V-Flyer

Posted: **16 Dec 2016, 17:26**

Virgin Atlantic pilots to take industrial action in row over union recognition

Will work 'strictly to contract " from December 23rd

Due to use the 065 on Jan 6th, fingers crossed

Posted: **16 Dec 2016, 17:35**

chriski wrote:Virgin Atlantic pilots to take industrial action in row over union recognition

Will work 'strictly to contract " from December 23rd

Due to use the 065 on Jan 6th, fingers crossed

1. B*gger. VS9 on the 27th for me.
2. It's not a strike, whatever the press say, it's a work to rule
3. In the grand scheme of things it's small beer
4. Let's hope, to paraphrase Lieutenant George Colthurst St. Barleigh, "The big knobs get round the table and yank the
iron out of the fire!"

*edited to remove incorrect reference to Captain Darling

Posted: **16 Dec 2016, 18:07**

The thread headline is totally incorrect and is fearmongering.

The eligible pilots who participated in the ballot voted in favour of action short of a strike. It was 88% in favour on an 80% turnout.

It would be illegal for them to strike without a ballot that specifically asked for approval for strike action.

Posted: **16 Dec 2016, 18:31**

Just miss it on the 19th phew :-D

Posted: **16 Dec 2016, 18:44**

Check in staff and baggage handlers are also going on strike

Posted: **16 Dec 2016, 18:48**

Penny_L wrote:Check in staff and baggage handlers are also going on strike

Source? And it is not "also going on strike". And I think we need to be careful with the language we use here. They are not going on strike, they have to ballot for that. They are taking "industrial action" which is something different entirely to a strike.

Can someone change the title from "strike"? It is misleading and scaremongering.

Edited to add: Bugger, I basically said what tontybear said ! Great minds of course !

Posted: **16 Dec 2016, 18:56**

Silver Fox wrote:
Penny_L wrote:Check in staff and baggage handlers are also going on strike

Source? And it is not "also going on strike". And I think we need to be careful with the language we use here. They are not going on strike, they have to ballot for that. They are taking "industrial action" which is something different entirely to a strike.

Can someone change the title from "strike"? It is misleading and scaremongering.

Edited to add: Bugger, I basically said what tontybear said ! Great minds of course !

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38347283

Posted: **16 Dec 2016, 18:58**

Bugger. I'm flying out of LHR on the 24th. Fingers crossed they sort this out.

Posted: **16 Dec 2016, 19:00**

Silver Fox wrote:
Penny_L wrote:Check in staff and baggage handlers are also going on strike

Source? And it is not "also going on strike". And I think we need to be careful with the language we use here. They are not going on strike, they have to ballot for that. They are taking "industrial action" which is something different entirely to a strike.

I believe this is what Penny_L was referring to re: check in staff and baggage handlers http://www.unitetheunion.org/news/bagga ... ays-unite/

Posted: **16 Dec 2016, 19:14**

Grrrhhh. I'm flying out of LHR on the 25th...

Does anyone know if Virgin use Swissport at LHR? If they do I expect they'll be a big backlog to process on the 25th following two days of striking

Posted: **16 Dec 2016, 19:17**

We're flying JFK - LHR on the 23rd, so fingers crossed this won't have too much of an impact? Anyone able to reassure? :-D

Posted: **16 Dec 2016, 19:21**

pblondon wrote:Grrrhhh. I'm flying out of LHR on the 25th...

Does anyone know if Virgin use Swissport at LHR? If they do I expect they'll be a big backlog to process on the 25th following two days of striking

Yes they do. Not sure what, if any affect that will have with 'pilot goodwill.' I can't imagine much as surely they're contracted for delays and such.

Flying with EK, who also use Swissport on Dec 23rd. Fingers crossed.

Posted: **16 Dec 2016, 19:24**

shobday96 wrote:We're flying JFK - LHR on the 23rd, so fingers crossed this won't have too much of an impact? Anyone able to reassure?

The VS side of things... you should have no impact unless you're incredibly unlucky.

