British Airways Strike
 

Unions are calling for a possible strike over the August bank holiday.
See link for more info.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3562026.stm

When is the Bank Holiday?

Monday Aug 30

Thanks! Am I understanding the article that they aren't planning to walk out completely, but have intermittent work stoppages?

Katherine22 - it really doesn't make much difference if it is a "work to rule" (i.e. slowing down), short work stoppages, or full blown strikes. Travelers could be greatly inconvenienced.

Plus this BA agents strike is planned to coincide w/ a baggage handlers strike. The disruptions could be massive -- especially on the Bank Holiday. This is like a US strike on Labor Day weekend or the Sunday after Thanksgiving. It will be a real mess if the strikes happen.

Thanks janis. I'm trying to not get worked up over this-and am being totally selfish, too. We are scheduled to leave Sept. 2, ORD-LHR on BA. I read some of the other posts and it looks like last year it was resolved rather quickly.

We're scheduled to leave Sept 2 as well, so I am watching it to Katherine. I'll keep my fingers crossed for us!

They've said Bank Holiday weekend, so that means Sat 28th August until Monday 30th. And I'm travelling on the 28th! Thanks BA. That's the best advert for Ryanair and EasyJet by far.

AR-Kind of...my main concern with any slow downs (as opposed to stops) will be getting from LHR to STN in time to not miss my non-refundable Ryanair flight.

Because we've got BA Frequent Flyer cards, I just got this email from them:-

You may have seen reports in the media that the outcome of a GMB union ballot was announced today. Regrettably the ballot result is in favour of industrial action, however we want to continue talking to our unions and remain hopeful of a solution.

Should you have a booking with British Airways, I would advise you not to change your travel plans at this stage, as we are hopeful of avoiding a dispute. However, work on contingency planning has begun and our priority is to minimise any disruption to our customers.

British Airways continues to operate a normal schedule and I would like to stress there is currently no industrial action set. We will continue to update you as the situation may evolve. In the meantime for the latest flight information please visit <http://ba.com>

Katharine, if possible I would just take carryons. How far apart are your two flights?

We arrive at 10:20 am at LHR. Leave from STN at 7:15pm. I'm beginning to appreciate this time lag now...

I will have to re-evaluate our luggage to try to fit into carry-on only. I have been struggling to fit it into Ryanair allowances already!

We have award tickets, gotten in Feb. [can be cancelled or date changed up to 24 hours before the flight] for LAX-LHR on August 22. And we have the same for London to Rome on August 30- Bank Holiday. How's that for timing?
And our beloved Siamese cat is still hanging on, having subcutaneous fluids three times a week. She's not eating well right now and we're trying everything. Somehow we can't have her put to sleep just to go on vacation. What to do?!

That's all I'll say is that if I am inconvenienced by British Airways baggage handlers or check-in staff going on strike in either my outgoing or return flight, then I will simply never choose to fly BA again. I'm sure that many will feel the same in this day of huge competition for short haul fights.
This means that not only will the staff not get their 15% pay-rise demand, they may get redundancy notices instead when profits fall. BA management will also not get fat bonus payments.
The ball is in BA management's court. Sort it out.

Katharine, even if you are delayed for four hours or maybe even more at Heathrow, you should still make it on time for your Ryanair flight, even with luggage. I really doubt that will happen. But for general ease and peace of mind, I would try for carryons. What does your airline allow for carryons?

Odds are there won't be a strike anyway. However, Heathrow is plagued with delays in general.

So far, one union (NOT 'unions')has got 53% of its members who could be bothered to vote (and most of that union's members didn't vote)in favour of a strike.

So that union has a weapon that it can try to use, with a week or so notice, any time over the next few weeks. Probably round August 30 . If it doesn't reach a prior agreement with BA. If it thinks the weapon will work (because unless the other unions vote in favour, it'll be a pretty mimsy strike. Even if its own members do actually bother to strike - far from certain given the pathetic support vote the strike got.)

Given all the certain hassles in connecting through Heathrow on a bank holiday, or connecting with another London airport, I'd put the declining possibility of a strike well down the list of things to worry about.

