Virgin Atlantic strike announced

See on BBC News today that SRB has told crew unhappy with pay to quit and go elsewhere. Have to say I agree, likewise with all people that strike over pay.

I didn't get a payrise for 2 years so I left and got more. Didn't get a payrise last year and told my boss if I didn't get a rise this year I will be off again. Thats how its works I'm afraid.

[preiffer]

And here it is.

An interesting development - thanks for posting link preiffer

[ChuckC]

Originally posted by easygoingeezer
... its sad to see the CC turning on each other and other groups that work for VA, I hope things don't get beyond repair.

Egg,
This is an unavaoidable consequence, I'm afraid, once negotiations end. No one wants to be the first to back down. It only takes one person on each side to restart talks, however, and let's hope this happens soon.

Chuck-

[Pete]

Looks like the BBC news report has already had an update.

To me, it reads very much in Virgin's favour. Is this the start of the (anticipated) PR campaign designed to break the strikers will? The sketchy details of the deal offered in the BBC report (4.8% worth 8.3% over 2 years) would hardly garner public sympathy for the crew's cause.

[Darren Wheeler]

No doubt the usual suspect will be along later to say how the report is wrong and nothing like how it's being portrayed. SRB is just playing hardball, and as the saying goes 'it's not personal, it's just business!'.

Hardest part of playing chicken is knowing when to blink.

Originally posted by AndyR
See on BBC News today that SRB has told crew unhappy with pay to quit and go elsewhere. Have to say I agree, likewise with all people that strike over pay.

Absolutely, agree 110%

jules. x

I have to say that Branson said this in the best interests of the business and at the same time I can see his point of view. I also think that his statement that 'moaners should leave' should also extend to people who moan about the situation as a whole.

There have been crew who have posted on here and on other boards how they disagree with the actions of the strikers but, as has been witnessed on here and PPRuNE and CabinCrew.com to a greater extent, that too is doing everybody no favours and is only causing tensions within the workforce - therefore I think that they should be the ones that also leave.

At the end of the day the strikers are one of the main problems VS are facing and the last thing they want is the other crew members falling out with each other because they agree/disagree over them striking etc.

Does anyone know where CC are actually allowed to picket?

45.

This is very simple[y]

If you dont like it leave[^]

End of story next......[y]

It seems to be turning into a complete mess. With SRB's 'line in the sand', it's been made abundantly clear to the Union and strikers that they aren't going to get anything more than the 4.8%.

Probably the smartest thing for VS to do right now would be to impose the 4.8% pay deal, regardless of the collective bargaining outcome. It will likely make them look magnanimous to the CC who think that 2% is all that's on the table now, and puts the Union in one hell of a difficult position, particularly given the reported incentives VS are offering for CC to come in on strike days.

Collective bargaining only works when the Union knows what it is their members want. Unfortunately in this case that seems to have failed miserably.

VS075 I'm totally confused. You agree that 'moaners' should leave, but then say those who voted not to strike, and disagree with it, should leave. I voted to accept the pay deal, voted no to strike, so you think I should leave? There'd be no-one left at Virgin if all moaners and those who don't want to strike, left.

I'd like to see all those who voted to strike, but have no intention of striking 'cos I can't afford to lose money' leave, as they've caused so many problems. Did they think they'd get paid to be on strike or something?! Basically they've screwed up any chance of a pay deal.

Trust Sir R to say it like it is, makes a change to hear someone tell it like it is these days.

Must say though that the 'headlines' say it far more impolitely than he actually said it.

Richard Branson's comments will only fuel the fire and encourage more crew to strike.

Originally posted by flybird
Richard Branson's comments will only fuel the fire and encourage more crew to strike.

So glad I left Virgin 'Mickey Mouse Airlines' Atlantic. Much happier flying my flag carrier.

And based on your previous posts on this board I expect he's glad you left as well.

Miopyk[8D]

[Darren Wheeler]

Reading some of the post on cabincrew.com and pprune.org it looks like the crews are turning on each other. One post hinted at anyone crossing the picket line will have their photo put on Facebook for all to see.

I can see only one outcome. GateGormet having to cook a very large umble pie to be shared around at Unite.

To cap it all, Unite have closed their strike section until the 2nd for 'essential maintenance'. Ever get the feeling they aren't really behind the strike.

Originally posted by flybird
Richard Branson's comments will only fuel the fire and encourage more crew to strike.

So glad I left Virgin 'Mickey Mouse Airlines' Atlantic. Much happier flying my flag carrier.

I think all of us here are glad you left Virgin too!

There may be a different way to view SRB's comments - one in which he's partly responsible for the mess in the first place, having placed himself remotely from the day-to-day running of the airline and perhaps lost sight of the mood of staff (and indeed the way the accountants have been running the airline, as commented on negatively many times on V-Flyer) he now wades into the discussion with some rather high handed remarks that are unlikely to contribute to a path of resolution or indeed healing.

*** CONTENT REMOVED PENDING MODERATOR DISCUSSION ***

[Darren Wheeler]

***edited by OP in light of above change by Mods.***

Whoa ..... this is all getting a bit heavy guys! Surely - the situation is - some people felt driven to strike action by a pay deal they personally didnt regard as fair. Others seem to feel it is fair (or at least all thats on offer) - so they voted against. That is what a democracy is. Surely there is no need to resort to all this personal slanging! Happy New Year to everyone.

[preiffer]

I'm specifically going to use the phrase 'boys and girls' rather than 'ladies and gentlemen' to address a few of you now.

Can you please ALL review the frequent reminders throughout this thread (and others) such as this one from Scrooge, a few days back. The need for civility is paramount in times where tempers and stress levels run high. Can we please keep the mud-slinging/personal attacks and unnecessary insults out of here.

If anyone would rather continue in such a way, I can point them to other forums on the Internet which seem somewhat less 'small and friendly' (to borrow a recent phrase from an important bloke). However, such posts will not be tolerated on v-flyer.

Going back to the topic in hand, is there any evidence that VS are suffering a drop in bookings yet?

Being a little perverse, these current issues along with the wider economic difficulties being highlighted in the news today could mean some potential bargains from VS are in the offing.

Miopyk[8D]

If I had known after 11.5 years of service, I would have received a letter like that from Sir Richard, I probably wouldn't have joined in the first place!!! Happy New Year to you all, hope you didn't feel like I did at 8am this morning!!

Originally posted by southernbelle
If I had known after 11.5 years of service, I would have received a letter like that from Sir Richard, I probably wouldn't have joined in the first place!!! Happy New Year to you all, hope you didn't feel like I did at 8am this morning!!

Problem is if he has or had read any of the multidude of insulting comments made towards him by many CCs on Prune and Cabin Crew forums I am sure he would have felt pretty dejected, seems many crew resent his successes and what he has earned for himself and should or should not have spent it on, even at one point intimating 'creative' accounting whilst at the same time expecting him to charge in on a white stallion with a fat wage increase.

He has the right of reply to these people who take his name and rubbish it on public forums.