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Unite aim to ruin yet another British company

Scottyboy20

Would it be a gross exaggeration to state that everyone who works within airports and airlines are greedy, self-serving scumbags who go on strike at every ******* opportunity? Would that be over the top, or as I suspect, a pretty accurate summation of a particularly unpleasant horde of parasites?

If my flight to Thailand is delayed because of these ******* I'll probably either break down in tears or go on a Raoul Moat style rampage targetting airport personnel

Yes it would be-seeing as they're fighting to keep there wages at trhe same level (or to stop them dropping so far).

Reply 81

WharfedaleTiger

13

gildartz

I recently read that the unemployement figure was around 2 mil, so it's ludicrous hearing of this strike when there are many people in Britain now who would happily take the strikers' jobs without complaint. Given the current financial situation, we all have to make sacrifices in one form or another, so it's sad hearing that these strikers are being so selfish.

Furthermore, from the bbc:
"Unite is also calling for staff to receive a £450 bonus, which had been promised to them if the company had met a certain earnings target.

BAA, which is owned by Spain's Ferrovial, missed the target by 3%. However, Unite said staff deserve financial recognition for coming so close."

The terms of the bonus were clearly laid out - they would only give out the bonus should the company reach a certain earnings target not should the company 'get close to' a certain earnings target. The target wasn't reached so bonuses should have rightly not been given.

The issue here is that they didn't reach the target because of the icelandic volcano and not due to the effort of the staff-indeed dispite losing almost a month of slights they still came remarkably close to reaching the target (within 3%, considering they lost at least 6% of the time in which to do so). They don't want the full bonus but something to recognise the effort put in-that seems fair.

Reply 82

WharfedaleTiger

13

paddyman4

Time to put Thatcher back in Downing Street, give her some steroids and a gun and see what happens.

It's ridiculous that if a company wants to employ someone, then once the workers are through the door they can hold the company to ransom and be protected from retribution by the government who ties the hands of the company. Companies should be allowed to fire strikers. If a worker is truly undervalued then they won't be fired - if they're being greedy and doing a job that loads of people can and want to do then they will be fired. It makes perfect sense to allow supply and demand to apply to labour. Exploitation cannot occur on a huge scale in a country where the taxpayer looks after you while you look for work.

Such strong labour laws are the reason why every company that can outsource, does outsource - i.e. why unemployment is such a problem and why we rely now entirely on highly skilled sectors to survive - because only in those sectors are the workers not overvalued by the government.

Complete rubbish. Why do companies outsource? Because Labour costs in other countrys are around $1 an hour rather than £4.67 an hour here. The Labour laws don't come into it-standard of living is the key determinant.

Yep, thats right just hand all the cards to the bosses (who hold all the cards already) and let them do what they will with the workers. After all theres always more where they came from! If regaining on a promised bonus-after a failure to meet the target was not the workers fault- and trying to cut wages again after the workers had accepted a wage cut, jobs losses and worse conditions isn't exploitation what is?

Reply 83

TShadow383

16

WharfedaleTiger

The issue here is that they didn't reach the target because of the icelandic volcano and not due to the effort of the staff-indeed dispite losing almost a month of slights they still came remarkably close to reaching the target (within 3%, considering they lost at least 6% of the time in which to do so). They don't want the full bonus but something to recognise the effort put in-that seems fair.

BAA lost £822 million last year... did you ever consider that they can't afford to pay?
I'm sure they could offer an extra percent on pay if they cut back on staff, but I doubt that'd please the union either...

Reply 84

WharfedaleTiger

13

TShadow383

BAA lost £822 million last year... did you ever consider that they can't afford to pay?
I'm sure they could offer an extra percent on pay if they cut back on staff, but I doubt that'd please the union either...

I had a look through their accounts-a majority of the loss is due to debt incured due to corperate takover. As already noted they cut 411 staff last year (with the Unions agreement) and the Union has offered further suggestions for savings as well as accepting a pay freeze last year.

