Trade union right to strike

[David Johnson]

I notice BA has got another injunction against the BA workers with regard to the cabin crew strike.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/10119196.stm

Although there was a proper ballot and 81% of those balloted, voted in favour of strike action, an injunction was awarded on the basis that the Unite union did not follow rules in contacting its members with strike result details.

Apparently, Unite should have emailed members individually with the details of the results e.g. how many spoiled ballot papers etc rather than directed them to a website where the results were displayed. Bit like us getting individual emails letting us know the precise results of the constituency ballot that we voted in rather than getting us to watch it on the tele or buy a newspaper.

This seems to be an increasing trend. Just as the law is used to slap injunctions on journalists reporting on whistleblower stories on corporates, the law is now being used to pick up on technicalities in the 1992 industrial relations act to prevent strikes.

Now who introduced the 1992 Industrial Relations Act? Ah yes it was the Blessed John Major who's Tory lot have now found the perfect partner in fairness, the Lib Dems.

Cheers
D

[Bob Singleton]

When it comes to the law and "justice", the more money you have, the easier it is to get the "right" result.

I hope Unite are given the right of appeal on this ludicrous decision... we'll find out on Thursday exactly how just our legal system is.

[alicia_fan_uk]

There are so many claims and counter-claims in the BA dispute, you don't know who to believe.

That said, aren't businesses who choose to position themselves as high-end differentiatiors (ie BA) expected to pay a premium in salaries when compared to the low-cost carriers (eg the "that'll be one pound to shite in our chemically-rank toilet, thanks" Ryanairs of the world)? They certainly charge a premium on fares compared to the low-cost carriers.

I had to laugh (else I'd cry) at their relatively recent "give up a month's salary" plea. Willie Walsh forgoes ?65k, and expects those on a fraction of that a year to give up a pro-rata equivalent.

alicia_fan_uk

[Bob Singleton]

alicia_fan_uk wrote:

> There are so many claims and counter-claims in the BA dispute,
> you don't know who to believe.



Given that BA cabin crew are possibly some of the least militant trade unionists around, and given Willie Walsh is a prize cunt, I don't think it's all that difficult to conclude who to believe!!

Let's not forget the sort of man Willie Walsh is. After 9/11 all airlines saw a drop in operating profits as people were scared to fly. Most airlines struggled on as they were, and whilst jobs were lost, most airlines managed to keep them to a bare minimum, knowing that numbers would eventually pick up. Some airlines went bust, though they tended to be airlines on the brink anyway... which wasn't the case with Aer Lingus.

What did Willie Walsh do? He got rid of 2000 people at Aer Lingus (not the biggest airline anyway, so this was a considerable slashing of the work force) and turned it from a national carrier into a budget airline. In a bid to cut even more jobs, he later outsourced aircraft cleaning, which resulted in a mighty bust up with the Irish unions.

Not content with turning Aer Lingus into a joke, he then tried to persuade the Irish government to privatise the airline (which would have resulted in a nice little bonus for Mr Walsh and his directors). Fortunately, the government said no and effectively forced Walsh out.

[ECG1]

Bob Singleton wrote:

> When it comes to the law and "justice", the more money you
> have, the easier it is to get the "right" result.
>
> I hope Unite are given the right of appeal on this ludicrous
> decision... we'll find out on Thursday exactly how just our
> legal system is.
>


Unite have been down this road before... They know full well that the "right to strike" no longer exists.

http://www.lawreports.co.uk/WLRD/2009/C ... union.html

[Arginald Valleywater]

What we are forgetting is how fuckin greedy the BA staff are. In the middle of the worst recession in living memory and these idiots want a large rise. Get real, my employer is offering us sweet FA this year and we are happy to take it to stay in a decent job. BA crew are paid ?7500 a year more than their colleagues at Virgin yet squeal hard done by. Unite are the idiots, BA are trying to stay afloat.

[David Johnson]

"In the middle of the worst recession in living memory and these idiots want a large rise."

What evidence have you for this statement about wanting a large rise?

[Bob Singleton]

Arginald Valleywater wrote:

> What we are forgetting is how fuckin greedy the BA staff are.
> In the middle of the worst recession in living memory and these
> idiots want a large rise. Get real, my employer is offering us
> sweet FA this year and we are happy to take it to stay in a
> decent job. BA crew are paid ?7500 a year more than their
> colleagues at Virgin yet squeal hard done by. Unite are the
> idiots, BA are trying to stay afloat.

Do you read The Sun, The Mail or get your news from Sky??? I only ask because this strike isn't about a pay rise.