BA's handful of strike breakers can't run airline, says Unite
25th January 2010
British Airways is planning to rush through training of a
"handful" of strike breaking cabin crew with the support of the
Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
According to Unite, the union representing cabin crew, with only
216 strike breakers expected to be rushed through BA and the CAA
"training" beginning today (Monday) and ending in early February,
the airline is going to astonishing lengths to smash its 13,500
cabin crew.
And, the union says, BA is co-opting the regulator into its
efforts to break its workforce, seriously undermining the CAA's
claim to impartiality. Unite says that it will be writing to
the CAA to demand full assurances that the haste with which these
training programmes are proceeding does not mean corners are being
cut.
Len McCluskey, Unite assistant general secretary, said: "British
Airways needs to get real. Even if it pulls out all the stops
between now and February, it is still only going to train 216
strike breakers. With a cabin crew of 13,500 does BA seriously
think this handful of inexperienced individuals will be able to
operate a service?
"BA would be far better channelling its energies into
negotiation than pursuing cynical schemes to break its own skilled
and professional workforce."
Unite understands that BA plans to run nine training courses for
strike breakers, beginning on Monday January 25th and concluding
with a course on Saturday, February 6th. One course will cover
those who come from other departments within BA but have expired
licences to fly. BA is assuring these workers that it will ensure
their flying licences are restored.
But, Unite says, BA must make it clear how it will deliver on
this promise, particularly as criminal records checks (CRC) and
counter terrorism checks (CTC), needed for crew to go "airside" in
an airport, can take between six weeks and three months to be
processed.
Unite also understands that the strike breakers will have only
four days training covering basic medical training, fire security
and knowledge of the aircraft. However, according to BA's own cabin
crew Joint Procedures manual 'experience' is defined as having
three months operating experience as cabin crew within the last
three years. Half of the minimum required crew complement on all
flights must have this level of experience.
Five of the nine courses will be dedicated to covering pilots
into cabin crew. Some 120 pilots who will strike break will still
be paid their pilots' salaries, in the region of £120,000 per year,
which, says Unite, makes them the most expensive cabin crew
ever.
Len McCluskey continued: "There are many serious questions about
its strike-breaking effort which BA must answer. How can they
guarantee that expired licences to fly will be restored in just a
few short weeks? Why are strike breakers being provided with only a
few days training? And why pay highly-waged pilots to strike break
when BA should be working on finding a solution to this
dispute?
"Unite also regards it as extremely concerning that an employer
can co-opt a regulator into its efforts to break its workforce. The
CAA's duty to this country and its taxpayers is to ensure our
aviation sector upholds the highest standards. It is not to
conspire in the provision of half-baked courses for wannabe cabin
crew."
The ballot for industrial action opened on January 25th and will
close on February 22nd.
ENDS
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