New strike threat
Oct 17, 2005, 4:56 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: London, UK
Posts: 5,104
Oct 17, 2005, 5:11 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Edinburgh
Programs: Still a lowly Blue with BA but inching towards Bronze. Managed to get to KLM Silver!
Posts: 4,308
Originally Posted by Indy on-line
The airline has decided the men have "a case to answer" over their involvement in a walkout prompted by the dismissal of more than 700 workers at Gate Gourmet, which supplies BA with in-flight meals.
The three union officials, who represent baggage handlers at Heathrow, could be dismissed if the disciplinary process finds them guilty of misconduct. The airline has been warned privately that if the men were sacked, the Transport and General Workers' Union (T&G) would ballot members on a strike.
One union source said: "The message coming back from our members is that if they sack them, we will have to have official industrial action. We are attempting to ensure that BA understands all the ramifications of what it is putting three shops stewards through."
The three union officials, who represent baggage handlers at Heathrow, could be dismissed if the disciplinary process finds them guilty of misconduct. The airline has been warned privately that if the men were sacked, the Transport and General Workers' Union (T&G) would ballot members on a strike.
One union source said: "The message coming back from our members is that if they sack them, we will have to have official industrial action. We are attempting to ensure that BA understands all the ramifications of what it is putting three shops stewards through."
BA will take the three through a proper disciplinary procedure and IF that procedure finds their actions warrants dismissal then they are entitled to take that action. The three will have a right of appeal and if that fails will have the option of going to a Industrail Tribunal. The ability to take industrial action under these circumstances should be outlawed.
Oct 17, 2005, 6:03 am
#4
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Edinburgh
Programs: Still a lowly Blue with BA but inching towards Bronze. Managed to get to KLM Silver!
Posts: 4,308
Originally Posted by ropmot141
Surely (hopefully?) is it already? Who's actually running BA? 
Oct 17, 2005, 6:29 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: London, UK
Posts: 5,104
I have no idea what the legal status of such a strike would be but I suspect WW will not back down and we could be in for a winter of discontent 
Time to start considering the alternatives for those Christmas flights?
Time to start considering the alternatives for those Christmas flights?
Oct 17, 2005, 7:35 am
#7
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 1,100
This is very troublesome. It reminds me of Red Robbo and all that stuff from Leyland in the 70s. BA cannot carry on in a state of constant threat of wildcat industrial action. It will drive the customers to the competition.
Do we have any idea of the timescale when these guys are likely to be dismissed and industrial action will become ripe?
Do we have any idea of the timescale when these guys are likely to be dismissed and industrial action will become ripe?
Last edited by Imperial Special; Oct 17, 2005 at 7:52 am
Oct 17, 2005, 10:53 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: New York
Programs: BA, LH, VS, Hyatt, SPG
Posts: 3,813
Originally Posted by Gaza
BA will take the three through a proper disciplinary procedure and IF that procedure finds their actions warrants dismissal then they are entitled to take that action. The three will have a right of appeal and if that fails will have the option of going to a Industrail Tribunal. The ability to take industrial action under these circumstances should be outlawed.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: In any other industry, if you broke the law, cost your employer Ł40m and untold damage to brand and reputation, losing your job would be a given and the last of your worries.
Also, I wouldn't read too much into the Independent story. The "union official" speaking off the record could be anybody. Any mention of the words BA and baggage handlers, always leads journalists to conclude by default that strike action is on the cards.
Oct 18, 2005, 12:06 am
#10
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC, LH M&M
Posts: 938
Well if TGWU do call a strike balot then BA should immediately start legal prceedings against them for the damages caused by the baggage handlers strike. By supporting the employees the TGWU is saying that when they persuaded the other employees to go on strike they were carrying out their union duties in which case the TGWU is guilty of insitgating an illegal strike.
Oct 18, 2005, 2:12 pm
#12
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: AMS (SEA, JNB)
Programs: Mucci Reperateur des Coeurs Brises
Posts: 4,107
Originally Posted by spencergrady
Get government help and squash ths b'stards.
This is purely my opinion... I think amicable industrial relations goes both ways. Workers must have security and feel as though they are treated fairly. This is the responsibility of leadership and management. In return, workers must bargain fairly and cooperate on all fronts with management. This is the responsibility of union leaders.
One has only to look at Nordic countries, and to a lessor extent countries like the Netherlands, where consensus and compromise seem to take precedant over confrontation. In return for giving up many benefits and accepting absolutely necessary job cuts, many Nordic unions in exchange have gotten even greater job security and social benefits. Workers feel no need to strike, and rarely do you have the kind of shut downs as experienced in France, and disruptions suffered at BA.
BA employees seem at constant threat for redundancy, budget trimming and everything else. Even after the massive fat trimming already taken place, management still wants more. I would imagine it is difficult in such an atmosphere for workers to feel they must cooperate, or cede ground.
On the same token, workers must work together more with management to find an amicable solution and long-term compromise, and be willing to give something up rather than calling wildcat strikes, or even legal indsutrial action at all.
Who sets the agenda, and calls the shots, is debatable of course. But neither side can have it all or nothing.
Oct 18, 2005, 2:20 pm
#13
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Europe
Programs: Various
Posts: 3,087
Originally Posted by SchmeckFlyer
BA employees seem at constant threat for redundancy, budget trimming and everything else. Even after the massive fat trimming already taken place, management still wants more. I would imagine it is difficult in such an atmosphere for workers to feel they must cooperate, or cede ground.
Oct 20, 2005, 10:25 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
Originally Posted by SchmeckFlyer
Workers must have security and feel as though they are treated fairly. This is the responsibility of leadership and management. In return, workers must bargain fairly and cooperate on all fronts with management. This is the responsibility of union leaders.
...
BA employees seem at constant threat for redundancy, budget trimming and everything else. Even after the massive fat trimming already taken place, management still wants more. I would imagine it is difficult in such an atmosphere for workers to feel they must cooperate, or cede ground.
...
BA employees seem at constant threat for redundancy, budget trimming and everything else. Even after the massive fat trimming already taken place, management still wants more. I would imagine it is difficult in such an atmosphere for workers to feel they must cooperate, or cede ground.
Oct 20, 2005, 2:27 pm
#15
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: New York
Programs: BA, LH, VS, Hyatt, SPG
Posts: 3,813
Originally Posted by Globaliser
At BA, the dinosaur parts of the operation are starting to make the reformed parts feel that they are being unfairly treated by their fellow employees. It's no longer just a "management vs workers" thing. But the dinosaurs don't care.