BA flight crews on srike!!!!

[KeithMEL]

From what I can see, the hearts and minds of the general public (including those on the BA board on TOF) are being won by the airline's rhetoric so far, e.g. claims that the crew's average sickness days of 22 per year before the new sickness policy are higher than other airlines let alone much higher than the norm for the general population.

That is unfortunate. There's a lot of spin generated by BA about ingrown toe nails and the like. But more seriously - would you want to be served food by a crew member who's suffering from a cold and infested with germs? Not to mention sharing the same recirculated air in the cabin with sick crews? And would you trust a crew member with a broken limb to get you safely out of the aircraft in an emergency? These and many other reasons explain why cabin crew members get more sick leave than average, apart from the grueling nature of the job. Ultimately us passengers benefit from competent service delivered by happy, healthy and well-rested crew members.

[jjpb3]

Good arguments, KeithMEL, but mundane reality may a bit of a distance from your scenarios. My colleagues (who had BA as a client) saw figures that showed sickies spiking up at times such as Wimbledon and Ascot. Don't get me wrong; I've had enough fantastic interactions with crew and have enough suspicion of WW that I favor the cabin crews, despite my colleagues' revelation.

[jhm]

That is unfortunate. There's a lot of spin generated by BA about ingrown toe nails and the like. But more seriously - would you want to be served food by a crew member who's suffering from a cold and infested with germs? Not to mention sharing the same recirculated air in the cabin with sick crews? And would you trust a crew member with a broken limb to get you safely out of the aircraft in an emergency? These and many other reasons explain why cabin crew members get more sick leave than average, apart from the grueling nature of the job. Ultimately us passengers benefit from competent service delivered by happy, healthy and well-rested crew members.

That's all very well but it doesn't explain that - so I've been led to believe - the sickness rate amongst BA cabin crew is higher than that of other airlines.

In any event, I'm not taking sides here. I was just commenting on your apparent black and white assertion that BA/WW bad; CC good. I don't doubt there's spin on both sides and the true position is probably somewhere in the middle between the claims of BA management (of whom WW is only one part) and the CC; with genuine grievances on both sides.

[KeithMEL]

It's all very well and good for BA to try to change their sickness policy and other working conditions after negotiations. But the new policies were brought in without speaking to union representatives, who're the only point of contact between crews and management. And negotiations were only hastily conducted when strikes were threatened. The BA sickness policy hinges on EG300 which was brokered and voted in by crew members some years ago.

I've been informed that cabin crews were balloted over 12 issues, of which EG300 is one of them. The other major points include:
- The removal of the position of Purser from 747 aircrafts
- An extra 10 years of employment before pensions can be accessed
- The overrostering of cabin crews, which is in breach of EU work time legislation.
- Capping of annual salary increments after 7 years for crews who've joined the company post 97.

Something has to be seriously wrong if cabin crews who've generally avoided going on strike in favour of arbitration, returned a 96% 'yes' vote (with a ballot participation of 80%).

I don't claim to know every bit of the dispute in detail, and I do admit that my 'blame WW' comment was more a hyperbole. I do understand the concept of directorial responsibilities, but at the same time crew morale ought to be looked after. I don't recall similarly protracted union disputes when Rod Eddington dramatically cut the workforce when BA was at the brink of bankruptcy. And so far from what I've read and been told by mates working for BA (both crew and non-crew), I'm more inclined to be sympathetic towards the crew.

And I do apologise if what I've posted come across as insensitive to travelers affected by the strike action. I do hope you'd be able to arrange alternative travel plans conveniently.

[jhm]

And I do apologise if what I've posted come across as insensitive to travelers affected by the strike action. I do hope you'd be able to arrange alternative travel plans conveniently.

No need for apologies (at least as far as I'm concerned)! Just a friendly discussion - no more than that.

And the point about the sickness level for BA being higher than other airlines ?

[KeithMEL]

And the point about the sickness level for BA being higher than other airlines ?

My point was that the EG300 policy was signed off by both sides years ago that allowed such a high level of sickies and the current management should respect it even if they don't like it. Rather than changing it abruptly (or trying every trick in the book to apply different interpretations to the policy), proper consultations with union organisers should've occurred. Perhaps more stringent policing rather than cutting back?

[jhm]

My point was that the EG300 policy was signed off by both sides years ago that allowed such a high level of sickies and the current management should respect it even if they don't like it.

... but conversely, crew presumably shouldn't take the p*ss by abusing what was agreed ?

In any event, I don't know about the history of this but I did Google "British Airways strike" the other day and came across this from 2001:

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/20...21_154128.html

A planned strike by British Airways(BA) workers on the August Bank Holiday has been called off after a pay settlement was reached between employers and BA staff, Sky TV reported Saturday.

[...]

