Poor BA Long Haul Pax tonight :-)

It seems that due to sacking at the caterers used by BA, the long haul flights have had ti go out with just tea, coffee and water on board. Eight hours without a sandwich even. Bangers & mash would sound very good to those BA First Pax!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4139582.stm

I would imagine BA will be throwing a lot of miles around after this [:0].

But more importantly the customer service must be suffering unprecendentedly poor levels and customers must be p****d!

Hope they loaded plenty of booze:D

I feel really sorry for those travelling with kids, the meals are one of the things that always keep my children happy and help pass the time. Also it must have been a bit of a nightmare for any diabetics or people with other medical problems - it's not that easy to stock up at the airport with suitable food.

From the news it seems the Gate Gourmet management have acted pretty apallingly - like firing people on sick leave or those on holiday, who clearly can't have had anything to do with any unofficial strike action. Reminds me of the bad days of the 80s ... though there's always two stories to be told.

Yes, if you're diabetic particularly, on some other such condition, and on a 12 hour flight something must have been forewarned or prepared for such people. Wouldn't the easy answer be for BA to run over to Pret a Manger for emergency supplies?

But what a nightmare for all, crew too who must have lots of unhappy pax.

checkins at T4 closeing, no food for staff either.

600 dismissed from gourmet.

Its not nice is it, but erm:D

Yes - amazing they've suspended check in at T4. Wow ... can you imagine how many furious people they'll have to deal with ... and the nightmare rescheduling. What a catastrophe ... wonder if BA can sue Gate Gourmet ...

(edit) Actually they say ALL check-ins!!!

[fozzyo]

Sky News have the story.

Apparently 800 Gate Gourmet staff sacked according to a Union rep.

Foz xxx

[Decker]

Excerpted from Gate Gourmet's in depth Press Release on this under "fair use" provisions...

Outdated and Inefficient Work Practices

Outdated and inefficient work practices are a key factor in Gate GourmetÕs current financial problems. These 1970s work practices include:

* Staff are often paid a full dayÕs pay for half a dayÕs work
* During peak production staff refuse to help colleagues on other work lines even when they are doing nothing themselves. Management are then forced to employ extra staff at over-time rates to complete orders
* Outdated overtime rules allow staff to work their normal 8-hour shift but be paid for 12.5, paid for hours they do not do
* Above market pay rates for below market productivity

Such working practices have no standing in todayÕs highly competitive industry. The recent loss of the major Virgin Atlantic contract was due to workforce inflexibility and therefore an inability to deliver a cost-competitive product.

For rest of article see http://www.gategourmet.com/797/828/2889/2900/2962.asp

Excerpt from the TGWU comment:

"We have always been aware of Gate Gourmet's difficult financial situation and have tried to work hard to find a way forward with them. However, it was the failure of the company to share any pain with management grades which led to the failure of a planned rescue package."

Full note here

Always two sides to every dispute!

Apparently BA's view is that GG should reinstate the workers while resolution is reached.

[Decker]

Well if any of the above comments apply to management I fully agree that they should share...

I understand that the problems at LHR today have been caused by BA baggage handlers taking unofficial action in support of the Gate Gourmet staff. Does anyone know whether this sort of secondary action is legal?

Either way I feel really sorry for BA passengers and staff today - LHR looks like an absolute nightmare[:(]

Hi,

All short haul flights to/from LHR are cancelled.

I think secondary picketing without a ballot is illegal.

On the flights that operated today I think there was no booze either ( only coffee/tea/water)

Regards

TBS

[preiffer]

Just released on BA's news page:


"British Airways has taken the decision to cancel the remainder of its longhaul, shorthaul and domestic flights this evening from London Heathrow.

More information

British Airways is reviewing both longhaul and shorthaul schedules for Friday 12 August."


So that's it - NO flights this evening, and tomorrow looking decidedly iffy...

[Decker]

Secondary picketing is illegal...

It is unlawful to call for, threaten to call for, or otherwise organise secondary industrial action. Such an act by any person or trade union, does not have the protection of the "statutory immunities" described in earlier Sections of this booklet.

Interestingly "Initially, the Labour Party pledges to abolish the Acts when elected."

Thanks Decker - I thought it was illegal. It seems even worse somehow that they appear to have just walked out with no warning leaving their colleagues to deal with the fallout at one of the busiest times of the year.

[Decker]

BA staff don't seem averse to this - they wildcatted last year on electronic timekeeping I seem to recall...

[preiffer]

Originally posted by Decker
BA staff don't seem averse to this - they wildcatted last year on electronic timekeeping I seem to recall...

Yup - although the new EU regs on compensation weren't in place then. I would guess that today's little "field trip" has cost BA £,£££,£££'s. [:0]

[Decker]

Well news reports seem to indicate that BA are saying this is "beyond their control". This would make it exempt, yes?

[mitchja]

Originally posted by Decker
Well news reports seem to indicate that BA are saying this is "beyond their control". This would make it exempt, yes?

Indeed - Business traveller have released an article here about this very subject only today (of all days!!!)

Regards

would personal travel insurance cover this

In a sense, I feel sorry for BA - it's not really their fault, and it's not really their problem, but there is a huge amount of damage being done to them as a result of their staff's illegal actions. What's more, I can't see how they can reclaim the money through legal action - it's not the TGWU's fault as they aren't encouraging the secondary action, and it's not Gate Gourmet's fault. And they can't exactly sue individual workers.

On the otherhand, they don't treat their staff particularly well and the reason that there were unofficial walkouts was probably due in a large part to workers being fairly p*****d at them - still, the action wasn't justified.

I hope it clears up soon...

[Nottingham Nick]

Originally posted by Decker
Well news reports seem to indicate that BA are saying this is "beyond their control". This would make it exempt, yes?

This interesting thread on FT has sprung up about this issue. Opinion is mixed, but tends to support Decker, and take out of the compensation arena.

Rebooked flights and 'goodwill gestures' will certainly cost them a pretty penny even if they don't have to pay compensation.

Nick

[Decker]

Of course taking part in an illegal activity whilst on company time is a Gross Disciplinary Offence so BA could just lay all the strikers off. In this regard it could be counter argued that BA aren't doing all they could do to resolve the situation although laying people off would leave the problem extant.

It would send a clear message to BA staff that they are not exempt from the employment laws the rest of us have to follow though.

I may be naive but I would like to think that VS staff would not do this as they actually care about their customers, not just viewing them as pawns in an argument with management.

Guess all of this will be sending VS loads through the roof - any BA travellers care to submit some TRs?[}:)]