BA to cut up to 12,000 jobs in "restructuring and redundancy programme"
#1426
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 7,532
You missed a key part of the equation as so many do so I'll assist you. You meant BA has been extremely profitable with the current T&Cs and the passenger loads it was achieving pre-CV19. So what do you think happens to the former if the latter spectacularly declines and recover very slowly over 2-3 years? Nothing?
What I don't buy is the need to reduce pay & T&Cs as a mean to "save the airline". IAG measures the various OpCos with metrics such as ROIC and seat-equivalent non-fuel CASK (equivalent in the sense that they harmonise seat count otherwise VY's values would always be better than BA). By my reckoning, putting all the crews on a similar package, reducing leave by a few days - as they were proposing - and lowering pay for everyone else would improve BA's non fuel seat-equivalent CASK by a couple of % points, making it the lowest of the airlines by a wide margin. It's a measure to sweat the assets even more, not to 'save the airline'. If BA was to see its latest profit margin (which hovered around 16% for the last few years) go to zero or worse beyond 2020 (it's a given that this year's gonna be a bloodbath) then putting Worldwide Debbie and Mixed Fleet Lauren on the same T&Cs won't make too much of a change.
As for the comparison with other EU countries there is also another dimension. Why do you think it is that despite these so called superior pay and conditions, countries such as Spain, France, Italy all had persistently high unemployment compared to the UK over the past 10-15 years? Why did UK employment recover so much quicker after the GFC of 2007/8 compared to most of the other large EU economies?
#1427
Join Date: May 2003
Location: DEL
Programs: Mucci du Miel d'Or
Posts: 2,397
By my reckoning, putting all the crews on a similar package, reducing leave by a few days - as they were proposing - and lowering pay for everyone else would improve BA's non fuel seat-equivalent CASK by a couple of % points, making it the lowest of the airlines by a wide margin. It's a measure to sweat the assets even more, not to 'save the airline'.
Unions have typically had greater leverage in regulated transportation and have used this with good effect. BA have been trying to get rid of the separate fleets (WW and EF) pretty much since the airline was formed from BOAC and BEA and where the separate contracts originate from. I'm sure BA judges that having everyone on lower wages better protects them from future industrial action. It's difficult to strike for long on £24K. It also provides a lower base to work from should the union manage to squeeze better wage rises in future years (I recall that mixed fleet already secured improved terms through industrial action).
#1428
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 7,532
Unions have typically had greater leverage in regulated transportation and have used this with good effect. BA have been trying to get rid of the separate fleets (WW and EF) pretty much since the airline was formed from BOAC and BEA and where the separate contracts originate from. I'm sure BA judges that having everyone on lower wages better protects them from future industrial action. It's difficult to strike for long on £24K. It also provides a lower base to work from should the union manage to squeeze better wage rises in future years (I recall that mixed fleet already secured improved terms through industrial action).
Last edited by NWIFlyer; Jun 8, 2020 at 3:51 am Reason: Fix quote box
#1429
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: UK
Programs: IC Hotels Spire, BA Gold
Posts: 8,710
Should BA pay more to staff to subsidise something that is really a personal choice?
#1430
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 7,532
Sorry, but as I have said before, his type of extreme example is not relevant in any way. Living in Liverpool and having a BA CC job out of LHR is 100% a personal choice. If someone wants a CC job and lives in the NW then there are (were) opportunities far more local out of LPL and MAN.
Should BA pay more to staff to subsidise something that is really a personal choice?
Should BA pay more to staff to subsidise something that is really a personal choice?
I haven't said that BA should fund the Geordies for living in Newcastle, or the Scousers in Liverpool.
I used that example to say that people aren't exactly awash with cash on a normal day: if they were to go on strike the difference won't be massive, at least for a couple of days. Nothing to do with BA having to fund personal lifestyle choices.
#1431
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: BAEC silver
Posts: 1,699
I am literally gobsmacked and lost for words if this is seriously the best that UNITE can come up with. What an unprofessional, childish and immature approach. If this is the outfit that is negotiating on behalf of BA staff then the BA management must be rubbing their hands in glee. A truly mind boggling approach.
- BA staff - Mr McClusky I'm concerned about a lack of union activity. I assume you have a cunning plan?