Things can change: the other union might vote more convincingly in favour this week, for example, or BA might foul up the next two weeks' negotiation. But there's no point seeking certainty at this stage. Stay close to the BBC reports of developments if you want to know how this is progressing, or fix yourself a Google UK news alert by inputting "BA strike" at www.google.co.uk/newsalerts?hl=en

Reuters is saying today that BA ground staff have agreed to launch a 24-hour strike on August 27, 28, 29 or 30 unless BA settles first.

There's an updated article on the BBC web page. Good luck!

The GMB union is meeting with the management again today. They have been offered a settlement that equals over 8% over 3 years. Currently, the UK inflation is about 2.5%. What's the problem then?
The TGWU (transport union) are looking to also get involved.
I don't appreciate being used as a pawn for strike action. What if I refused to give emergency blood transfusions in my line of work as a strike threat?

Well my husband is flying BA domestically on both Aug 27 AND Aug 30 --- wheeee!!!!

Will Travel-BA allows one 13lb. bag each. I don't know if that'll work for us, but if need be we'll try!

I wonder if their "contingency plan" will include higher carry-on allowances in the event of a baggage handlers strike.

Whilst I appreciate it can be difficult you might like to try to have alittle more sympathy with the unions and direct your ire towards BA management - this pay round dates back to a year ago and was meant to be implemented in January. It's now over 12 months since negotiations started and seven and a half since the missed implementation date - the management team have been happy to let the negotiations drag on indefinitely and the unions are now forced into turning nasty - its an old PR tactic long popular with British management.
It's enlightening that only today with the very real threat (notwithstanding all the caveats detailed above by FlannerUK and others) of strike action that BA have finally come back with something the unions feel is worth discussing. And given that some of their members are paid as little as £11.5K pa (and live in and pay London prices)I don't think that something in excess of 8% is asking too much... especially when you consider that the management pushed through pay increases for senior staff of 16 - 23%.

Blame the BA mis-management for this foul-up and save your curses for the truly desrving top-brass.

That said let's hope they can resolve all this over the coming fortnight and that all those who need to can make their connections and take their flights on time - and all those that need it can earn a decent, living wage without recourse to industrial action.

(Here endeth the lesson)

Dr D.

Here is the information on the BA website this morning:

Possible Strike Action
Regrettably, one of the unions representing British Airways' staff has formally notified the airline that they intend to hold a one day strike on 27th August.
We remain hopeful that we can resolve this dispute without any action and are continuing to talk to our unions.
However, we do have contingency plans which are now being finalised and these will be announced shortly if necessary.
We recognise that customers planning to travel over this period may wish to change their plans. If you hold a booking on a British Airways? flight for travel up to and including 4th September, which was purchased prior to 19th August, you may change your travel dates, in addition to any other flexibility that the ticket conditions permit, as follows:
The change can be made up to the day before the original travel date
You may rebook to the same destination on a British Airways' flight subject to availability within the same, or lowest available, fare class and the same cabin for travel up to 10 September 2004. The ticket validity will be extended if it has expired up to the end of November 2004 to allow for this.
If you are not able to, or do not wish to, travel before 10 September 2004 you can rebook to the same destination on a British Airways' flight at the first convenient date and where space is available in the same fare class and cabin as the original ticket. This must be done within the validity of the ticket or up until the end of November 2004, if the validity of the ticket has expired.
You may only change your booking once, and this will be free of charge
In order to change your booking please contact your travel agent or British Airways in the UK on 0870 850 9 850. In other countries please contact your local British Airways office.

I rang BA to see whether they wanted us to delay our homebound flight on the 28th August (we would rather be prepared and delay by a day or two in France with a hotel rather than be stuck in an airport).
They told us that planes would be "in the right places" as they know about the strike in advance. However, they are still hoping to avert the strike action. BA have said that we should be fine on the 28th - especially because we depart in the evening.
The latest news on the talks are that the unions (TGWU, Amicus and GMB) have asked BA to "repackage" the offer along with the sickness payment bonus.

News that they have settled. No strike.

Topping for the Saturday crowd.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3582554.stm

BA has settled, but United's baggage handlers at Heathrow are planning to strike Aug. 27th for 24 hours.