roseweb,

Sorry, I meant UVF! Got ANU on the brain for some reason (probably all this snow!). They are seperate flights, but same aircraft type.

Darren

OK, thanks very much. I think they used to go via Antigua so I wasn't too surprised to see ANU.

New BA cabin crew strike ballot planned

A renewed strike ballot by cabin crew union members working for British Airways is planned for next week.

The date of January 22 has been pencilled in and the Unite union must give the airline a week's notice.

As a result of a High Court injunction secured by BA before Christmas, Unite is re-balloting its cabin crew members employed at BA for industrial action. That process is continuing, the union said.

The re-ballot comes despite the union and BA resuming talks aimed at finding a negotiated settlement to the dispute over cabin crew terms and conditions under the auspices of the TUC.

Representatives of both sides will be meeting the TUC to start the process of finding a resolution to the dispute, which led to a decision by the cabin crew to take strike action, subsequently prohibited by the High Court.

Unite joint general secretaries Derek Simpson and Tony Woodley said: "We have said all along that this dispute could only be resolved through negotiation, rather than imposition or litigation, so we are delighted to be joining BA management in talks at the TUC.

"We will be approaching those talks in a constructive spirit, seeking to find a settlement that meets the real concerns of BA's skilled, loyal and professional cabin crew, while keeping the airline flying."

With permission from Travelmole

Thanks for the update David. Let's hope common sense prevails.

thanks dazbo, that was very informative, much appreciated. thanks again. ali

New BA cabin crew strike ballot announced

A new strike ballot of British Airways cabin crew is to be held next week.

The decision by the Unite union to hold a fresh vote in a week's time on possible strike action came after more than a week of talks with the airline failed to resolve the dispute over staff levels and working conditions.

Unite will ballot its 12,000 members which make up 98% of the airline's cabin crew.

A spokeswoman for the union said Unite had gone as far as it could in the talks to meet the airline's demands but the ball was now in BA's court.

Industrial action planned for Christmas was blocked after a court granted an injunction, declaring it illegal.

Any planned walk out following next week's ballot is likely to be in early March, avoiding the majority of school half-term holidays in February.

With permission from Travelmole

Let's hope they get it sorted. From a purely selfish point of view, I'm glad I'm not travelling with them until 24th April, when hopefully it will be over, but it is such a worry for those going in March. When will the unions realise that times have changed and if they cause the airline to shut down all their jobs will be lost.

BA to train strike breakers as cabin crew

LONDON - British Airways may train cleaners and baggage handlers as cabin crew in a bid to thwart a strike threat.

A new strike ballot of British Airways cabin crew is to be held next week.

Around one million passengers could see their Easter travel plans ruined if the Unite union organises a 12-day strike in April.

British Airways boss Willie Walsh, in a letter to all BA workers, called last night for volunteers "to back BA by training to work alongside cabin crew who choose not to support a strike, so we are ready to keep our customers flying as much as we can if this strike goes ahead".

The decision by the Unite union to hold a fresh vote in a week's time on possible strike action came after more than a week of talks with the airline failed to resolve the dispute over staff levels and working conditions.

Industrial action planned for Christmas was blocked after a court granted an injunction, declaring it illegal

Unite will ballot its 12,000 members which make up 98% of the airline's cabin crew.

A spokeswoman for the union said Unite had gone as far as it could in the talks to meet the airline's demands but the ball was now in BA's court.

With permission from Travelmole

British Airways may train cleaners and baggage handlers as cabin crew in a bid to thwart a strike threat

Well I'm not sure if that statement by Mr Walsh is meant to fill the general public with confidence and encourage them to continue booking flights over the threaten strike action period - but it won't work for me I'm sure the Cleaners and Baggage Handlers are very good at what they do (?) but please find another solution Mr Walsh. I don't fancy sitting on a flight with my wife and children with Mrs. Mopp or for the T5 baggage handling team (who it seems struggle to get my bag from the aircraft to the reclaim belt in less than 1 hour) being responsible for the safe evacuation of all on board in the event of an emergency. No thanks.

Another thing, won't many of those BA Cleaners and Baggage Handlers also be in a union and presumably not want to cross picket lines or unset their fellow colleagues in the airline.

