Virgin Atlantic strike announced

Originally posted by Neil

Not sure about MAN services been totally cancelled. There are many flights that can be merged, the MCO's from both LGW & MAN, plus many flights to JFK/EWR, 2 flights to LAX etc. I would imagine that this is one of the many things VS will look first to see at if its possible before making such a blanket decision to cancel all MAN flights.

Neil, the flights coming back from mco into man around the 9th 10th 11th are choca - with a lot of schools going back on wed 9th many people look to have taken the opportunity to extend their holiday by a couple of days which takes it into the weekened.

I would imagine its the same for lgw

We are due back the 11th - oh joy [:(]

David

Hopefully one good thing to come out of this will be the customary sale fares that tend to accompany similar industrial action

Originally posted by VS-EWR
So, if I'm getting this correct, the phrasing of 'no eleventh hour offer' means basically that there's no indication a strike will actually accomplish anything in terms of a pay raise.

It will probably accomplish them turning up down the road from my office, at ACAS National Headquarters in London, if both Union and Management have got any sense. Or we're just heading for some sort of deadlock where no-one really wins.

Mike

Originally posted by David
Neil, the flights coming back from mco into man around the 9th 10th 11th are choca - with a lot of schools going back on wed 9th many people look to have taken the opportunity to extend their holiday by a couple of days which takes it into the weekened.

I would imagine its the same for lgw

We are due back the 11th - oh joy [:(]

David

Can't see the MCO flights being consolidated then if it's booked for bums on all seats available then. I imagine the lightly loaded flights to/from other destinations being consolidated as Neil has suggested.

[Darren Wheeler]

Be careful assuming that you will 'get a couple of extra days holiday'. That may not be your decision. VS may transfer you to another flight, via another airport or delay your return.

If VS offer you another way home and you don't take it, they can argue you are a no-show, your insurance won't cover you for any extension and you are effectivly on your own. If you do get offered an alternative route home, take it.

Originally posted by stu
Now, i forgot to ask them... I return from MCO on 15th overnight flight. Now since i dont land until 0730 will the CC just down tools mid air or wait until landing?

I presume that

Originally posted by vscss
OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION TO ALL VIRGIN CREW FROM VIRGIN

We have been informed that participation in this action will be limited to those who are on the ground in the UKat any point during the relevant 48hour periods. At this point. I need to emphasise that no one Ð regardless of how they voted Ð has to go on strike.

means that if those who wish to strike are in the air when the action starts they will wait until they are on the ground before walking out.

Paul

[fozzyo]

That's really sad news. And one that can only achieve one thing - hurt the company, significant loss of immediate and ongoing income. Which isn't really going to help fight the cause for getting a pay-rise now is it.

Anyone with flights, you just need to be a little patient for a few more days while VS firm up arrangements for how this will be handled. I know its a total nightmare, but information will be forthcoming once they have it I'm sure.

Mat

Originally posted by stu

Now, i forgot to ask them... I return from MCO on 15th overnight flight. Now since i dont land until 0730 will the CC just down tools mid air or wait until landing?

No is the answer- the VS internal statement posted earlier says unite say the strike only applies to crews in the UK. So your crew will not be in the UK at 6am- once they touch down I guess they are officially on strike although I think they will not be on strike as they will not be leaving the UK and wont of crossed any picket line.

This does not look to bad at all, so there must be some number crunching to run minimum crews on all flights.

Proof of the pudding is in the eating )

We are planning to run our full schedule of flights with the exception of the following

Departing from the UK


Flight No. Departure Date From To
VS25 9th, 10th, 16th, 17th January 2008 London Heathrow New York JFK
VS39 9th, 10th, 16th, 17th January 2008 London Heathrow Chicago
VS11 9th, 10th January 2008 London Heathrow Boston
VS671 16th, 17th January 2008 London Heathrow Nairobi

Departing from outside the UK


Flight No. Departure Date From To
VS26 10th, 11th, 17th, 18th January 2008 New York JFK London Heathrow
VS40 9th, 10th, 16th, 17th January 2008 Chicago London Heathrow
VS12 9th, 10th January 2008 Boston London Heathrow
VS672 16th, 17th January 2008 Nairobi London Heathrow

I think its very sad, its going to take the gloss off the paintwork thats for sure and I think respect for the brand won't be diminished quite to the same extent as that of the custmers previous rose tinted view of the cabin crews will be.

