Morning:
8°c
British Airways ‘volunteers’ face block by unions around the world during stoppage
Sri Carmichael and Dick Murray17 Mar 2010
The British Airways strike went global today after unions around the world came out in support of the airline's cabin crew.
Union bosses in Australia said they would try to block any strike-breaking staff who volunteer for BA from working in the country's airports.
Spanish, German and Italian workers are understood to be considering stepping into the dispute.
Industry sources say action from overseas unions could make it impossible to clean, service and refuel BA planes.
In Australia, Tony Sheldon of the Transport Workers' Union, said: “We will be checking anyone who is working through any strike action to make sure they are qualified to work.
“It's critical any volunteer staff working in Australia have the proper training and security clearance.”
Unite officials were today flying to Washington DC to hold talks with the American Teamsters union over what form their action will take.
Today a spokesman for Teamsters, which has 1.4 million members in the US, said it was “mobilising” support for its BA “brothers and sisters”.
The Conservatives condemned Unite, which is Labour's biggest financial backer, for attempting to “internationalise” the strike.
The union has warned that BA's plan to use volunteer cabin crews during the strike would put passengers in danger. It claimed replacement staff are inadequately trained and would pose a safety risk in an emergency.
BA plans to rely on 1,000 volunteers if the three-day strike goes ahead on Saturday. A four-day stoppage in the dispute over working conditions and pay is planned for the end of next week.
Steve Turner, Unite's aviation chief, today sent a letter to Transport Secretary Lord Adonis demanding the investigation.
He wrote of his “grave concerns” that using ill-prepared volunteers would “jeopardise the UK's reputation as a place where standards governing air passenger safety are respected and upheld”.
He asked Lord Adonis to take “all steps to ensure that corners have not been cut”.
BA insists temporary staff have been properly trained and safety standards are not at risk. It claims to have “thousands more” volunteers on standby if required.
Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers said: “Labour's union paymasters at Unite seem hell-bent on causing maximum disruption for passengers and maximum damage to BA.
“The news that Unite are pulling out all the stops to frustrate the efforts BA is making to keep their passengers flying and save their holidays will be greeted with anger and frustration by all the unfortunate victims of this irresponsible strike.”
A BA spokesman said: “It is sad to see Unite seeking backing from trade unions overseas to support its unjustified strike against an iconic British brand.”
Reader views (23)
for all this chaos willie walsh is to be blamed. he is a militant type, doesn't believe in talking. although i don't work for ba but working at the airport, i know some good people working for ba for over 20-25 years. they have committed themseleves to the company and its about time company looked after them. this idiot is taking all the benefits away from staff, morale is so low at ba. you need to look after the staff if you want to achieve high goals, no wonder ba is going downhill.
its time willie walsh should resign for creating such a chaos.
- Pardeep, london, 18/03/2010 10:59
Report abuse
Unpatriotic Unite internationally to bring down British Airways.
- Anna, London, 18/03/2010 10:41
Report abuse
Bye, Bye BA
- Rogan, Irving, 18/03/2010 02:57
Report abuse
Foreign Trade Unions that try to block BA's lawful business will face legal action in their countries. BA workers will do themselves out of a job and destroy the pensions of many. Foreign Unions want UK jobs to go not their jobs. Unite has given Labour £11 million and put in candidates. So much for the National Interest!!!
- Andrew, London, 18/03/2010 00:17
Report abuse
supporting BA all the way Willie Walsh stick to you guns. the union have stepped well out of line. through all this greed it will be the employee who feel it when they are all more redunant or just lose their jobs completely with no payout.
- Cassandra, uk, 17/03/2010 18:28
Report abuse
I am so please to note how many are in favour of a return to Slevery where the Employer is King, treats his workers as he wills, maybe a few concubines thrown in , or selective mating to improve the 'stock'
What a world these people envisage..but always as they as King..never as slave.
- Clif, London, 17/03/2010 17:38
Report abuse
Having seen Walsh's tenure at Aer Lingus its not surpising we're here with BA. In Wee Willie's last year in charge he managed to produce a spectacular 35% drop in turnover from when he took over. Great work!
Looks like his management style is having an even bigger effect of destroying BA who lets face it are no more British than Cadburys.
- Dave, London, 17/03/2010 17:11
Report abuse
Sacl all the airline staff in the world , that will teach them !!
- Brian, Wiltshire, 17/03/2010 17:03
Report abuse
Flying on planes with a whole cabin crew that are on there first day on the job... That should be exciting..
- Light Shaft, Earnley UK, 17/03/2010 16:58
Report abuse
so one assumes that brining in unt'r'ained or part trained cabin staff, is also illegal.(Health and safety).
But BA aren't bringing in in untrained or part trained cabin staff so nothing illegal there, I'm pleased I can put your mind at rest.
All volunteer crew have had the same safety and medical training as the normal cabin crew get, and some are former Cabin Crew who moved on into other roles at BA. The ONLY part of the training that these volunteers have not received is in hot meal service and that was to allow more crew to be trained.
My flight is operating and I don't care if I don't get fed and/or drinks so long as I get there.
