Comments on: 2010 The Summer of Discontent http://philtheone.com/2010/03/2010-the-summer-of-discontent/ Right-leaning Blackpool blog covering South Shore, North Shore, Marton, Bispham, Cleveleys and the rest of the Fylde discussing politics, local life, tourism, national issues and the rest of the world. Lively discussions encouraged! Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:50:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: True Blackpudlian http://philtheone.com/2010/03/2010-the-summer-of-discontent/#comment-8458 True Blackpudlian Thu, 20 May 2010 18:49:27 +0000 http://philtheone.com/2010/03/2010-the-summer-of-discontent/#comment-8458 It just gets better, hopefully there might be a war between the left-wing militants and the rank and file members. But like I say I have no sympathy for any of them. I have sympathy for Willie Walsh having to put up with this left-wing militancy trying to destroy his business. It just gets better, hopefully there might be a war between the left-wing militants and the rank and file members. But like I say I have no sympathy for any of them. I have sympathy for Willie Walsh having to put up with this left-wing militancy trying to destroy his business.

]]> By: Philtheone http://philtheone.com/2010/03/2010-the-summer-of-discontent/#comment-8457 Philtheone Thu, 20 May 2010 18:44:47 +0000 http://philtheone.com/2010/03/2010-the-summer-of-discontent/#comment-8457 According to Willie Walsh the other day, "the BASSA tail is wagging the Unite dog" and Unite bosses have fallen out with the British Airlines Stewards and Stewardesses Association. According to Willie Walsh the other day, “the BASSA tail is wagging the Unite dog” and Unite bosses have fallen out with the British Airlines Stewards and Stewardesses Association.

]]> By: True Blackpudlian http://philtheone.com/2010/03/2010-the-summer-of-discontent/#comment-8455 True Blackpudlian Thu, 20 May 2010 17:29:48 +0000 http://philtheone.com/2010/03/2010-the-summer-of-discontent/#comment-8455 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/10130274.stm This is why I hate the joke of a court system in this country. Those smug, arrogant toads Tony Woodley and Derek Simpson have got their way again. I hope the new Government will curb the powers of these militant left-wingers because this is getting beyond a joke. These greedy, overpaid and underworked cabin crew should learn to be grateful for how good they have it. I wish I could paid £30k a year to push a tea trolley and give out horrible food with all those perks. These cabin crew and the unions are showing complete and utter contempt for the passengers (the REAL victims in this farce). I will make a point with never flying with BA after all this. I have no sympathy for these selfish people and they can only blame themselves when they are all on the dole which could be quite soon if BA crumbles anymore. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/10130274.stm This is why I hate the joke of a court system in this country. Those smug, arrogant toads Tony Woodley and Derek Simpson have got their way again. I hope the new Government will curb the powers of these militant left-wingers because this is getting beyond a joke. These greedy, overpaid and underworked cabin crew should learn to be grateful for how good they have it. I wish I could paid £30k a year to push a tea trolley and give out horrible food with all those perks. These cabin crew and the unions are showing complete and utter contempt for the passengers (the REAL victims in this farce). I will make a point with never flying with BA after all this. I have no sympathy for these selfish people and they can only blame themselves when they are all on the dole which could be quite soon if BA crumbles anymore.

]]> By: True Blackpudlian http://philtheone.com/2010/03/2010-the-summer-of-discontent/#comment-8294 True Blackpudlian Sun, 16 May 2010 15:30:55 +0000 http://philtheone.com/2010/03/2010-the-summer-of-discontent/#comment-8294 Absolutely excellent comment Phil, I completely agree, these selfish and greedy staff should be grateful for what they get, they have it far too good as it is. I wish I could get £30k for serving cups of tea and doing a few safety demonstrations. I get £9k less for 3 hard years of training and a much more demanding high-skilled job. But anyhow I feel they what they are striking over is petty. They are whining because the crew is being dropped from 15 to 14 on long-haul flights, what is the big deal? They only work 17 hours a week as it is, with free subsidised accomodation and yet they claim they are hard done to. I have no sympathy for them at all, I sympathise with Mr Walsh in having to put up with their disloyalty and lack of gratitude. Absolutely excellent comment Phil, I completely agree, these selfish and greedy staff should be grateful for what they get, they have it far too good as it is. I wish I could get £30k for serving cups of tea and doing a few safety demonstrations. I get £9k less for 3 hard years of training and a much more demanding high-skilled job. But anyhow I feel they what they are striking over is petty. They are whining because the crew is being dropped from 15 to 14 on long-haul flights, what is the big deal? They only work 17 hours a week as it is, with free subsidised accomodation and yet they claim they are hard done to. I have no sympathy for them at all, I sympathise with Mr Walsh in having to put up with their disloyalty and lack of gratitude.

