Virgin Atlantic strike CALLED OFF!

[Nottingham Nick]

UPDATE: Link to V-Flyer News Story




Sorry about the possible copyright infraction, but I guess it is a press release - so is fair game. [:I]

Link to BBC News story.


Also - From I-Fly


Monday 7 January 2008 - 5.54pm
UNITE THE UNION CALLS OFF PLANNED INDUSTRIAL ACTION AT VIRGIN ATLANTIC


Virgin Atlantic and Unite the union today agreed a resolution to the current dispute over pay. Unite has now called off the industrial action planned for 9, 10, 16 and 17 January 2008.



Both parties agreed that the prolonged discussions had been potentially damaging to the current relationship between the company, its cabin crew and the union.



The agreement includes a two-year deal with a 4.8% increase in year one and a guarantee of RPI in year two. In addition to the increases to crew trip pay, there is a commitment to review its calculation as of April 2009.



The deal also allows for previously-agreed increases to other variable elements of cabin crew pay and a commitment by both parties to review the current consultative structure.



Sir Richard Branson, President of Virgin Atlantic, commented:



'We are pleased that both sides have managed to avert strike action that was planned for this week and next. The outcome is a triumph of common sense and means that our passengers need not worry about getting to their destinations.



Our cabin crew are the best flying and continue to provide the highest standards of customer service. This agreement will enable us to focus on continuing to offer the best service to our customers.'



Brian Boyd, National Officer, Unite, added:



This agreement recognises the important contribution cabin crew make to the business and I am of the firm opinion that we now have the opportunity to ensure an improved relationship with Virgin Atlantic in the future.

According to PPrune the news has been posted on i-Fly, to accept the offer this year and RPI next year.

Common sense ?

Ooops Nick posted first. Nice of SRB, last week it was f-off this week it's they're the best [:?]

Oh yes!!! result!! No one loses, no one wins and the only way is forward now! Oh I am so happy, think I may need a drink to celebrate....! [:p]

Good news for everyone methinks. I wonder if some of the less customer focused crew will still take up SRB on his previous offer.

Miopyk[8D]

[Neil]

So let me get this right, the offer now accepted is basically the one that was 'overwhelmingly' rejected in favour of strike action, apart from maybe no extra monthly standby? Surely this just shows how poorly the union have handled this situation, causing bad press and pax opinion of VS and CC, in house fighting between CC and general upset. Who exactly has 'won', because to me it seems that everyone is a loser, and why the big change, did the union/CC realise that VS were going to cope with the strike, less CC were actually going strike than needed to make any impact, that it was in fact a bloody good offer? It all just seems one big old mess to me.

[Nottingham Nick]

That is a good point, Neil.

As I understand it, the union recommended acceptance of the last deal, but majority of the members who voted subsequently rejected it. [?]

Will there have to be another ballot of members with regards to this deal, or will it be steamrollered through?

Nick

[Neil]

Originally posted by Nottingham Nick
Will there have to be another ballot of members with regards to this deal, or will it be steamrollered through?

I was meant to put that also. If they the union has to ask the CC to strike, surely it can't just cancel it without a ballot. Or is the strike 'on hold' until the members are balloted again? [?]

It is amazing reading the few posts on CC.com and pprune how everyone is happy now though, and I still am struggling to find the major difference in the agreed offer (the monthly standby thing isn't 100% confirmed by the look of it).

Well just glad it's not going to happen; relaxed and looking forward to VS301 on 16th now. Well done everyone!

Originally posted by Neil
and why the big change, did the union/CC realise that VS were going to cope with the strike, less CC were actually going strike than needed to make any impact, that it was in fact a bloody good offer? It all just seems one big old mess to me.

Or perhaps the the company did not get as many volunteers that it had hoped and significantly more than 3 flights per day would of been disrupted ?

The last offer was good with the exception of the standby which I believe may have been the crux of this matter.

Either way, we will never know. I for one am glad the strikes have been averted, there are now some internal bridges to be rebuilt.

Happy travels all.[y]

From what i can gather it's the last deal minus small print (i.e. extra monthly standby).

[RichardMannion]

Originally posted by Voice_of_reason

Originally posted by Neil
and why the big change, did the union/CC realise that VS were going to cope with the strike, less CC were actually going strike than needed to make any impact, that it was in fact a bloody good offer? It all just seems one big old mess to me.

Or perhaps the the company did not get as many volunteers that it had hoped and significantly more than 3 flights per day would of been disrupted ?

The last offer was good with the exception of the standby which I believe may have been the crux of this matter.

Either way, we will never know. I for one am glad the strikes have been averted, there are now some internal bridges to be rebuilt.

Happy travels all.[y]

You don't know how many volunteers they had. I saw a lot of 'rumours' kicking around that were merely that.

If all this came down to the standby month then that is just laughable, as it comes back to the point I made in the other thread about it being an extra month every 3 years. Yes I udnerstand that it can be reset if you move up the ranks, but then thats the breaks (and obviously when on standby it's a chance to earn more money).