No wonder the cabin staff are pee'd off , if the management has great ideas like this!! BA used a technicality to make the last strike illegal and now have cabin staff who are even angrier than last time. Both sides need to talk and negotiate.
Unions can sometimes be a bit militant in their attitude , but with Walsh provoking them by suggesting using scab labour he is making the situation worse.

Traveller wrote:

I'm sure the Cleaners and Baggage Handlers are very good at what they do (?) but please find another solution Mr Walsh. I don't fancy sitting on a flight with my wife and children with Mrs. Mopp or for the T5 baggage handling team (who it seems struggle to get my bag from the aircraft to the reclaim belt in less than 1 hour) being responsible for the safe evacuation of all on board in the event of an emergency. No thanks.

Any personnel that are trained to become cabin crew will need to be trained and qualified to CAA standards and hold relevant qualifications, aka get their 'wings'. As long as they hold CAA qualifications, I'd put my trust in them personally regardless of their background (having been through some of the training personally). It sounds like a PR stunt to me though from BA management to say 'strike if you want, we have a plan to prevent any problems and others are willing to work under your current conditions' to drum up public support against the strike. To train the number of crew they'll need to cover 12 days of operations will be cost prohibitive and I doubt there'l be enough places on courses in order to do it anyway. Given the current finanacial climate and the airline losing money, the last thing they need is this hanging over them.

Darren

This companies employees and the union seem hell bent on distroying the airline,JAL are now going down the tubes BA will be next,sorry to say i wouldnt book with them if it was half the price of Qatar Airways.

BA cabin crew strike "to avoid Easter"

Reports that any British Airways cabin crew strike will avoid Easter has been welcomed.

The Unite union is to re-ballot its 12,000 members on Monday about industrial action in an long-running dispute over in-flight staffing and work conditions.

Joe Sikorsky, global brand director for Cheapflights and a former BA head office employee, said: "It's unfair that consumers suffer the consequences and we hope all disputes are resolved without inconveniencing the nation - not just at Easter, but any point.

"Striking during a peak travel period, such as Easter, when Britons are travelling to see family and friends, is irresponsible.

"Not only would it hugely inconvenience the public, but it would cost Unite what remaining support it has left, as well as diminish confidence in the travel industry.

"We're pleased the union has made a responsible decision and we urge Unite to put consumers first. We offer our continued support to BA as the UK's leading carrier."

With permission from Travelmole

BA shall be back at the International piers at Glasgow:

Glasgow to Palma Weekly from 29th May - 18th September
Glasgow to Barcelona Weekly from 20th Jun - 05th September

Flights on behalf of Barrhead Travel utilising BA CityFlyer Embraer 190s

They are also operating a weekly Sunday flight for Thomas Cook Holidays to Malaga on a Cityflyer RJ100.

Nivsy

HEllo flying out from heathrow to usa end of the month how do i stand if it is announced that astrike day is on either my outgoing flight or homeward bound flight does any one know please will be glad to see & hear if & when this supposed strike will go ahead

cymyran,

Nothing has been decided as yet, you'll just have to wait and see what pans out. BA are looking at alternatives to minimise disruption if strike action is announced, but you'll just have to see what is decided over the coming weeks. It might not happen yet

Darren

I think the union has to give seven days notice of strike action. If I am correct earliest date for strike action would be March 1st

does anyone know when extra leg room seats can be booked for a flight to vegas. BA sites says 10 days, we have 10 days day before we go but they are not on there yet, maybe im looking to early flight isnt till 15.35

Unite loses High Court battle with BA

The High Court has ruled in favour of British Airways today in its clash with union Unite.

Unite challenged the debt-ridden airline's cost-cutting measures which included reducing crew numbers in cabin, saying this contravened contracts.

But BA chairman Willie Walsh will barely have time to celebrate before his next challenge on Monday when ballot results will reveal whether the airline is set to face a series of strike actions from cabin crew..

Walsh has told airline insiders that 1000 pilots will train as cabin crew in order to keep the carrier flying through union action.

He showed his hand at a monthly meeting of the Association of European Airlines in Brussels this week.

Pilots already have the security clearance and safety knowledge to allow them to easily take on the role of crew.

An airline source is reported to have revealed: "Willie Walsh made no bones about it. He told all the airline bosses at the meeting ‘we now have 1,000 pilots who are going to train as cabin crew and act as crew on the flights.' He also said he expected the strike would go ahead."

With permission from Travelmole