BA watagoma during festive season

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British Airways watagoma kwa karibu siku 12 kuanzia tarehe 22/12/2009 kwa karibu siku 12. Kwa WTZ ambao wanatumia BA hii itakuwa big blow wakati wa mwisho wa mwaka na New year.

Ni aibu hatuna ndege yetu inabidi watu waanze kuangalia jinsi ya kupitia Kenya au kutumia KLM etc. absolutely madness who wants to sit in a plane for more hours than necessary.


British Airways cabin crew vote for Christmas strike


British Airways cabin crew have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action in a dispute over job cuts and changes to staff contracts. The strikes are set to begin on 22 December and run until 2 January. Cabin crew voted by nine to one in favour of the strike action, with an 80% turnout. BA's chief executive Willie Walsh said the decision was "cynical" and betrayed "a lack of concern for our customers, our business and other employees".

Len McCluskey, assistant general secretary of the Unite union, said: "It goes without saying that we have taken this decision to disrupt passengers and customers over the Christmas period with a heavy heart." He stressed that the union was keen to continue negotiations.
"We will wait, ready to meet, anytime, anywhere, 24 hours a day, to try to see if we can resolve the dispute."

Contacting passengers

BA's chief executive Willie Walsh said the company would be doing everything it could to limit the effect of the strike action. "We are going to look at all our options [to minimise disruption]; operational, legal and industrial relations options," he told BBC News. BA offered passengers who are booked to travel during the strike period - or 48 hours either side of it - the chance to rebook their flights at no extra cost. Otherwise it said it would inform customers of changes to its schedules by email or SMS text.

"We will use the contact details supplied at the time of booking, so we ask customers to please ensure these are correct and up-to-date," BA said in a statement. Mr Walsh said he had told the Unite union he was available for talks, but was uncompromising on the central issue of the dispute. "The changes that we introduced in the middle of November will not be reversed. Those changes enabled us to offer voluntary redundancy to 1,000 cabin crew and those people have left the business."

Cuts concerns

Unions are unhappy about job cuts and changes to staff contracts, which they say they have not been consulted on. BA has reduced the number of cabin crew from 15 to 14 on all long-haul flights, and has frozen pay for two years. Unite said that the cuts involved imposing "significant contractual changes" on cabin crew employees, resulting in extended working hours, and reduced wages for new starters.

BA says it urgently needs to cut costs to ride out its dire financial situation. Last month it revealed it had lost ?292m in the first half of the year - the worst period in its history - and said it would have to cut a further 1,200 staff. On Monday it emerged that the financial position of the loss-making airline had taken a sharp turn for the worse. The trustees of its two pension schemes have told the company that the schemes now have a combined deficit of ?3.7bn.

Holiday woes

It is not yet clear how serious the disruption will be or which flights will be cancelled, or what compensation will be available to affected travellers. Simon Calder, travel editor of the Independent said that those affected might find it difficult to arrange alternative travel plans. "This is going to cost one million people their Christmas trips," he said.

"The travelling public are going to be absolutely appalled that so close to Christmas they have been left with no other options. "There are no seats available on most other airlines, if you do find alternative seats it is going to cost you a fortune," he told BBC News.

Shares in BA ended Monday trading down 0.2% or 0.3 pence to 201p.

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British Airways strike blocked by court


A strike by British Airways cabin crew planned for Christmas has been declared illegal in a High Court ruling. The judge agreed with BA that the cabin crew's union, Unite, had not correctly balloted its members on the strike action. The injunction means that the 12-day strike cannot now go ahead. Unite called it "a disgraceful day for democracy" and vowed to hold a fresh ballot of cabin crew if the dispute with BA was not resolved. "There is something wrong with the law," said Unite joint general secretary Derek Simpson.

He admitted that while there would be "great euphoria" among the travelling public, the union would immediately put in place plans for a fresh ballot alongside its continuing negotiations with BA. "We'll see at the end of the day who wins this, we will see at the end of the day proper democracy, proper justice," added Mr Simpson. If Unite does go ahead with another ballot, industrial relations laws would mean that fresh industrial action could not be announced until well into the new year.