You don't know how many volunteers they had. I saw a lot of 'rumours' kicking around that were merely that.

If all this came down to the standby month then that is just laughable, as it comes back to the point I made in the other thread about it being an extra month every 3 years. Yes I udnerstand that it can be reset if you move up the ranks, but then thats the breaks (and obviously when on standby it's a chance to earn more money).

That's right Richard, I dont know how many they had, was just offering up an alternate scenario, it doesn't really matter now does it ?

If you look back to the very beginning of discussions on the subject in the crew forums you will see that people have said they would of accepted the last offer without having to further sacrifice lifestyle e.g. the extra standby, the loss of airshare in the previous offer. If indeed the lifestyle sacrifices are gone now and that is what has been offered this whole mess could of been averted a long time ago if crew had had sufficient means to communicate this. The commitment to review the current consultative structure will be a very welcome one.

The thread that has started by mike-smashing http://www.v-flyer.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=22658 industrial unrest - wake up call. It and the replies are sterling.

VoR

[preiffer]

While everyone's 'celebrating' the fact that the strike's not happening, perhaps this would be a good point to suggest a review of the Union's performance?

Crew - perhaps a new (decent) one might be a good idea...? [ii]


This could have ALL been avoided. [n]

Glad to read that the strikes have been called off. I always figured that Virgin saying that 'there will be no eleventh-hour offer' was a bit of a smokescreen. I think that it's right that the offer accepted was the one to go for, especially as the union recommended it and I'm guessing that the rejection was around the standby but, as Voice_of_reason points out, we will never know.

I agree with Paul that this could've easily been avoided and this will hopefully be something to look back on and avoid in the future especially the union, but at the end of the day an agreement has been reached and the matter is effectively closed. For now!

As to those who questioned who wins out of this I think the answer is fairly obvious...the passenger!

[Neil]

Originally posted by preiffer
Crew - perhaps a new (decent) one might be a good idea...? [ii]
This could have ALL been avoided. [n]

Sums it up perfectly. Of course its good news the strikes are off. It is also VERY interesting to read what those who were very vocally pro the strikes are saying now, quite amusing how quickly peoples opinions change.

As to those who questioned who wins out of this I think the answer is fairly obvious...the passenger!

Im not so sure, whilst of course its excellent news for the majority the pax, but it looked like they would have been fine anyway with such limited cancellations. I am not so sure however those who have already changed there flights from the cancelled ones, changed business meetings, holiday plans, spent weeks worrying about the possible effects, spent money & time phoning/visiting VS/travel agents to find out what is happening will necessarily agree however. How many of those will think about VS for their next flight?

As many have said, this could and probably should have been avoided.

Originally posted by Neil

Originally posted by preiffer
Crew - perhaps a new (decent) one might be a good idea...? [ii]
This could have ALL been avoided. [n]

Sums it up perfectly. Of course its good news the strikes are off. It is also VERY interesting to read what those who were very vocally pro the strikes are saying now, quite amusing how quickly peoples opinions change.

I was pro the strike, I have always had a minimum throughout the process that I was prepared to vote yes for, that was RPI without strings. There is now a deal that exceeds that (Nov RPI 4.3% and deal 4.8% assuming the standby is gone). It would be foolish of me to adjust my target now would it not, the ability to reflect on ever changing data inputs and arrive at a different logical conclusion is one that we all have, only some get so honed into what they are doing they fail to see that things have changed, 'the big picture'.

I also agree re union reorganisation, but perhaps a little reorganising all round, not just within the union, perhaps a little closer to home too.

VoR[8D]

[RichardMannion]

Originally posted by Voice_of_reason
That's right Richard, I dont know how many they had, was just offering up an alternate scenario, it doesn't really matter now does it ?

If you look back to the very beginning of discussions on the subject in the crew forums you will see that people have said they would of accepted the last offer without having to further sacrifice lifestyle e.g. the extra standby, the loss of airshare in the previous offer. If indeed the lifestyle sacrifices are gone now and that is what has been offered this whole mess could of been averted a long time ago if crew had had sufficient means to communicate this. The commitment to review the current consultative structure will be a very welcome one.

Interesting that you see it in that way now. My view of it was that crew were wanting the VS 'flexible' lifestyle, with the BA money - hence the 'BA earn £10k a year more than us' line we heard over and over. So basically what you are saying now is that it is a lifestyle. It was all about the 'sacrifices' you were going to have to suffer, given that you can only work 900 horus a year. Was an extra month of standby really that much of a hardship for you? Crew were asked repeatedly in various threads here what exactly they wanted, and hardly any clear answers came back. What did come back was a number of crew that displayed such disdain for passengers that spoiled it for all of the crew. I look here now:

http://www.cabincrew.com/ccnetwork/foru ... 6412&PN=67

and there we have it again, even though the strike is 'off' a member of crew saying they don't want to do MCO.