I get the feeling the management won't back down either.

Originally posted by ofarvoo
This does not look to bad at all, so there must be some number crunching to run minimum crews on all flights.

Proof of the pudding is in the eating )

We are planning to run our full schedule of flights with the exception of the following

Departing from the UK


Flight No. Departure Date From To
VS25 9th, 10th, 16th, 17th January 2008 London Heathrow New York JFK
VS39 9th, 10th, 16th, 17th January 2008 London Heathrow Chicago
VS11 9th, 10th January 2008 London Heathrow Boston
VS671 16th, 17th January 2008 London Heathrow Nairobi

Departing from outside the UK


Flight No. Departure Date From To
VS26 10th, 11th, 17th, 18th January 2008 New York JFK London Heathrow
VS40 9th, 10th, 16th, 17th January 2008 Chicago London Heathrow
VS12 9th, 10th January 2008 Boston London Heathrow
VS672 16th, 17th January 2008 Nairobi London Heathrow

By the way in case anybody is wondering this information is on the Virgin Atlantic website.

So I take it that the flights that are running will be all in the hands of the overseas-based crew and the non-union UK crew. Will there enough crew available to work going to be able to do the full VS schedule bar the flights listed above, and surely VS are banking on enough union crew to turn up to work in order to be able to do this? I know that it has been said that flights will run at minimum crew, but it will be the passengers in PE/UCS will suffer the most here (ignoring Y pax here) on the flights that do run if so.

I know that I haven't done number crunching here, but I think that to be able to just cancel 4 flights each way on the strike dates is over-optimistic.

VS075 its on the VS website now.

Originally posted by Gavin
VS075 its on the VS website now.

Just amended it before reading your post. [:I]

Cheers anyway!

Such sad news. Given that the message from management has always been that there is absolutely no chance of a last minute improved offer, I'm dissapointed that the vote was still to try and force their hand - sadly this will only result in driving customers away.

I guess the bright side is that there is a large percentage of crew who voted no, so along with the other staff/ex crew who have been re-trained you've just got to hope that there are enough bodies to get each flight off the ground. And hopefully these rogue staff will realise that force never gets you anywhere, and that they can find the irony in this all - whilst they're striking for more money, they won't get paid a penny when they aren't flying...

I have admit i think Virgin have managed this superbly well thus far.

Once the BAA strikes are announced it will be interesting to see how their dates effect VS. I doubt im the first to assume BAA wont strike at the same time as VS.

[Pete]

A letter from Steve Ridgway is going out to Flying Club members overnight;

We're still flying.

Dear Traveller,

As you may have heard, some of our cabin crew members have voted for industrial action in January despite their union, Unite, strongly endorsing our recent pay offer.

Our main priority now is to ensure that we can still get our passengers to their destination as scheduled. We don't want to let anyone down so have put in place thorough contingency plans, enabling us to run nine out of ten flights on each of the days affected by the action.

Currently, only the flights below will be affected:

Departing from the UK:
Flight number Departure date From To
VS25 9, 10, 16, 17 January London Heathrow New York (JFK)
VS39 9, 10, 16, 17 January London Heathrow Chicago
VS11 9, 10 January London Heathrow Boston
VS671 16, 17 January London Heathrow Nairobi

Departing from outside the UK:
Flight number Departure date From To
VS26 10, 11, 17, 18 January New York (JFK) London Heathrow
VS40 9, 10, 16, 17 January Chicago London Heathrow
VS12 9, 10 January Boston London Heathrow
VS672 16, 17 January Nairobi London Heathrow

If you are booked on a flight listed above, you will be rebooked on an alternative flight. Please visit http://www.virginatlantic.com for details.