Opportunity to reflect

The judge in the case, Mrs Justice Cox, agreed with BA that Unite's ballot was invalid because it included workers that had already accepted voluntary redundancy. She also poured scorn on the timing of the planned strike. "A strike of this kind over the 12 days of Christmas is fundamentally more damaging to BA and the wider public than a strike taking place at almost any other time of the year," she said. Mrs Justice Cox also refused the union permission to appeal, but the union could apply directly to the Court of Appeal. British Airways said the decision would be welcomed by "hundreds of thousands of families in the UK and around the world". "There was never any need for a strike and we hope that Unite will take this opportunity to reflect before deciding its next steps," a statement from the company said. "In recent days, we believe Unite has formed a better understanding of our position and of the ways in which we could move forward.

"It has also become very clear that our customers do not believe that old-style trade union militancy is relevant to our efforts to move British Airways back toward profitability."

Dispute 'not settled'

Mr Simpson and Unite's other joint general secretary, Tony Woodley, said the dispute was "far from settled". "While we have never wanted this dispute, it is a disgraceful day for democracy when a court can overrule such an overwhelming decision by employees taken in a secret ballot," they said. The original ballot saw 92.5% of those balloted vote in favour of industrial action. Bob Atkinson of travel website travelsupermarket.com said the one million passengers booked to travel with BA over Christmas and the new year "can now breathe a sigh of relief and carry on with their travel plans". "BA should now contact customers as soon as possible to confirm flights will be going ahead and normality has returned to the market," he added. "The threat of strike action has been hugely damaging for the British Airways brand and customer loyalty has been tested." One BA cabin crew worker contacted the BBC to say she was "delighted" the strike had been stopped.

"I voted for the strike but never dreamt it would be for 12 days over Christmas," she said. "I'm delighted it's been stopped, we have the upmost respect and regard for our customers and I'm glad we have the opportunity to show this over the festive season."

Although the dispute is not settled it gives a good relief to those who would be passengers.

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Bofya - What's the dispute about? (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8413529.stm)






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British Airways strips striking cabin crew of travel perks


British Airways today cracked down on its cabin crew by telling any staff members who took part in last weekend's strike will now lose their travel perks. Staff receive discounts on travel and free flights and were warned by BA's chief executive Willie Walsh that the perks would be withdrawn if they joined the strike. Members of Unite who took industrial action for three days from last weekend have now received letters telling them they are losing the perks. The move will be seen as warning for BA staff who may be considering taking part in this weekend's planned strikes.


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Protesters on the picket line outside Glasgow Airport on Monday.
Striking cabin crew have had their travel perks removed

A BA spokesman said: 'Our cabin crew knew that if they took part in the strike they would lose their staff travel permanently. 'Staff travel offers heavily discounted travel to employees. This is a non-contractual perk that the company can withdraw at its discretion. 'The industrial action impacted on our operation and our customers and we will undoubtedly suffer additional costs and further losses as a result.'
At present a 90 per cent discount on flight tickets is given to all BA staff and a selected group of family and friends whenever free seats are available. Staff who have worked at BA for more than five years also get free tickets to destinations covered by the airline's fleet.

A Unite spokesman said: 'This is the clearest possible example of BA's bullying and contemptuous approach to its employees. Cabin crew showed last weekend that they will not be intimidated. 'Unite will challenge this vindictive move in whatever way seems appropriate.' Unite's joint leader Tony Woodley told a rally of striking cabin crew workers on Monday that he believed the discounted travel arrangements were now 'custom and practice', not a perk. The row over the perks comes as BA announced that it will operate an increased number of flights during the next strikes, which are due to start on Saturday.


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Passengers check in at Terminal 5 of Heathrow Airport on the third day of the strikes

The firm said 55per cent of short-haul and 70per cent of long-haul flights would operate from Heathrow during the four-day walkout from this Saturday. Publication of the flight schedule dashed any hopes of an early breakthrough to the bitter dispute over cost-cutting and jobs. The airline said it would continue to supplement its short-haul schedule by leasing up to 11 aircraft with pilots and crews each day of the action from six different airlines based in the UK and Europe. Tony Woodley, joint leader of Unite, claimed the schedule had 'more holes than a Swiss cheese'. But BA chief executive Willie Walsh pledged the company's 'flag will continue to fly'. 'The biggest contingency plan in our history went extremely well last weekend, with large numbers of cabin crew reporting for work as normal,' said Mr Walsh. 'This second strike is the work of a trade union that - despite its promises - seems determined to try to ruin the Easter holiday plans of thousands of families.