In return, unions representing BA staff accepted a deal designed to cut absenteeism from work from the current annual average of 17 days to 10 days.

[SQFAN]

Guys

Perhaps we can make use of this thread to deal with flights (SQ or otherwise) affected by BA's strike issues as well as latest info. Of course, I can always refer to BA's website.

Respectfully suggesting that political discussions perhaps can continue in a new thread?

[SQFAN]

Which BA flights are not operating after 31 January 2007

Geez, the list is growing.

Look for answer 2499 (Which flights are not operating after 31 January 2007?)

[CGK]

May be it's better if you post the list! Seems that I could not go to ba.com...

[jhm]

I am worried as I have 2 BA flights on 3 Feb connecting to many SQ ones.

Can you book a changeable tix on another carrier as backup ? For example, I have a BA NCE-LHR which is on a strike day but I've booked U2 NCE-LTN with the option of paying £17.50 plus the fare difference to change the U2 flight if the strike doesn't happen.

[SQFAN]

May be it's better if you post the list! Seems that I could not go to ba.com...

Sure, here it is (courtesy of BA)

Abu Dhabi
BA072 from Abu Dhabi to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA072 from Abu Dhabi to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007

Abuja
BA082 from Abuja to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA082 from Abuja to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007

Accra
BA078 from Accra to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007

Bahrain
BA124 from Bahrain to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA124 from Bahrain to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007

Baltimore
BA 228 from Baltimore to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007

Bangalore
BA118 from Bangalore to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA118 from Bangalore to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007

Bangkok
BA009 from Bangkok to Sydney on February 2, 2007
BA009 from Bangkok to Sydney on February 3, 2007

Barbados
BA2152 from Barbados to London Gatwick on February 1, 2007
BA2154 from Barbados to London Gatwick on February 1, 2007

Bejing
BA038 from Beijing to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA038 from Beijing to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007

Bermuda
BA2232 from Bermuda to London Gatwick on February 1, 2007

Bombay
BA138 from Bombay to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA138 from Bombay to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007

BA198 from Bombay to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA198 from Bombay to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007

Boston
BA212 from Boston to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA214 from Boston to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA214 from Boston to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007
BA238 from Boston to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007

Buenos Aires
BA246 from Buenos Aires to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007
BA246 from Buenos Aires to London Heathrow on February 4, 2007

Cairo
BA154 from Cairo to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA154 from Cairo to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007

Calgary
BA102 from Calgary to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007

Cape Town
BA042 from Cape Town to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007
BA042 from Cape Town to London Heathrow on February 3, 2007
BA058 from Cape Town to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007
BA058 from Cape Town to London Heathrow on February 3, 2007

Chennai
BA036 from Chennai to London Heathrow on February 3, 2007

Chicago
BA294 from Chicago to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA296 from Chicago to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA298 from Chicago to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA298 from Chicago to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007

Delhi
BA142 from Delhi to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA142 from Delhi to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007
BA256 from Delhi to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA256 from Delhi to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007

Denver
BA218 from Denver to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007

Detroit
BA202 from Detroit to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA202 from Detroit to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007
BA202 from Detroit to London Heathrow on February 3, 2007
BA202 from Detroit to London Heathrow on February 4, 2007

Dhaka
BA144 from Dhaka to London Heathrow on February 3, 2007

Doha
BA124 from Doha to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007

Dubai
BA104 from Doha to London Heathrow on February 3, 2007
BA106 from Doha to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA106 from Doha to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007
BA108 from Doha to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA108 from Doha to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007

Entebbe
BA062 from Entebbe to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007

Grand Cayman
BA252 from Grand Cayman to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007
BA252 from Grand Cayman to London Heathrow on February 3, 2007

Harare
BA152 from Harare to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007

Hong Kong
BA026 from Hong Kong to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007
BA026 from Hong Kong to London Heathrow on February 3, 2007
BA028 from Hong Kong to London Heathrow on February 3, 2007
BA028 from Hong Kong to London Heathrow on February 4, 2007
BA032 from Hong Kong to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007
BA032 from Hong Kong to London Heathrow on February 3, 2007

Houston
BA202 from Houston to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA202 from Houston to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007
BA202 from Houston to London Heathrow on February 3, 2007

Johannesburg
BA054 from Johannesburg to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007
BA054 from Johannesburg to London Heathrow on February 3, 2007
BA056 from Johannesburg to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007
BA056 from Johannesburg to London Heathrow on February 3, 2007


Kolkata
BA146 from Kolkata to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007

Kuwait
BA156 from Kuwait to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA156 from Kuwait to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007

Lagos
BA074 from Lagos to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007

London Heathrow
BA203 from London Heathrow to Detroit on February 1, 2007

Los Angeles
BA268 from Los Angeles to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA268 from Los Angeles to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007
BA282 from Los Angeles to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007