If your flight is not listed, we intend to operate it as normal and get you to your destination, so please check in and enjoy your journey as usual.

I would like to apologise to our passengers whose travel plans may be affected, and reassure all those who are travelling with us that our number one priority is to get you to your destination on time.

Yours faithfully,

Steve Ridgway
Chief Executive
Virgin Atlantic Airways.

[buns]

Pete

Your post of Steve's leter will give much reassurance to many (Mrs Buns & myself included[:I])

This is indeed a sorry day; notwithstanding the efforts VS management are going to to limit the damage, i suspect the amount of publicity this is getting will have the effect of turning yet to book pax away to other airlines[:#]


buns

[RichardMannion]

Given how well VS management did at keeping the airline afloat after 9/11, I have every faith in them managing this situation.

I'm very tempted to actually book some flights for the days of the strike, becuase I have a strange feeling that they will be the best VS flights I've done in a while given that the 'whingers' will be on strike, and those that really care about customers will turn up to work.

Thanks,
Richard

'"I have a strange feeling that they will be the best VS flights I've done in a while given that the 'whingers' will be on strike

Originally posted by Pete
A letter from Steve Ridgway is going out to Flying Club members overnight;

I was pleasantly surprised to receive this email - even though I have no flights anywhere near the strike dates. Pleased - because I remember that, when there were strikes announced on BA there was no such help or direction coming from them, and a call to them just got a very woolly reply. At least re-booking is taking place - yes, I know, not much compensation if you're relying on dates now cancelled....

Likewise Claire, I certainly don't remember receiving anything similar from BA. I'd missed the confirmation of the strike, so this email this morning was my first indication that action was going ahead, which looks like great communication from VS in a bad situation.

Originally posted by stu
I have admit i think Virgin have managed this superbly well thus far.

Once the BAA strikes are announced it will be interesting to see how their dates effect VS. I doubt im the first to assume BAA wont strike at the same time as VS.

I'm not sure I agree - withdrawing the offer to ALL staff is like guaranteed to get everybody on the management's side or more likely to make the non-strikers angry - some with management, some with the union? Hmm, great tactic.

The dates certainly bugger up my plans for Chicago in January. But there are options - I'm not that fussed, I'd rather hope that a sensible resolution is found as I make other plans.

[Pete]

Originally posted by slinky09

I'm not sure I agree - withdrawing the offer to ALL staff is like guaranteed to get everybody on the management's side or more likely to make the non-strikers angry - some with management, some with the union? Hmm, great tactic.

Withdrawing the offer once the strike ballot is announced is standard practice, something about the company not having to negotiate 'under duress' (or something along those lines). It would have been well known by all staff that that would happen in this scenario.

[preiffer]

Originally posted by Pete
Withdrawing the offer once the strike ballot is announced is standard practice, something about the company not having to negotiate 'under duress' (or something along those lines). It would have been well known by all staff that that would happen in this scenario.

Or SHOULD have been well known by all staff, assuming that Unite have done even one part of what they're paid to do well.

Ah, so that'd be a no then, I guess... [ii]

Originally posted by Pete
Withdrawing the offer once the strike ballot is announced is standard practice, something about the company not having to negotiate 'under duress' (or something along those lines). It would have been well known by all staff that that would happen in this scenario.

It was well known and made very clear over the last few weeks by the company, problem is a lot of the internet cc sabre rattlers kept trying to persuade their collegues it wouldn't happen and an 11th hour offer would be made that would better the last one.

Some of the crew are discounting the fact that only a minority have caused the strike when the total number of staff are taken in to consideration, well if they are right and 70% did want the strike and they all knew the last offer would be taken off the table when they were putting the ticks in the boxes they have made their suite and will now have to lie in it. Can't have it both ways.