'Once again the union has misjudged the public mood. Our flag will continue to fly. 'We will do all we can to rebook affected customers on to other British Airways' flights, offer seats on alternative airlines or give a full refund. 'I stress again that our door remains open to Unite, day or night, if it wants to find a sensible settlement.' BA said its flight programme involved 230 aircraft operating up to 650 services every day to or from 140 cities in more than 70 countries. Customers were advised to check www.ba.com to see if their flight was still operating before departing for the airport.

Mr Woodley branded the schedule as 'fantasy'. 'Passengers will take one look at next weekend's strike schedule and rightly ask what on earth is going on. This schedule has more holes than a Swiss cheese,' he said. 'Is BA really saying that it would rather hit the travel plans of tens of thousands of people for another weekend than negotiate a settlement? 'Passengers are paying for management machismo.
'BA management should spend more time on addressing their employees' concerns and less on fantasy schedules sending empty planes to unknown destinations.'



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Tony Woodley has said that BA plans
for its flight schedule 'are full of Swiss cheese'

While Easter and school holidays is around the corner, the strike will force price increase in BA routes and specifically Dar Es Salaam for those who wish to fly directly.

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Q&A: What's the BA dispute about?


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Globally, BA will have shed 4,900 jobs
by March 2010


Following the collapse of talks between British Airways and the Unite union, BA cabin crew began striking on Saturday. Staff will walk out for three days from 20 March and four days from 27 March. The union has not ruled out further strikes after Easter from 14 April.

What is at the heart of the dispute?

In November, BA reduced the number of cabin crew on long haul flights from 15 to 14 and introduced a two-year pay freeze from 2010. The Unite union said this would hit passenger service, as well as the earnings and career prospects of cabin crew. The airline has also proposed new contracts for fresh recruits and newly-promoted staff. These include a single on-board management grade, no seniority, promotion on merit, and pay set at market rate plus 10%. This would still see new recruits paid significantly less than current staff. The plans for the changes were first presented to company workers in February 2009 and unanimously rejected at a mass meeting in July.

The union said those measures were brought in during November and argued it should have been able to negotiate over changes. But BA disputes this and says it did consult Unite, but that the details were not negotiable. The union applied for a High Court injunction to block the airline's plans but failed. There was then a full court hearing examining the contractual issue - but a judge ruled in BA's favour.
Union members say they they have been "unwillingly" working the new schedule. Unite has put forward its own proposals, which it says would save the airline £63m through a combination of pay cuts and part-time working. But BA rejected the proposals, saying they would not save as much money as Unite claimed.

Why is BA making the changes?

BA says that it must restructure and permanently reduce its costs. It suffered a loss before tax of £342m for the nine months to the end of December 2009, compared with profits of £70m for the same period a year earlier. The airline's chief executive Willie Walsh said that this had been the "most difficult year in the history of the aviation industry". "Operational changes at British Airways are absolutely necessary to improve the performance of the business," he said. Globally, the company says it will have shed 4,900 jobs by March this year. Willie Walsh agreed to work for nothing in July, in a show of solidarity with the 800 workers who BA say volunteered to do the same.

But are BA's woes purely recession-based?

Over the past few years, air travellers have been switching to low-cost airlines. This is especially true of business travellers who are traditionally BA's core customers. The loss of these particular passengers is potentially fatal to the future of BA, according to analysts. "If its most profitable business passengers don't come back in the numbers, and paying the prices they were paying before the economic slowdown, then BA's current operating structure and cost levels will in no way guarantee its survival for the future," says John Strickland from JLS Consulting.

British Airways is experimenting with cost-cutting and surplus charges, such as not serving food on some flights - those that last less than two-and-half hours after 10am - and charging passengers who want to place a second bag in the hold. And other analysts do not think BA will end here. "You have to wonder just how far BA's new pricing regime will go in the pursuit of generating revenue to stem the losses," says independent airline analyst Saj Ahmad.

What effect will the strike have?

It will undoubtedly cause disruption to passengers (though Unite has said it will not strike over the busy Easter period). The airline has said flights from London City Airport will not be affected, and long-haul flights to and from Gatwick will also operate. At Heathrow, its most important hub, the airline has said it will be able to offer some long and short-haul services. Domestic flights are normally the first to be cancelled in any disruption and airlines try to prioritise long-haul flights. Read our guide to your rights if your flight is cancelled. BA workers will suffer too. Workers taking part in the strikes will not only lose pay, but have been told they will lose perks, including no longer getting the right to buy heavily discounted tickets.

