(deleted) (20)

What won't be discussed is the sum BA plans to save by shafting their staff almost exactly matches the £350,000,000 the company has been forced to put aside to pay in fines for the fraudulent overcharging of its customers a few years back.

Dum-diddy-dum-diddy-dum-diddy-VEGETABLE GARDEN! Dum-diddy-dum-diddy-dumdumdum-dum-diddy-dumdum-CORN !
Soon the corn will be as high as an elephant's eye!

International man of mystery
Keep calm dear, its only a web post

I agree there.Funny how we have these boom periods and then recession eh?

Then we hear...Lucky to have a job....Don't rock the boat...Got to tighten one's belt.All the usual bollocks.Lay off loads,change the terms and conditions for detrimental ones,then hey presto,we are in boom time again with more profit for the owners as they pay the serfs less now.

Science isn't about why, it's about why not. You ask: Why is so much of our science dangerous? I say: Why not marry safe science if you love it so much.

Sorry Marquise, I wasn't responding to your post, just have seen other large companies using the recession as an opportunity to screw their staff.

Unless people generally join and take an active part in Trades Unions I don't see any improvement likely.

As for Government involvement, I can see it as acceptable if it is as an even handed mediator, but not as a partisan voice of authority taking sides in the dispute.

International man of mystery
Keep calm dear, its only a web post

Edited 20 Mar 10, 1:43 AM by DancesWithPussycats

This post may send the thread spiralling off into obscurity, but I hope not.

I work for the first bank to be hit, and then saved, by the government. I worked my arse off before the run, during the run and since the run. I have had no promotion for 3 and a half years, but have done more than my jobs worth. I go to work, I have 2nd to none devotion to my staff and customers, I do everything for the business and on Wednesday I will get a bonus and a payrise. There is hell on in the media about it. Unite have asked for a vote. So, if the Unions do not agree and want more do we strike? We would look like greedy so and so's due to where we work. I did not bring the bank into this mess. I am judged for it though. One of my staff has worked there for 12 years, her husband 17. He lost his job the other day. He is an amazing man, but it made no difference. He is one of many at that level that are still being 'cleared' out. None of this is being fought for by the unions, just accepted due to what happened 3 and a half years ago.

RD xx

It is not what you say or do but the way you say or do it
"Russian roulette is not the same without a gun and baby when its love, if it's not rough ,then it is not fun"

It doesn't have anything to do with democracy, especially as the Union at BA was found guilty of ballot rigging.

The impression I get in this case is that BA managment are useless beyond words which has allowed the Unions swivell eyed section to hold sway.

At the moment, anyway, as has been suggested earlier in the thread many people have taken a hit (be it in jobs/income/whatever) during the recession. They generally don't see why, if they are having a bad time, someone else should be going for something more. They think that those people should think themselves lucky to have what they've got. I do realise that takes no account of who is to blame for the recession - I'm just saying that's how people feel

Transport strikes do sometimes affect more folks than other types of strikes (certainly more immediately) and so there will be a quicker (and pobably more adverse) reaction. I don't think that the RMT have particularly helped the union movement in this - giving the impression that they will strike over pretty much anything. I was in a previous incarnation a union rep but, at times, I was heavily put off by Bob Crow

The BA strike - I don't know enough about the background to comment on the rights or wrongs although I don't doubt that Willie Walsh is a bully. The one thing that, when I've spoken to folks about it, they generally raise is the infamous mobile footage of the announcement of the strike vote result. I well remember watching one of the news channels and there was an interview with one of Unite's leaders (I can't remember whether it was Tony Woodley or not). He was saying that the staff didn't want to go on strike/ didn't want to cause problems for passengersetc etc and then they showed that clip and he really was lost for words

I agree with much of what has been said about strikes and management in this thread. I am just not sure that the unions have caught up with the mood of the country right now and, quite possibly, do need to look at how they present their case when given the chance (I also agree about some biased media coverage and recognise that does make it harder for them)

Edited 20 Mar 10, 8:25 AM by lisal

River_Deep i am sure you are dedicated to your job as were millions who have lost such jobs over the years.But somebody at some level was incompetent that is beyond doubt,which is why the bank had to be bailed out, as you say.Due to the bail out of taxpayers money,of which you are one yourself,a certain number of you kept your jobs.

Something in your post i find a little odd and slightly contradictory.You are due to get a bonus and a payrise but staff are still being laid off??If you all work for the same company how can that be?Surely if the company has done so well it can afford to pay bonuses and pay rises to some staff, then how can it lay off other staff?

As for the unions not fighting,you ARE the union!Your elected leaders just represent you and will recommend their proposals.If you disagree it goes to a vote and you can vote to strike.

As for being hell on I look at it this way.Your mate is in total disarray and is about to go bankrupt and lose everything.You bail him out with your own money and he survives.He gets back in profit and starts to go on expensive holidays and/or buy himself a bigger car[the bonus]Now you might be forgiven for thinking.....hang on a minute mate!What about the money you owe me first for bailing you out??

Of course staff can't live in purgatory forever.Nobody would continue to work there and it wouldn't be fair.But while some people who in your own words are 'amazing' are being laid off,how can you look them in the eye and take a bonus?

This was done in the shipping industry a while ago. However the BA strike has become very important because there are hundreds of employers wanting to do the same to their workforce and drive back wages and working conditions in all industries and services.

The strikes that occur in the coming period will raise the question of working class power and the replacement of capitalism by a workers state because lots of people won't be able to survive under capitalism in crisis.

The banking crisis is much worse than most people understand and none of the underlying issues have been resolved even though massive debts have been built up in order to rescue failing banks and bankers.

The government wants the working class and the middle class to cover these debts by cuts and tax increases and supporting employers who declare war upon the trade unions is part of that strategy.

'Kiss the boot of shiny, shiny leather' - Velvet Underground