]]> By: Harold http://philtheone.com/2010/03/2010-the-summer-of-discontent/#comment-8293 Harold Sun, 16 May 2010 15:28:04 +0000 http://philtheone.com/2010/03/2010-the-summer-of-discontent/#comment-8293 The strikers are mad,they may as well collect their P45s now, if not in the future when BAs revenue plummets. The strikers are mad,they may as well collect their P45s now, if not in the future when BAs revenue plummets.

]]> By: Harold http://philtheone.com/2010/03/2010-the-summer-of-discontent/#comment-8292 Harold Sun, 16 May 2010 15:26:03 +0000 http://philtheone.com/2010/03/2010-the-summer-of-discontent/#comment-8292 More sponging bottom feeding scum (out of many),who need to be educated about the pragmatic value of the work ethic; via a liberal dose of Zyclon B, but NOT at the expense of the taxpayer,(she should be charged for the use of such medication).The picture is most telling. http://www.dailystar.co.uk/posts/view/134731/-30-000-a-year-for-single-mum-of-7-/ More sponging bottom feeding scum (out of many),who need to be educated about the pragmatic value of the work ethic; via a liberal dose of Zyclon B, but NOT at the expense of the taxpayer,(she should be charged for the use of such medication).The picture is most telling.

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/posts/view/134731/-30-000-a-year-for-single-mum-of-7-/

]]> By: True Blackpudlian http://philtheone.com/2010/03/2010-the-summer-of-discontent/#comment-8291 True Blackpudlian Sun, 16 May 2010 15:24:13 +0000 http://philtheone.com/2010/03/2010-the-summer-of-discontent/#comment-8291 Hear Hear, I will have to look up this Phillip Hammond, anyone who clamp down on these ridiculous militant unions is in my good books. Hear Hear, I will have to look up this Phillip Hammond, anyone who clamp down on these ridiculous militant unions is in my good books.

]]> By: Philtheone http://philtheone.com/2010/03/2010-the-summer-of-discontent/#comment-8290 Philtheone Sun, 16 May 2010 15:08:00 +0000 http://philtheone.com/2010/03/2010-the-summer-of-discontent/#comment-8290 What are the implications for a cabin crew member whether BA offers a trimmed service? They might have to serve a few more brews? Whatever it may be, a deal has actually been agreed between BA and Unite yet the strikes continue, supposedly because BA said they would remove travel perks from those that went on strike and did. To summarise, BA customers are suffering so that its staff can get their 90% discounted flights back. Unite are claiming BA are being vindictive and are singling out union reps and sacking them. According to one of the papers I was reading this morning, union reps have been bullying and threatening other staff if they work during the strike and one union rep has been sacked. If it's not economical to run X cabin crew on a plane, then BA should be able to run X-1 cabin crew without their entire workforce walking out, and if they do walk out they should be able to impose repercussions. I know there is a simulacrum with the Gazette sub-editors issue but I don't feel it's quite the same because those jobs have been deemed unnecessary by JP bosses and as far as I gather content will no longer be sub-edited at all, whereas with BA they're just asking the trolley dollies to pour a few more cups of tea. One has to ask why BA need to charge premium prices. Yes, initially because they offered a premium service (branded tea rather than Netto's own?) but now it's probably because their staff are on strike every 5 minutes and they made hundreds of millions of pounds of losses in the last year. I believe this will only get worse as Unite calls for more strikes. JP on the other hand is in debt but is not a loss maker - but then, the JP boss gets paid an awful lot more than Willie Walsh does. What does it matter whether they charge a lot anyway? The customer will decide whether the service is worth the money or not: we don't need cabin crew acting as thought police. Being a BA cabin crew doesn't make them a shareholder in the company (although I daresay many are). Whether BA make record profits or losses has no bearing on cabin crew salary. If it's not baggage handlers it's check in desk staff and if it's not them it's cabin crew. Customers aren't going to stick with you if the service is constantly disrupted by staff demanding more money, particularly business customers who pay obscene amounts for first/business class. As someone said on the comments of a national paper today, "only a fool would book with an airline that has striking staff". The comparison with Ryanair is not quite fair. For instance, did BA cabin crew have to pay thousands in advance to fund their own training? Do they have to pay £50.00 per month for uniform? No, they walk into a job and get paid 30 grand basic plus loads of perks for serving cups of tea. It's a bit macabre but British Airways going bust or ending up in such a weak position that it gets taken over by a European airline might actually be a good thing. I'm sure Richard Branson (amongst others) is chomping at the bit to get those Heathrow slots. Of course, the socialist unions will blame David Cameron for the thousands of resultant job losses (how could it possibly be down to the union members that decided not to work?) but at least it'll set an example for all other union members that holding your company to ransom isn't necessarily the best course of action, particularly when a deal has actually been agreed which in the case of BA, it has. What are the implications for a cabin crew member whether BA offers a trimmed service? They might have to serve a few more brews?

Whatever it may be, a deal has actually been agreed between BA and Unite yet the strikes continue, supposedly because BA said they would remove travel perks from those that went on strike and did. To summarise, BA customers are suffering so that its staff can get their 90% discounted flights back.