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British Airways strike dates announced

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BA planes are set to be grounded again



The British Airways cabin crew union Unite has announced fresh strike dates in its long-running dispute with the airline. Cabin crew will walk out for four separate five-day strikes in May and June. The first strike will begin on 18 May, ending on 22 May, with the three further strikes beginning on 24 May, 30 May and 5 June. Unite members rejected a fresh deal for cabin crew earlier this month.

Safari za moja kwa moja kutoka London - Dar zitaadhirika, Je ni lini tutaweza kuwa na usafiri wa anga wa uhakika?

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Unite union offers to call off BA strike


The Unite union has made a last-minute offer to call off the latest British Airways strike if the airline reinstates travel perks for cabin crew. The offer was delivered by Unite joint secretary Tony Woodley, who added that the union wanted fresh talks with BA. However, BA said it had already offered to reinstate travel concessions once its deal had been accepted in full, and that it had agreed to more talks. The five-day walkout by Unite cabin crew is due to begin at midnight.

Talks between the union and BA bosses ended on Saturday after they were gatecrashed by left-wing protesters. Unite says the removal of travel concessions for members who went on strike in March is one of the core reasons behind the latest series of four planned walkouts. "And as a sign of goodwill and good faith, I'm making this offer now to Willie Walsh," said Mr Woodley. "Willie, turn round and reinstate our people's travel, without unnecessary vindictive removal of their service, and this union will call off tonight's strike," he said.

[B]'Shocked'

In a statement on Sunday evening, BA called on Mr Woodley to call off the strike and return to the negotiating table. "We had agreed to a request from [conciliation service] Acas to meet this afternoon and are surprised that Unite did not take advantage of this," it said. "We have already offered to reinstate travel concessions to cabin crew once all elements of our offer have been implemented. "Of more concern to us is Tony Woodley's comment to the media that he wants to revisit certain proposals in our offer, when previously he had indicated that these were agreed." The statement went on to again blame Bassa, the Unite branch representing crew, for the failure to reach an agreement. Mr Walsh, BA's chief executive, had earlier told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that he hoped the latest strikes could be averted.
However, he said he was angered by Unite's other joint leader, Derek Simpson, using Twitter to send out details of Saturday's talks before and during the interruption by the protesters. "I was shocked and angry when I found out that Derek was doing that," he said. "Sending out his version of events to the wider audience, that really did undermine my confidence in his desire to resolve this situation. "It is a really serious issue." Entries on Mr Simpson's Twitter page, dereksimpsonjgs, on Saturday included "Arguments over the 8 sacked workers," and "Fear of more sackings to come". These were later followed by "If I have to apologise to Willy over twittering then I shall .... But I am not afraid of saying what is really going on .....".

Mr Woodley said Mr Walsh was wrong to focus on the Twitter issue. "If Willie Walsh can travel to the Andrew Marr programme, and be on television [and] radio worrying about Twitter, when we can sort out the real issue of travel, along with the agreement and other things, I'll have to ask him to get his priorities right," he said.

Contingency plans

Even the strike is called off later on Sunday, BA's services next week are still likely to be affected, especially on Monday, as crews and planes may be in the wrong place. BA has said that if the walkout does go ahead, it plans to fly more than 60,000 customers a day next week, operating 60% of long-haul flights and 50% of short-haul services from Heathrow. It says all flights at London Gatwick and London City will operate as normal. The airline is intending to lease as many as eight aircraft with pilots and crew from other UK or European carriers. Earlier this week, BA was granted a court injunction preventing the strikes after the High Court ruled that the Unite union had not reported results of its strike ballot correctly to members. However, this was overturned on Thursday following an appeal by the union. In addition to the strike due to start at midnight, two further five-day walkouts by Unite members are scheduled to begin on 30 May and 5 June.

The long-running dispute between BA and Unite cabin crew members centres on jobs, pay and working conditions. However, after striking workers had their travel concessions removed following the walkouts in March, with others facing disciplinary action, Unite said these issues also had to be addressed in any successful agreement. Numerous BA cabin crew members rely on travel perks - where they pay 10% of normal fares - to commute to work from UK cities outside London, or even from mainland Europe.

The summer of discontent from workers will disrupt direct flights to Dar Es Salaam this summer.

[MAHESABU]

has it been resolved?