British Airways defiant as strike threatens Christmas chaos

[kelvin070]

Maybe Peter can give us some input on this topic. The decision to go on strike shows freedom and democracy is working in UK unlike Singapore.

"British Airways is commencing legal action in an attempt to protect customers from the massive stress and disruption threatened by Unite's decision to call a 12-day strike from December 22," the airline said in a statement. It claims there were "flaws" in the union's vote to strike.

British Airways defiant as strike threatens Christmas chaos - CNN.com

 

[Accountable]

Of course the British gov't won't allow market forces to work because it would be portrayed as cowardly inaction by political enemies. That's how unions get politicians by the short hairs. People will pay anything rather than experience an unknown pain.

 

[Zorak]

Fucking lazy ass strikers.

Every fucking month it's something else, if you can't run an airline effectively you shouldn't recieve the preferential treatment that the BAA (British Aviation Authority) give you.
There's a BA monopoly in Heathrow that's the BAA's doing, and to make matters worse: Anyone who has ever flown BA will tell you what a poor service they provide. :24:

Maybe Peter can give us some input on this topic. The decision to go on strike shows freedom and democracy is working in UK unlike Singapore.

I don't understand this comment completely.

Of course the British gov't won't allow market forces to work because it would be portrayed as cowardly inaction by political enemies. That's how unions get politicians by the short hairs. People will pay anything rather than experience an unknown pain.

The BA union is a problem easily remedied. Open up more airport space to other airlines, as it is now, Virgin buy a lot of space from BA themselves! Disgusting.
This is the age old problem in the UK of private companies being given the priveledges of public companies with none of the responisibilites, simply because they have "British" in their name and once upon a time before Thatcher balls it all up they had public company listing.
British Telecom, British Gas... etc, companies that own a monopoly on something that they don't deserve.

 

[kelvin070]

Fucking lazy ass strikers.

Every fucking month it's something else, if you can't run an airline effectively you shouldn't recieve the preferential treatment that the BAA (British Aviation Authority) give you.
There's a BA monopoly in Heathrow that's the BAA's doing, and to make matters worse: Anyone who has ever flown BA will tell you what a poor service they provide. :24:



I don't understand this comment completely.



The BA union is a problem easily remedied. Open up more airport space to other airlines, as it is now, Virgin buy a lot of space from BA themselves! Disgusting.
This is the age old problem in the UK of private companies being given the priveledges of public companies with none of the responisibilites, simply because they have "British" in their name and once upon a time before Thatcher balls it all up they had public company listing.
British Telecom, British Gas... etc, companies that own a monopoly on something that they don't deserve.

I had to be a little diplomatic cuz the chewing gum issue will crop up and govt here won't allow such a strike.

 

[kelvin070]

LMAO, even when I discuss the Federal employees 6-figure salaries the chewing gum issue crops up.

 

[Peter Parka]

I couldn't give a shit, I've never used British airways and cant see the need to ever use them in the future either.:dunno

 

[Tyler Durden]

Side issue I know, but I've flown BA once and they were the worst company I've ever used.

They got me 3/4's of the way across the Atlantic to the States then flew back due to engine problem. Of course they were closer to the States, but it would have cost them more to fix it there, so they went on a longer trip back to save money (and screw over the people on the plane)

 

[satinbutterfly]

Thank goodness I'm flying US Airways.

 

[Peter Parka]

Side issue I know, but I've flown BA once and they were the worst company I've ever used.

They got me 3/4's of the way across the Atlantic to the States then flew back due to engine problem. Of course they were closer to the States, but it would have cost them more to fix it there, so they went on a longer trip back to save money (and screw over the people on the plane)

This is the sort of reason why I never feel the need to use them. I've heard their service is shit and the're expensive too.

 

[Tyler Durden]

This is the sort of reason why I never feel the need to use them. I've heard their service is shit and the're expensive too.

Their service IS shit if you're a regular Joe. They have a HUGE difference between that and their 1st Class customers (as you would expect from most British companies)

 

[justmee]

I had to be a little diplomatic cuz the chewing gum issue will crop up and govt here won't allow such a strike.

seems your goverment wont allow a lot of things. i`m sure the media is strongly controlled aswel allowing you to here news that the government only wants you to here. probably why there is more about other countries for you to talk about

 

[kelvin070]

seems your goverment wont allow a lot of things. i`m sure the media is strongly controlled aswel allowing you to here news that the government only wants you to here. probably why there is more about other countries for you to talk about

Look at it this way. Both London and Singapore are financial centres and air hubs. A strike of this magnitude not only paralyses the economy but also drives away investors. We have Industrial Arbitration Court here.

 

[kelvin070]

I thought democracy was working with the impending strike but the court proved otherwise.
British Airways strike blocked by High Court

Mrs Justice Cox ruled that union leaders had breached rules in organising a ballot for the strike, which would have cost the airline tens of millions of pounds.
But her judgement was condemned by Unite, which represents 13,500 cabin staff, as representing a "disgraceful day for democracy".

British Airways strike blocked by High Court - Telegraph