- Red Len - a cunning what?
- BA Staff - you know a plan to stop the redundancies and overturn the pay cuts
- Red Len - well we have been lobying government.
- BA Staff- what did they say?
- UK Gov - we said sod off and sort your own problems out. We have plenty of our own at present
- BA Staff - so was that it?
- Red Len - no, no we are rolling out a massive media campaigh to get the public on our side
- UK Public - well you won't get me on your side, you ruined my last 2 holidays because of your threats of industrial action
- BA Staff - so Mr McClusky is there any hope for us
- Red Len - sorry I'm going to have to hang up, the lines getting very crackly
#1432
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: BAEC silver
Posts: 1,699
In the words of a friend of my OH during the MF strikes in 2017, "I already have to sleep in my car at Westbase because I can't afford a room near London and I can't trust myself to drive up to Liverpool after a three-day Jo'burg.. it's not as if I've got much to lose!". Before, BA was quite good - and still is - in playing BASSA against MF Unite, now they'll have only one team, by now utterly p****d off and disenfranchised.
#1433
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: BAEC silver
Posts: 1,699
With this in mind maybe BA should consider the first gesture and move towards compromise as they have nothing to loose by doing this? Surely they can they position themselves and align to the mood of the public and at least try and attempt to keep their loyal customer base and treat their staff with some dignity?
#1434
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: UK
Programs: IC Hotels Spire, BA Gold
Posts: 8,710
Not to sound flippant but... have you read the rest of my post?
I haven't said that BA should fund the Geordies for living in Newcastle, or the Scousers in Liverpool.
I used that example to say that people aren't exactly awash with cash on a normal day: if they were to go on strike the difference won't be massive, at least for a couple of days. Nothing to do with BA having to fund personal lifestyle choices.
I haven't said that BA should fund the Geordies for living in Newcastle, or the Scousers in Liverpool.
I used that example to say that people aren't exactly awash with cash on a normal day: if they were to go on strike the difference won't be massive, at least for a couple of days. Nothing to do with BA having to fund personal lifestyle choices.
#1435
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: UK
Programs: Lemonia. Best Greek ever.
Posts: 2,328
According to the Independant, median salaries last year were UKP25k for all employees, and UKP30k for all Full time employees.
#1436
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: Mucci de la Cuisine Aérienne du Réseau Courte Durée de British Airways
Posts: 4,704
They don’t actually earn 25K though, that is the total figure including the allowances which are paid to buy food whilst staying away.
I’m quite sad about the level of debate here full of inaccurate statements from the same people over and over again. Repeatedly you are corrected and repeatedly you repeat inaccurate information.
I notice that you now all understand that BA are using a ‘fire & rehire’ threat, since seeing it added to the pilot S188, but none of you have apologised for saying that was not true over and over again.
I’m quite sad about the level of debate here full of inaccurate statements from the same people over and over again. Repeatedly you are corrected and repeatedly you repeat inaccurate information.
I notice that you now all understand that BA are using a ‘fire & rehire’ threat, since seeing it added to the pilot S188, but none of you have apologised for saying that was not true over and over again.
#1437
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: UK
Programs: IC Hotels Spire, BA Gold
Posts: 8,710
But wouldn't the same person have to buy food if they were at home too? Having worked internationally myself and paid a per diem daily allowance I shopped for food at the local supermarkets rather than a restaurant each night. All fine
#1439
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 30
Quite honestly I don't think BA will change its course of action on the fire & rehire plans unless their Customers take a stand.
A friend of mine has just set up this position on behalf of BA customers - worth a sign if you feel the same:
British Airways: Stop shafting your 42,000 staff (signed by BA customers)
https://www.change.org/BAcustomers
NB I appreciate that not everyone will share the same view as me, and that's fine too.
A friend of mine has just set up this position on behalf of BA customers - worth a sign if you feel the same:
British Airways: Stop shafting your 42,000 staff (signed by BA customers)
https://www.change.org/BAcustomers
NB I appreciate that not everyone will share the same view as me, and that's fine too.
#1440
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: East Anglia UK
Programs: BA-S UA LH-Sen KLM/AF-Plat.
Posts: 1,643