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In fairness will BA be able to post " British Airways dispute - The Employers View"? As I assume UTSG is primarily here as a conduit for apolitical dialogue? On 17/03/2010, Dave Wetzel <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > ------------------------------ > > From: Unite the union [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf > Of Unite the union > Sent: 16 March 2010 15:02 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: British Airways - the truth > > If you are having trouble viewing this email, please click > here<http://unite.newsweaver.co.uk/ugl8cdmtbpq-ameougo5rp?email=true> > . > Please add [log in to unmask] to your address book to > ensure that our emails reach your inbox. > > > > [image: Unite Newsflash] > > British Airways - the truth[image: Blocked image] > > Unite cabin crew members at British Airways are now days away from strike > action. Much of the media has portrayed the crew as overpaid, underworked > and prepared to bring BA down to its knees. Nothing can be further from the > truth. > > The last thing BA crew want to do is to go on strike. In fact, the crew are > preparing to take industrial action as a last resort because they care so > much about BA and want the airline to have a future as a premier carrier. > > In November 2009, BA imposed changes that cut over 1,000 crew members from > flights, cuts that cabin crew believe have been a disaster for the on-board > service quality. BA's European flights have seen 25 per cent reductions in > crew numbers and on long-haul flights crew compliments have seen reductions > of between 1 and 3. > > Unite crew members realise that BA is operating in tough financial > conditions. That's why they offered the airline £62m in savings - the same > amount BA has saved by removing cabin crew from flights. Crew were prepared > to compromise on crew numbers, take a pay cut, and take cuts in their terms > and conditions. But no matter how much the union offered, BA simply refused > to accept. Unite believes that all along BA was merely playing lip-service > to the negotiating process. We believe that BA has another agenda entirely - > smashing the collective voice of cabin crew. > > BA's management is becoming increasingly macho. Under Willie Walsh's > leadership the company has undertaken a range of union busting tactics. Most > of the crew's local union leaders are either suspended or awaiting > disciplinaries. A further 30 union members have been suspended on spurious > grounds. Staff are living in fear of who could be next. BA has also spent > months encouraging other BA staff to help break the strike by training up as > cabin crew. > > BA has threatened to remove the travel concessions from any crew member who > goes on strike - this is a particularly vindictive move when around one > third of crew use it to commute to work. > > The way forward > > Unite and its members did not want this strike. But we have been left with > no option because management will not listen. > > We are, however, ready to resume talks at any time. Crew are prepared to > offer compromise and flexibility. > > This dispute can only be avoided if BA is prepared to make a serious attempt > to finding a negotiated settlement. It could start by putting the offer the > airline made last week back on the table so that Unite could give members > the right to accept or reject BA's proposal. Unite is prepared to halt the > strike while members are consulted and will stand by crew's decision. The > ball is clearly in BA's court. > > You can help > > As usual in industrial disputes, some media and politicians are taking the > side of the employer ignoring the genuine concerns of workers. You can help > get BA crew's message to a wider audience by forwarding this email to a > friend. Check on Unite's website to find out the real truth. > www.unitetheunion.org/ba<http://unite.newsweaver.co.uk/wrt3heq04wa-ameougo5rp?email=true> > > Joint General Secretaries > > Derek Simpson and Tony Woodley > > BA's cabin crew save lives > > BA frequent flyer Karen Ward believes she owes her life to the skills and > professionalism of British Airways cabin crew. Here she tells her story > about how she survived a life threatening illness thanks to the intervention > of highly experienced cabin crew. Click > here<http://unite.newsweaver.co.uk/lm4qiexsuw4-ameougo5rp?email=true> > . > > http://www.youtube.com/user/UniteTheUnion#p/u/0/JCXD57CZCFE<http://unite.newsweaver.co.uk/lm4qiexsuw4-ameougo5rp?email=true> > > [image: Blocked image] > > > > Click here to read Assistant General Secretary Len McCluskey's article in > the Guardian > newspaper<http://unite.newsweaver.co.uk/1qkoipkal6s-ameougo5rp?email=true> > > > > [image: Blocked image] > > > > [image: Blocked image] > > > > > > > > [image: Blocked image] > > > > [image: Union > tv]<http://unite.newsweaver.co.uk/1fh813tq7gs-ameougo5rp?email=true> > > [image: Blocked image] > > Unite, 35 King Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 8JG > Unite, Transport House, 128 Theobald's Road, Holborn, London, WC1X 8TN > > ©2010 Unite. All rights reserved. All trade marks acknowledged. > > [image: Unite] > > > > This email was sent from Unite > > [image: Blocked image] > > Click here <https://www.mailcontrol.com/sr/wQw0zmjPoHdJTZGyOCrrhg==> to > report this email as spam. > > > > Best Wishes, > > Dave > > Dave Wetzel > "Transforming Communities". > Sustainable Transport Policies ▪ Public Finance with Social Inclusion ▪ > Affordable Housing ▪ Economic Land Policies with Justice. > > Tel: 0208 568 9004 > Intl:+44 208 568 9004 > > Mobile/Cellphone: 07715 32 29 26 > Intl: +44 7715 32 29 26 > > e-mail: [log in to unmask] > > 40 Adelaide Terrace. Great West Road. > Brentford. LONDON. TW8 9PQ. UK > Web: www.LabourLand.org > -- Sent from my mobile device =========================== http://uk.linkedin.com/in/drjohnbullas