Unite are claiming BA are being vindictive and are singling out union reps and sacking them. According to one of the papers I was reading this morning, union reps have been bullying and threatening other staff if they work during the strike and one union rep has been sacked.

If it’s not economical to run X cabin crew on a plane, then BA should be able to run X-1 cabin crew without their entire workforce walking out, and if they do walk out they should be able to impose repercussions.

I know there is a simulacrum with the Gazette sub-editors issue but I don’t feel it’s quite the same because those jobs have been deemed unnecessary by JP bosses and as far as I gather content will no longer be sub-edited at all, whereas with BA they’re just asking the trolley dollies to pour a few more cups of tea.

One has to ask why BA need to charge premium prices. Yes, initially because they offered a premium service (branded tea rather than Netto’s own?) but now it’s probably because their staff are on strike every 5 minutes and they made hundreds of millions of pounds of losses in the last year. I believe this will only get worse as Unite calls for more strikes. JP on the other hand is in debt but is not a loss maker – but then, the JP boss gets paid an awful lot more than Willie Walsh does.

What does it matter whether they charge a lot anyway? The customer will decide whether the service is worth the money or not: we don’t need cabin crew acting as thought police. Being a BA cabin crew doesn’t make them a shareholder in the company (although I daresay many are). Whether BA make record profits or losses has no bearing on cabin crew salary.

If it’s not baggage handlers it’s check in desk staff and if it’s not them it’s cabin crew. Customers aren’t going to stick with you if the service is constantly disrupted by staff demanding more money, particularly business customers who pay obscene amounts for first/business class.

As someone said on the comments of a national paper today, “only a fool would book with an airline that has striking staff”.

The comparison with Ryanair is not quite fair. For instance, did BA cabin crew have to pay thousands in advance to fund their own training? Do they have to pay £50.00 per month for uniform? No, they walk into a job and get paid 30 grand basic plus loads of perks for serving cups of tea.

It’s a bit macabre but British Airways going bust or ending up in such a weak position that it gets taken over by a European airline might actually be a good thing. I’m sure Richard Branson (amongst others) is chomping at the bit to get those Heathrow slots.

Of course, the socialist unions will blame David Cameron for the thousands of resultant job losses (how could it possibly be down to the union members that decided not to work?) but at least it’ll set an example for all other union members that holding your company to ransom isn’t necessarily the best course of action, particularly when a deal has actually been agreed which in the case of BA, it has.

]]> By: Mr_Osato http://philtheone.com/2010/03/2010-the-summer-of-discontent/#comment-8289 Mr_Osato Sun, 16 May 2010 13:17:38 +0000 http://philtheone.com/2010/03/2010-the-summer-of-discontent/#comment-8289 BA is wanting to continue to charge full air fares while providing a Ryanair-level service. Full power to the union members in standing up to this and standing up for the rights they've built up over the years. There's a tendency to talk about unions in the abstract - remember unions are membership organisations made up of ordinary people like you and me. Their leaders have to stand for election, their members have to vote for strike action (held to much stronger legal standards than minor ballots like, say, the general election) and the legal restrictions placed on them is excessive (whereas company law allows powerful firms to get away with anything they like, with minimal sanctions). They deserve our full support. BA is wanting to continue to charge full air fares while providing a Ryanair-level service. Full power to the union members in standing up to this and standing up for the rights they’ve built up over the years. There’s a tendency to talk about unions in the abstract – remember unions are membership organisations made up of ordinary people like you and me. Their leaders have to stand for election, their members have to vote for strike action (held to much stronger legal standards than minor ballots like, say, the general election) and the legal restrictions placed on them is excessive (whereas company law allows powerful firms to get away with anything they like, with minimal sanctions). They deserve our full support.

]]> By: Philtheone http://philtheone.com/2010/03/2010-the-summer-of-discontent/#comment-8288 Philtheone Sun, 16 May 2010 12:54:52 +0000 http://philtheone.com/2010/03/2010-the-summer-of-discontent/#comment-8288 Its fine, following the story on old articles works to provide a timeline of events. I think it's a disgrace these BA staff are doing this. I think the new Transport bloke is called Philip Hammond and he has said he's going to crack down on these strikes. BA have fired a few people and disciplined some others after they were found to have been threatening and bullying other staff who chose to boycott the strike. Where's Maggie when you need her? Oh right, we've got Dave. Now lets smash those unions. Its fine, following the story on old articles works to provide a timeline of events. I think it’s a disgrace these BA staff are doing this.

I think the new Transport bloke is called Philip Hammond and he has said he’s going to crack down on these strikes. BA have fired a few people and disciplined some others after they were found to have been threatening and bullying other staff who chose to boycott the strike.

Where’s Maggie when you need her? Oh right, we’ve got Dave. Now lets smash those unions.

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