Anyone planning on flying BA from Dec.22 to Jan 2 should keep an eye on the news. British Airways cabin crew are threatening to strike during that period. BA says it will change it's flight schedules and contact those affected.
Posted by
OP
Freedonia
15063 posts
As of this morning, emergency talks have been planned to try to divert a strike. Stay tuned.
Posted by
Tempe, AZ, USA
1265 posts
There was a write up on this in the Monday USA Today. In the article things did not appear to rosey.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
1317 posts
It's also being followed pretty closely over on Chris Elliot's site. Sounds like Virgin Atlantic is 'deploying larger aircraft' to accept stranded passengers.
I can understand the cabin crews' thinking that striking around the holidays will add pressure to BA to give in, but it really just annoys the people who provide the paychecks (i.e., customers). We had a school district decide to strike the first day of school 2 years ago. While originally most people were sympathetic to the teachers, that decision caused a lot of people to withdraw their support/sympathy for the teachers.
Posted by
Florida, USA
12172 posts
It's funny. I like BA but things like this make me want to pick an airline that will be reliable. All I want to do is buy a ticket and fly.
If people choose not to fly BA in the future, how does that help BA employees?
Posted by
OP
Freedonia
15063 posts
I'm willing to wage money that there will be no strike. It's too dangerous for the current British government, not very popular with a vote upcomingin the near future, to let their largest airline strike over the holidays.
The union realizes that public sentiment is against them and has advised BA crews not to wear their uniforms off airport grounds for fear of harassment and possible violence.
And anyway, I'm about to get 100k BA miles.....I want to be able to use them.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
1317 posts
Problem is Brad, how do you determine what's a "reliable" airline? Sure, there are a few gems out there (Southwest and Virgin Atlantic come to mind) but this planned strike could easily have happened to another airline.
I too doubt the strike will actually occur, especially not in such a prolonged fashion, but they're sure stirring up plenty of ill-will in the meantime.
Posted by
Manchester
495 posts
The strike's off for now, BA just got a High Court injunction. BBC story
It's on a small technicality but that's the law. If the union re-ballot then it will probably take a while for anything to happen (time to run the ballot, 1 week notice period.)
Posted by
Orange, Ca
58 posts
We are flying to Rome on BA Christmas day.
This whole ordeal was not cool, but I am glad it is over.
I am going to be amazing to the flight crew and tell them how much I appreciate them... I encourage everyone to do the same. Christmas (or any time of the year) is no time for hatred or bitterness.
Merry Christmas!
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
Does a "High Court injunction" prevent employees from calling in sick? If not, the strike may not really be averted...
Posted by
Manchester
495 posts
That's not how it works in this country Tim. Any nonsense like that now would leave the union open to legal action, expensive legal action - so they will not push for that. The strike will not happen over Xmas.
The union will probably re-ballot in the new year but there are other issues afoot. The proposed strike was a PR disaster, apparently a lot of the crew were unaware of the scale of the plans (previous strikes were a series of 3 day actions,) and the union have a case coming to court in Feb. to challenge the legality of the contract changes BA made. With all this even if they do vote for a new strike it will probably be on a smaller scale.