Reply 85

gildartz

14

WharfedaleTiger

The issue here is that they didn't reach the target because of the icelandic volcano and not due to the effort of the staff-indeed dispite losing almost a month of slights they still came remarkably close to reaching the target (within 3%, considering they lost at least 6% of the time in which to do so). They don't want the full bonus but something to recognise the effort put in-that seems fair.

That sounds very fair indeed, however unfortunately most things in life are not fair, is it fair that this strike will prevent people going on holiday and taking some well deserved time off?

The Icelandic volcano was out of the company's control so they should not be blamed for the consequences of it, which is essentially what this strike is about - holding the company to ransom. Furthermore, you don't see doctors walking out of hospitals and striking because of their poor working hours even after the EWTD - they know that they have a duty to help improve patients' lives and they understand the consequences of such an action, which these strikers appear to ignore. Thousands of people will have to cancel their holidays or other arrangements abroad because of this action and this can have a massive chain of consequences.

Furthermore, picking the summer holidays to strike was very unwise, they will be striking at a time when it is more likely for people to go on and return from their holidays and so it will have the biggest consequence. This may be for strategic reasons (i.e. it will have the most impact) but this will be at the cost of travellers who they have a duty to provide a service for and is far from 'fair' in that sense.

Reply 86

WharfedaleTiger

13

gildartz

That sounds very fair indeed, however unfortunately most things in life are not fair, is it fair that this strike will prevent people going on holiday and taking some well deserved time off?

No, but what choice do they have? They've attempted the other weapons which they've got, they've given concessions and they've negotiated and got no where. A strike is always the last resort for workers and generally its used as a thread-in this case the threat has had to be followed up.

Its not fair on holiday makers, no, but the balls in BAA's court now. If they want to come back to the table and negotiate then the stirke can be cancelled or suspended. Its there choice.

The Icelandic volcano was out of the company's control so they should not be blamed for the consequences of it, which is essentially what this strike is about - holding the company to ransom. Furthermore, you don't see doctors walking out of hospitals and striking because of their poor working hours even after the EWTD - they know that they have a duty to help improve patients' lives and they understand the consequences of such an action, which these strikers appear to ignore. Thousands of people will have to cancel their holidays or other arrangements abroad because of this action and this can have a massive chain of consequences.

The strike isn't about the bonuses (And they're not demanding a full bonus either, just 'something') but about the pay rise offered which, if accepted, would mean they've had a 7 or 8% wages decrese in the last 2 years. Yes they are holding employers to ransom-thats the point of a strike-but only as a last resort and to try and force them to make a better offer.

I'm fairly sure they understand the consequences-but the fact that they think its worthwhile might show how important the issue is. Do you think they enjoy going without pay and annoying people?

Furthermore, picking the summer holidays to strike was very unwise, they will be striking at a time when it is more likely for people to go on and return from their holidays and so it will have the biggest consequence. This may be for strategic reasons (i.e. it will have the most impact) but this will be at the cost of travellers who they have a duty to provide a service for and is far from 'fair' in that sense.

Yep, its strigic-its to force the company back to the table. Theres no point going at other times and losing out in terms of pay etc. for no impact is there?

Reply 87

Qoph

nofish4u

Source:

Here it is again, the bloody left wing champaign socialists that run unite have decided to screw over the general public once again. At a time when the economic is so fragile this really is not on, people moan about thatchers policies in the 1980s, well im sorry but they need to be applied here! Unite is out of control....

THIS THREAD IS ABOUT BAA NOT BA - althought the arguments apply to both cases
Edit: I put this in the wrong forum :P would a helpful mod move it to General Discussions rather than General uni discussion=]

Usually Unions representing employees interests don't aim to ruin a company. Infact they're the most time careful not to create too high wage costs in order to safeguard jobs. Of course there are sometimes individual cases in which ecxessive demands contribute to an escalating industrial dispute.

Reply 88

mmmmmpie

the fact that they think its worthwhile might show how important the issue is

Only around 50% or something turned up to actually vote, so actually many people in unite didnt even think it was worthwhile enough to vote....

Reply 89

username94219

20

mmmmmpie

. . . .

Don't know if you've heard, but the strikes have been called off after BAA and Unite came to a deal earlier this evening. So we can still go on holiday :biggrin: