I spent a day reading through the
mammoth pprune thread which has covered the strike from its initial rumblings, and provides many insights from insider points of view. Bearing that in mind, I've come to the following conclusions;
- BASSA are completely out of touch with the reality of industry, and, in particular, (ex)-branch secretary Duncan Holley and the like exist in a bubble of industrial relations that disappeared years ago in other companies; but lived on in the spectre of post-privatised BA because the leadership didn't have the ability/stomach for change.
- Willie Walshe holds no truck with unions, by the looks of it, and I wouldn't be surprised if his game plan in this is to finally flush the militants out of the company. It seems BASSA had (and I use the past tense advisedly) a strangle hold on operations at BA, and Walshe is fighting back control for the management.
- BASSA appear to be not only fighting BA management on one side, but also their Unite umbrella organisation on the other. On top of that, they seem completely unprepared to deal with situations despite long notice from BA. For example, BA warned that staff travel would be withdrawn if a strike went ahead. The strike went ahead, then about a week or so later, staff travel was withdrawn. BASSA then sent an email to their membership that they'd check the legality of that and get back to them. Surely that's something they could have been doing when it was first warned to be withdrawn? And on the subject of staff travel, it seems BASSA have been telling their strikers that it's definitely illegal (which everything else I've read suggests it is not), but then contradicting their position by demanding it is back in a negotiating document. If it's illegal, get an injunction; if it's not, stop lying to your members.
- BA Cabin Crew appear to be fighting a losing battle here, both in terms of their justification for strike action, and also how they are going about it. Few strikers appear to be able to articulate quite why they are striking, and now it appears to be whipped up by union enrage that union reps can't be paid £50k to do union business rather than serve customers. Also, given the fragile situation surrounding the ash cloud crisis, few members of the public are going to be sympathetic to crew who refuse to operate flights that could otherwise fly if we see ongoing disruption from the volcano. BASSA are clearly rubbing their hands in glee at the thought of the impact they could cause without thinking of the consequences to the public.
So, whilst I would normally offer some sympathy for the plight of those who need to go as far as industrial action, I have to come to the conclusion their cause is futile, and Walshe will be cutting them a P45 just as soon as he is legally able. In the latest statement from BA, he says "nothing positive to be gained from further strikes" - ie, there are no further offers; and Walshe seems to be a man who has stuck to his promises.
! The strikers losing their protection? Bet they wish they had some Virgin Mates now..... a much under-rated brand by all accounts (so I'm told!). Serves them right, that's what I say.
