Bay Capital Share Discussion Threads

[chancer] 08/6/2010 07:40

Would not surprise me one bit if the "passngers" were a set up to provoke the staff !!

[chancer] 07/6/2010 14:37

Thats why insurgents should never be allowed ever again to control, manipulate and ruin a company, organizational structure or economy.

[selborne_edge] 07/6/2010 14:31

It is the financial damage which UNITE is inflicting on BA which is most worrying. Even if the strike was to end tomorrow, the loss of goodwill is immense and it will take years for BA to recover. UNITE knows this of course and BA will be a much smaller airline in the end, if indeed it exists at all.

[alphorn] 07/6/2010 14:10

"Some union figures have questioned why Mr Walsh came to the Iata meeting rather than staying home to try to settle the strike"
......are those the same idiots who are sunning themselves on the beaches?

[bartram] 07/6/2010 14:06

From today's FT:

Walsh claims BA strikes are failing
By Pilita Clark in Berlin

Published: June 7 2010 13:49 | Last updated: June 7 2010 13:49

British Airways is working on measures to keep flying through any further cabin crew strikes over the summer, Willie Walsh said on Monday, as he stepped up his claims that the latest round of stoppages had failed.

Asked if he could imagine a situation where BA started to sack striking workers if the Unite union representing flight attendants followed through on threats to continue the stoppages after the latest wave ends this week, the BA chief executive said: "Let's see what happens."

"I'm not going to predict what Unite try to do next," he told reporters at the annual general meeting of the International Air Transport Association in Berlin. "All I'll say is if you look at what Unite has achieved so far, they've not achieved their objective, which was to ground BA, and they never will achieve that objective in relation to this dispute.

"I'm very confident we will be able to increase the amount of flying we're doing because we're getting great support from the vast majority of people in BA."

As the strikes have gone on in March, May and June, Mr Walsh has steadily refined a range of measures to keep flights operating, such as hiring in extra aircraft and crew, training volunteer attendants and running a series of legal actions to block the strikes.

He is now developing those measures further in what is becoming one of the most protracted airline disputes in Europe.

"I think the contingency plans we've developed have worked very, very well and we continue to build on those," he said. "We're building on the existing plans that we have."

The latest round of three five-day walkouts is due to end on Wednesday, but Unite is looking at a fresh ballot in the long-running row over pay and conditions.

Some union figures have questioned why Mr Walsh came to the Iata meeting rather than staying home to try to settle the strike, which has seen a series of talks come and go without resolution in recent weeks.

"This is business as usual," he said. "I've got plenty of people in my team who can sit down and talk."

He repeated BA was always available for further negotiations, but insisted the union's claim that the dispute could be settled if he reinstated travel concessions stripped from striking workers was wrong.

"Travel is not the issue at the heart of this. I made it absolutely clear before the cabin crew even balloted for industrial action that travel concessions, which are non-contractual benefits, are clearly something of value to people in the business, and something that is given to reward loyalty and service and dedication of the people in BA.

"I said they would be removed from people who set out to inflict financial damage on the business and inflict disruption on our customers."

[chancer] 07/6/2010 13:01

When I was an apprentice I was forced to join the EETPU union and had to attend for several weeks at their office in Liverpool and not be admitted until persons would recommend me into their meeting.

How surprised was I to discover one of the committe members was a lecturer in our Technical College who caused the strike in Bootle Liverpool in the 1970s of the famous Inland Revenue Office which lasted for years.

And guess what, he was employed by the Technical College I attended but hiding behind his wife National Insurance number to get the job.

I wonder how many others hide behind the unions who have a shady past ?

[verngate] 07/6/2010 12:52

Hey Drewz, you don't happen to be holdaying in Cyprus at the moment?

[drewz] 07/6/2010 12:36

And so the ignorant ranting on this thread plumbs new depths....

[alphorn] 07/6/2010 11:41

"Iberia Lineas Aereas de Espana SA (IBLA.MC) could walk away from a merger from British Airways PLC (BAY.LN) if the U.K. pension regulator doesn't agree with what the two airlines have already outlined in a deal, the Spanish airline's chief executive said Monday".

[drewz] 07/6/2010 11:38

Quality sells. Dross is avoided or discarded.

Virgin, Cathay, Emirates, SQ, Lufthansa are all managing the slack demand caused by recession far better than BA. Now why is that? Have they suddenly become 'low-cost, pared down service' long-haul carriers? No.

Walsh is a clueless and inept airline manager. He should have stuck to driving planes.

[alphorn] 07/6/2010 11:18

drew - the trouble is that the airline would not have survived. You can provide goods or services at fantastic quality but you still have to make money and pay your bills (eg pension plan) to stay in business.

[drewz] 07/6/2010 11:14

Under Walsh's stewardship, BA has rapidly declined form a position of being one of the highest quality, most desirable major airlines to fly long-haul with, to being one of the worst.

Truly shocking - and Woodley only appeared on the scene long after this damage had been done, so union-bashing drivel won't wash.

[alphorn] 07/6/2010 11:01

drew - who provided your figures? Have a look at the production stats and make adjustments for the recently closed plants and reduced production at the end of 2009. (Peak was in 1970 at over 2m vehicles; in 2009 "just under 1m cars were made in the UK, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers (SMMT)").

..............oh, and here is that Woodley guy again:
"It is understood the Unite warnings relate to an unnamed company that it fears will soon run out of money, though not Jaguar or General Motors-owned Vauxhall. "It is irresponsible to make further comment because it would cause a run on the company's shares," said Woodley. Asked why he had raised the possibility of a company shutting down its UK operations despite the concerns over further damaging the company, he said: "It would be equally irresponsible not to stand up for those workers.""

[chancer] 07/6/2010 10:57

The falling share price only gives joy and delight to the unions in their self belief they are actually winning the battle.

You are right about the fact that if the unions did win, they would then attract more new members like other unions and brainwash the public into believing they are some type of super entity protecting you from "cradle to grave"

It would not surprise me if the unions were about to recommend them going back to work very soon without lose of face and credence.

As we all know HM will not be held to ransom by anyone, especially working class, poorly educated northern trouble makers who's only concern is for them to manipulate and bully the genuine members of our society.

[drewz] 07/6/2010 10:42

"Closing down the UK car industry"??? You really are thick, you lot.

The UK builds more cars now than it did 20 years ago. You know nothing.

[alphorn] 07/6/2010 10:38

SE - I agree with you.
The clowns at the unions will count this as a great a victory as closing down the UK car industry. (Wasn't Woodley also involved with that industry???).

[drewz] 07/6/2010 10:30

You can't see the wood for the trees, Selborne - it is the appalling incompetent management of BA that has dragged this company down over recent years.

It was entirely possible to reduce the company's cost base AND take the staff with them in the project. Instead Walsh chose confrontation and intimidation to try and bully his way to the intended goal.

Walsh has no management expertise. He is a small-minded slash and burn merchant.

He should never have been hired from Aer Lingus.

Big mistake and hugely costly for shareholders AND for BA staff.

[selborne_edge] 07/6/2010 10:19

It is a very sad time for BA. Lets hope that all members of UNITE have great difficulty getting another job when BA goes into administration. UNITE will of course count this dispute as a great success and look for the next British company to destroy.

[alphorn] 07/6/2010 10:12

BAY continues to decline in slow motion. Must be close to the point of no return.