[Neil]

VoR - just to clarify, I was not referring to you with my comments. I was actually talking about posters on the other 2 main sites that have had a long thread on the strikes. Posters who were so angry about everything are now glad it has been sorted, I just cannot believe how the lack of 1 month of standby can change so much. I am glad however the crew are now so happy, they will be able to go about the work with a smile on their faces and deliver the level of service that is required on every single flight.

Neil, I agree, I tend to fall into that category too though, there is lots of room for improvement, lots of issues that need addressing, the main one which impacts customers is crew down, a dirct result of sickness, a direct result of low trip renumeration etc etc. Today is a step in the right direction and hopefully with lessons learnt some of these areas can be looked at before the next negotiations come around.

Richard, I cant comment on why some people dont like MCO, I love the buzz of the kids on the way out and wearing my Disney bits and bobs, though coming home is harder, parents seem a little short fused -I understand 2 weeks of screaming kids can do this to a person , though this time of year I would be surprised if the flight was full.

Well, good day all.

Well I am glad its over but the vitriol againsts pax, crew, groundstaff and Sir RB spewed out on some forums by cc's it appears all for nothing whatsoever as everyones smiling accepting what was already on offer leaves a sour taste in the mouth.

Lets hope the crew and Virgin now wake up to the fact that its the punter that decides where his or her £ goes now and they can fight n snipe as much as they like but 4.8% of £s going to other airlines is 4.8% of nothing for VA crews.

Lets have a bit more 'hello sir/madame its a pleasure to have you onboard' and mean it like the old days.

Originally posted by Neil
Im not so sure, whilst of course its excellent news for the majority the pax, but it looked like they would have been fine anyway with such limited cancellations. I am not so sure however those who have already changed there flights from the cancelled ones, changed business meetings, holiday plans, spent weeks worrying about the possible effects, spent money & time phoning/visiting VS/travel agents to find out what is happening will necessarily agree however. How many of those will think about VS for their next flight?

As many have said, this could and probably should have been avoided.

Oh yes I am aware that those who have already changed their plans accordingly to cater around the cancelled flights will not be as happy. A classic case of celebrating by going 'Woohoo!' before realising what this means to them personally and saying 'Oh **** I've gone and re-arranged/cancelled/postponed/turned down things which I could've done now after all! Bugger!' And for that I can see your point of view.

But overall the passenger wins at the end of the day because...

*Those who have flights on the strike dates now need not worry about whether there will be enough crew not striking or not to do their flight as there will be crew thanks to no strikes
*Those who have booked VS flights later this year don't have to worry about the threat of more strikes which 'may' have affected their flight one way or another, and can therefore look forward to it without worry
*It also brings confidence/general peace of mind to booked and potential passengers of VS that the strikes have been called off, and will therefore take VS into account when looking into flights when they may have initially been put off when the word 'strike' was mentioned

I've gone through some of the comments of the CC there. Thye complain bitterly and constantly about having to fly to MCO. I would like to apologise to those CC: I have booked a VS flight later this month to Orlando for a conference. If I had know they resented it so, I would have not put them through the horrible ordeal of having to take a share of my money and would have booked British Airways instead. Don't worry lads and lasses! Next time, I'll be more thoughtful and do just that.

[RichardMannion]

Originally posted by frangipan
I've gone through some of the comments of the CC there. Thye complain bitterly and constantly about having to fly to MCO. I would like to apologise to those CC: I have booked a VS flight later this month to Orlando for a conference. If I had know they resented it so, I would have not put them through the horrible ordeal of having to take a share of my money and would have booked British Airways instead. Don't worry lads and lasses! Next time, I'll be more thoughtful and do just that.

Classic!

I'm in awe of this VSwap thing. I could imagine the response I would get if I wanted to swap workloads with my colleagues because:

- It interfered with my personal life
- I didn't like doing that particular job

If I'm given something to do by my employer, I do it. What makes me laugh is that some of the people asking desperately to swap are barely into the role as crew. Maybe a change so no swapping is allowed, or x nubmer of swaps per year at max. At the moment it seems a bit of a free-for-all, especially when combined in with the 'absenteeism' issue that is particularly rife.

The idea of VSwap was to cut down on absenteeism, but as you say it has turned into a free for all. Mrs D did mention there will be some kind of changes to be discussed in the future. As for MCO, for every whinger there are no doubt 100 that don't mind (or even enjoy!!) the trip.

[Darren Wheeler]

Originally posted by Denzil
As for MCO, for every whinger there are no doubt 100 that don't mind (or even enjoy!!) the trip.

Trouble is all you ever see is crew trying to get out of MCO, not offering to do it.

I can appreciate that along with LAS, it's probably the hardest route to work due to the pax make up but see that amount of post where crew don't want to do it, anyone would think you have a plane full of ebola carriers.