As for Swissport. I have no idea. Anyone know how these guys striking has played out before?

Posted: **16 Dec 2016, 19:28**

Thanks for the swissport links, I had missed that.

Good luck to any of you travelling, hopefully you will not be impacted.

Posted: **16 Dec 2016, 20:19**

Worried sick. Flying LHR to EWR on the 23rd. The baggage handler action could ruin Christmas for thousands. :-(

Posted: **16 Dec 2016, 20:38**

To put all you lucky souls minds to rest going to the sun for xmas Virgin do not use Swissport at lhr they use DNata

Posted: **16 Dec 2016, 20:47**

Sunseeker wrote:To put all you lucky souls minds to rest going to the sun for xmas Virgin do not use Swissport at lhr they use DNata

Thank you so much Sunseeker. That's a relief for me personally though of course thousands of others are still at risk. That said I'm going to New Jersey so not likely to see much sun.

Posted: **16 Dec 2016, 21:06**

Sunseeker wrote:To put all you lucky souls minds to rest going to the sun for xmas Virgin do not use Swissport at lhr they use DNata

I'm a bit out my depth here but I thought they were just cargo?

Posted: **16 Dec 2016, 21:31**

Swissport do serve VS at LGW though.

Posted: **16 Dec 2016, 21:34**

And just confirmed BA mixed fleet cabin crew based at LHR will strike on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Posted: **16 Dec 2016, 22:25**

This is not what I wanted to read today. I'm flying to Havana from Gatwick on the 22nd so will hopefully miss the problems this end. What are the chances this will still be on-going when I'm scheduled to leave Havana on the 7th of Jan?? If the baggage handlers aren't working at LGW will Virgin refuse to load the luggage at Havana?? Would they send the plane to LHR (assuming there is a slot available) where they could unload it (different handling agents) then shuttle everyone to Gatwick on buses?? Virgin only operate 1 flight a day to Havana, what are the chances of being stranded in Havana because of the 'work to contract' action by the Virgin pilots?

Thoughts anyone? This is my first time with Virgin too......... :-(

Posted: **16 Dec 2016, 22:59**

gumshoe wrote:Swissport do serve VS at LGW though.

I thought they pulled out at the end of last year. It's Aviator that has the contract at Gatwick now.

Posted: **16 Dec 2016, 23:06**

stuart_f wrote:I thought they pulled out at the end of last year. It's Aviator that has the contract at Gatwick now.

It's Aviator that pulled out of Gatwick. Swissport only serve Virgin at LGW

Posted: **16 Dec 2016, 23:36**

Ah, I hadn't seen the most recent change. So to summarise the situation at Gatwick over the last 18 months:

Swissport merge with Servisair and are forced to sell the Servisair part as they were thought to have too much of a monopoly.
Aviator buys the Servisair bits that Swissport sells off. (Leaving it with the same monopoly as Swissport were accused of having).
11 months pass and Aviator pulls out leaving Swissport to take over everything but this time they are seen as the good guys stepping in to save everything.

Looks a bit fishy to me...

Posted: **17 Dec 2016, 00:15**

I am due to fly on the 23rd from MAN to ATL on VS109. Trying to keep the OH calm... no flight on the 24th as a back up!

V-Flyer

Possible VS Pilot + Swissport Industrial Action

Possible VS Pilot + Swissport Industrial Action

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Re: VS Pilot Industrial Action + Possible Swissport Strike

Re: VS Pilot Industrial Action + Possible Swissport Strike

Re: VS Pilot Industrial Action + Possible Swissport Strike

Re: Possible VS Pilot + Swissport Industrial Action

Re: Possible VS Pilot + Swissport Industrial Action

Re: Possible VS Pilot + Swissport Industrial Action

Re: Possible VS Pilot + Swissport Industrial Action

Re: Possible VS Pilot + Swissport Industrial Action

Re: Possible VS Pilot + Swissport Industrial Action

Re: Possible VS Pilot + Swissport Industrial Action