Lusaka
BA254 from Lusaka to London Heathrow on February 3, 2007


Mauritius
BA122 from Mauritius to London Heathrow on February 3, 2007

Mexico City
BA242 from Mexico City to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007

Miami
BA206 from Miami to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA208 from Miami to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA208 from Miami to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007

Montreal
BA094 from Montreal to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007

Muscat
BA072 from Muscat to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007

Nairobi
BA064 from Nairobi to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA088 from Nairobi to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007

Nassau
BA252 from Nassau to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007
BA252 from Nassau to London Heathrow on February 3, 2007
BA252 from Nassau to London Heathrow on February 4, 2007
BA253 from London Heathrow to Nassau on February 2, 2007
BA253 from London Heathrow to Nassau on February 3, 2007

New York (JFK)
BA112 from New York to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA114 from New York to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA116 from New York to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA172 from New York to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA174 from New York to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA176 from New York to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA178 from New York to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA182 from New York to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007

New York (Newark)
BA184 from New York to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA186 from New York to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007
BA188 from New York to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007

Philadelphia
BA066 from Philadelphia to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA068 from Philadelphia to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007

Phoenix
BA288 from Phoenix to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007

Providenciales (Turks-Caicos)
BA252 from Providenciales to London Heathrow on February 4, 2007

Rio de Janeiro
BA246 from Rio de Janeiro to London Heathrow on February 3, 2007

San Francisco
BA284 from San Francisco to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA284 from San Francisco to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007
BA286 from San Francisco to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA286 from San Francisco to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007

Sao Paulo
BA234 from Sao Paulo to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA246 from Sao Paulo to London Heathrow on February 3, 2007
BA246 from Sao Paulo to London Heathrow on February 4, 2007

BA247 from Sao Paulo to Buenos Aires on February 2, 2007
BA247 from Sao Paulo to Buenos Aires on February 3, 2007

Seattle
BA048 from Seattle to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA048 from Seattle to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007

Shanghai (Pu Dong)
BA168 from Shanghai to London Heathrow on February 4, 2007

Singapore
BA012 from Singapore to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007
BA012 from Singapore to London Heathrow on February 3, 2007
BA016 from Singapore to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007
BA016 from Singapore to London Heathrow on February 3, 2007
BA016 from Singapore to London Heathrow on February 6, 2007
BA016 from Singapore to London Heathrow on February 7, 2007

BA015 from Singapore to Sydney on February 2, 2007
BA015 from Singapore to Sydney on February 3, 2007

Sydney (please check Bangkok and Singapore to London flights above for details of connecting flight)

BA10 from Sydney to Bangkok on February 4, 2007
BA10 from Sydney to Bangkok on February 5, 2007

BA16 from Sydney to Singapore on February 4, 2007
BA16 from Sydney to Singapore on February 5, 2007

Tampa
BA2166 from Tampa to London Gatwick on February 1, 2007

Tel Aviv
BA162 from Tel Aviv to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA162 from Tel Aviv to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007
BA164 from Tel Aviv to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007

Tokyo
BA006 from Tokyo to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007
BA006 from Tokyo to London Heathrow on February 3, 2007
BA008 from Tokyo to London Heathrow on February 2, 2007
BA008 from Tokyo to London Heathrow on February 3, 2007

Toronto
BA092 from Toronto to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA098 from Toronto to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007

Vancouver
BA084 from Vancouver to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007

Washington
BA216 from Washington to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007
BA292 from Washington to London Heathrow on February 1, 2007

Date Updated
26/01/2007 09.12 PM

[SQFAN]

Can you book a changeable tix on another carrier as backup ? For example, I have a BA NCE-LHR which is on a strike day but I've booked U2 NCE-LTN with the option of paying £17.50 plus the fare difference to change the U2 flight if the strike doesn't happen.

It's not that easy as the alternatives are not one world alliance that I can think of. I am doing a turn around.

BTW, I need the BA as it is the first leg. If I do not show up, then no-show will result and subsequent legs (SQ) cancelled.

[jhm]

BTW, I need the BA as it is the first leg. If I do not show up, then no-show will result and subsequent legs (SQ) cancelled.

Cancelled by who ? If BA, surely you can speak to them ?

[KeithMEL]

Guys

Perhaps we can make use of this thread to deal with flights (SQ or otherwise) affected by BA's strike issues as well as latest info. Of course, I can always refer to BA's website.

Respectfully suggesting that political discussions perhaps can continue in a new thread?

Good deal - sorry for clogging up the thread!

I won't be around much for a few days due to having to rely on sloooooow pre-paid dial up at my new flat while waiting for my ADSL to arrive. So bye for now, and good luck with rebooking!