that once the High Court rules on the legal issue, the strike clock will start 'ticking' again.
As it stood Balpa had to call a strike by March 20th, and also had to give 7 days notice to BA, ie the strike must have been announced by March 13th.
So they only had 2 days left to call a strike.
I'm unsure what agreement they have reached with the High Court, but if the situation is as presented (ie the strike clock is 'frozen', not reset), once a ruling is made (assuming the ruling is that Balpa are free to strike), there will only be 2 days to call a strike.
This is why I am quite surprised at the 'Easter' announcement...if a ruling was made in the next few days, Balpa would have to call a strike over Easter, or go back and hold another ballot of members.
Perhaps we're not being told everything.
Mrs Bloggs and I are celebrating our 10th Wedding Anniversary by flying to New York on 26th March and I'm afraid the uncertainty is spoiling all the anticipation for me (though not for Mrs B, who thinks I'm stupid, but will nevertheless blame me if she's sat in the airport all day not swilling pina collada's in Manhattan)
My understanding is that once the High Court rules on the legal issue, the strike clock will start 'ticking' again.
As it stood Balpa had to call a strike by March 20th, and also had to give 7 days notice to BA, ie the strike must have been announced by March 13th.
So they only had 2 days left to call a strike.
I'm unsure what agreement they have reached with the High Court, but if the situation is as presented (ie the strike clock is 'frozen', not reset), once a ruling is made (assuming the ruling is that Balpa are free to strike), there will only be 2 days to call a strike.
This is why I am quite surprised at the 'Easter' announcement...if a ruling was made in the next few days, Balpa would have to call a strike over Easter, or go back and hold another ballot of members.
Perhaps we're not being told everything.
Mrs Bloggs and I are celebrating our 10th Wedding Anniversary by flying to New York on 26th March and I'm afraid the uncertainty is spoiling all the anticipation for me (though not for Mrs B, who thinks I'm stupid, but will nevertheless blame me if she's sat in the airport all day not swilling pina collada's in Manhattan)
Mar 11, 2008, 1:30 pm
#105
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Bronze :(
Posts: 134
I fear Balpa are defining Easter as 21st to 24th March.
My understanding is that once the High Court rules on the legal issue, the strike clock will start 'ticking' again.
As it stood Balpa had to call a strike by March 20th, and also had to give 7 days notice to BA, ie the strike must have been announced by March 13th.
So they only had 2 days left to call a strike.
I'm unsure what agreement they have reached with the High Court, but if the situation is as presented (ie the strike clock is 'frozen', not reset), once a ruling is made (assuming the ruling is that Balpa are free to strike), there will only be 2 days to call a strike.
This is why I am quite surprised at the 'Easter' announcement...if a ruling was made in the next few days, Balpa would have to call a strike over Easter, or go back and hold another ballot of members.
Perhaps we're not being told everything.
Mrs Bloggs and I are celebrating our 10th Wedding Anniversary by flying to New York on 26th March and I'm afraid the uncertainty is spoiling all the anticipation for me (though not for Mrs B, who thinks I'm stupid, but will nevertheless blame me if she's sat in the airport all day not swilling pina collada's in Manhattan)
My understanding is that once the High Court rules on the legal issue, the strike clock will start 'ticking' again.
As it stood Balpa had to call a strike by March 20th, and also had to give 7 days notice to BA, ie the strike must have been announced by March 13th.
So they only had 2 days left to call a strike.
I'm unsure what agreement they have reached with the High Court, but if the situation is as presented (ie the strike clock is 'frozen', not reset), once a ruling is made (assuming the ruling is that Balpa are free to strike), there will only be 2 days to call a strike.
This is why I am quite surprised at the 'Easter' announcement...if a ruling was made in the next few days, Balpa would have to call a strike over Easter, or go back and hold another ballot of members.
Perhaps we're not being told everything.
Mrs Bloggs and I are celebrating our 10th Wedding Anniversary by flying to New York on 26th March and I'm afraid the uncertainty is spoiling all the anticipation for me (though not for Mrs B, who thinks I'm stupid, but will nevertheless blame me if she's sat in the airport all day not swilling pina collada's in Manhattan)
Plus while I certainly think they *might* only mean the 21st to the 24th, that certainly goes against the intent of their statement about not affecting people's Easter holidays.
I really do think BALPA have some communication issues, they seem completely unable to make any kind of statement with clarity. They can hardly be surprised if they can't make any progress or garner any support.
I'm in more or less the same situation btw - I have a holiday booked for early April (which I certainly consider to be an Easter holiday!) and I'm pretty worried about it. My other half isn't panicking yet, but she'll be devastated if anything goes wrong.
BALPA making unclear statements isn't helping.