- James Smith, London, 17/03/2010 16:57
Report abuse
Failing to disrupt passengers' lives to the extend they expected, they are now contacting their US counterpart to ruin the passengers further. Block the volunteers? Is that even legal? Everyone has the right to work or not work for an employer. Just because you are too greedy to accept the current level of remuneration, which is already the best in UK airlines, doesn't mean other people thinking reasonably are not allowed to take up the job. Thousands of jobless and disadvantaged people are waiting.
- Clair Smith, London, 17/03/2010 16:57
Report abuse
Why can't these guys just get on with their jobs and stop complaining? Compared to many others in the world the pay and conditions they enjoy are first class! Most people have things they don't like about their jobs, but they just get on with it, they don't strike and cause mayhem for customers.
The BA staff should stop whingeing and be glad they're not one of the 2.45 million unemployed in the UK!!
- Pete, London, 17/03/2010 16:45
Report abuse
Months ago I booked a package with Trailfinders to Canada and the US for Easter with the family, which, horror of horrors, is to be with BA as a carrier to and from Heathrow. Now Easter holiday for my family is in Jeopardy and there is no lee way with School holidays.This is the last time I can contemplate using BA so the damage Unite have always intended has been done- But why would they do this to the National carrier especially before the Olympics? The reason must be that they are softening up the Government ( this one and the next) knowing that there is to be a real negotiation with the British Government, whoever that may be, post the Election since Civil Service pay and empolyment is going to HAVE to be subject to cuts. Beware, it is Stirling at stake here and Unite can control the Labour Party and probably the LIB Dems -- Do you think Cameron is up them?
- William Allen, Channel Isles, 17/03/2010 16:41
Report abuse
So after 13 years of Labour our Cities and Towns have been turned into the crime ridden and violent times of New York from the 70s they now won't be happy til we go back the militant Union action of the 70s and 80s. What amazes me is how the Government and this Government in particular refuse to learn any lessons from history. Whether this is through stubbornness or lack of intelligence i aren't sure but i'm sure the voters will make their own minds up when the time comes. Vote Labour get Unite running the Country (into destruction).
- Paul Mccarthy, Barton Nth Lincs, 17/03/2010 16:26
Report abuse
No offence, but BA has no God's right to exist. Ask the ghost of Japan Airlines, if you in doubt. And when staff of competing airlines helps bring it down out of "solidarity", one can but laugh. No more moaning about "great British brands" disappearing, please.
- Legal Immigrant, City of London, 17/03/2010 16:25
Report abuse
John Bandey, you don't seem to realise that last week, Willie Walsh made Unite a very good offer, the condition of that offer was that Unite would not "publicly" threaten to take strike action. Unite agreed to that to consider it. The first thing they did before considering it was to make a public announcement that they intended to take strike action - thereby putting off millions of potential BA customers from flying, including Andrew Neil of the BBC Politics Programme.
Willie Walsh immediately withdrew the offer because Unite had deliberately broken their agreement.
It is this same offer that Unite now so cravenly demands be put back on the negotiating table. In other words Unite can do as they wish, they can break agreements, they can lie, lambast BA to all and sundry and Willie walsh has to lie down and take it.
Thank god BA have him in charge, others would have caved in to Unite power months ago.
Stick it out Willie don't give an inch. Sack the lot if need be or withdraw every privilege that is not in their contracts.
We need to know the political background of some of these Unite leaders and rabble rousers, I won't be surprised but I bet many others will be.
- M. Clift, Worcester., 17/03/2010 15:57
Report abuse
Let BA go under. No one will notice other than the strikers,anyway
- Peter Glazier, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 17/03/2010 15:40
Report abuse
Anyone else wondering who's funding the "jolly" to DC - you all staying in budget hotels?
Keep up the good work - your timing is fantastic and I'm sure that none of your members will hold a grudge once the aftermarth of this action hits home.
You all have jobs, benefits and as of recently a decent future - go ahead and blow it!
- Expat Steve, Seattle, 17/03/2010 15:30
Report abuse
B.A. Cabin staff, - Turkeys voting for Christmas!
Oh well, -come Boxing day there'll be tears!
Or...(since they already have the best pay and conditions of any U.K. carriers) - 'How to kill the goose that laid the golden egg'?
- Huggy, Cumbernauld Scotland, 17/03/2010 15:02
Report abuse
If the Unite wins, then BA is finished. Of course Unions in other countries, particularly the USA, will be pleased to help Unite as they know that if they succeed, then BA will disappear as a competitor to their own national carriers.
- Carl, London, 17/03/2010 14:35
Report abuse
I thought we were living in 2010, not back in the 1970's - oh, I forgot there is a Labour government in power doing it's very best to take us back to those dark days....
- Richard, Surrey, 17/03/2010 13:50
Report abuse
If the unions bring in flying pickets its illegal, so one assumes that brining in untained or part trained cabin staff, is also illegal.(Health and safety). For heavensake Willie Walsh get off your high horse and talk to the people that earn you, your over the top wage.
- John Bandey, St Pardoux, 17/03/2010 13:28
Report abuse
Mutiny! Any tiny morsel of sympathy that might have been hidden away somewhere within me has gone. This union is intent on killing off BA. As such I would ask the government to intervene. BA should be allowed to dismiss anyone wanting to strike!
- Sanjay, Hounslow, UK, 17/03/2010 13:27
Report abuse
