Wednesday 31 March 2010

BA vs Unite Latest

In the aftermath of the second wave of strikes by BA cabin crew workers, Willie Walsh Chief Executive of BA has called for peace with his Unite rivals, after what he claimed as failed strike action, with more than 75% of its passengers transported and 60% of its cabin crew actually working during the four day industrial action.

The comments were revealed in open letter to Tony Woodley the joint General Secretary of Unite, who stated that further strikes had not been confirmed and the goal was still for a settlement.

BA claim to have fared better this time round compared to the strike on the previous weekend, reducing costs from £7m a day down to £5.5m a day though Unite claim it is costing BA twice that, more delays will also be expected today as BA gets its planes and workers back to the correct destination.

Mr Walsh has called for settlement proposal to be put to a vote by the Union members as it was the Union leaders who refused it but Unite say the proposal was worse than the original which prompted the strikes in the first place.

Though both leaders are calling for peace it looks unlikely as both parties are reluctant to back down, reports suggest that Willie Walsh has the upper hand and BA will adapt to more strikes if necerssary also public sympathy seems to be on BA's side in light of reported cabin crew salaries of £30,000+ in mid-recession when the rest of the UK is struggling to keep their jobs.

Tuesday 23 March 2010

BA Strike latest

Many British Airways planes and cabin crew are in the wrong place this morning due to the three day strike that took effect over the weekend. BA insist they were pleased at how well they managed to operate during the industrial action.

Stating they had operated 78% of its long haul and 60% of its short haul flights, the total number of flights cancelled was 238 out of 691 beleved to have cost BA in excess of £27m, if the second strike planned for the following weekend and lasting 4 days this time goes ahead it could cost BA £50m.

This looks increasingly likely as both sides are showing no signs of backing down, picket lines have been formed at Heathrow airport where workers are venting their anger at the company, with BA planes being booed on landing.

Tuesday 16 March 2010

BA Cabin Crew In First Strike

The first planned strike by BA cabin crew will take place on the 20th March and last for three days, BA have announced they hope to transport 60% of there passengers using the emergency cabin crew that has been put together, which means they should ensure 45000 passengers a day get to there destinations.

However BA workers that take part in the strike have been told they risk losing there travel benefits by doing so, BA workers are entitled to either free or reduced travel rates, which will be lost by participating.

Passengers who have been affected by the strkie have been offered alterantive flights or a full refund, a second strike planned for the 27th March is still to be confirmed

Friday 12 March 2010

BA Call Worker A Suicide Bomber

The BA worker who was arrested at it's Newcastle call center planned to carry out a suicide bomb attack it was revealed in court yesterday, Rajib Karim who was arrested on charges of raing funds for acts of terrorism, is accused of asking al-qaeda chiefs for permission to carry out attcks on Britain.

It is alleged he offered to travel to Yemen to be trained for the planned attack which invloved him infiltrating BA via applying to be part of the volunteer cabin crew that BA is assembling due to striking workers.

IT expert Karim is also charged with sending terror officials information on how to hack into BA computer systems to cause major financial losses and info on security protocols. He is also charged with sending money to Yemen and Bangladesh to fund terror acts.

BA officials have confirmed that Rajib Karim did apply to be part of the emerency cabin crew but insist he would have failed security checks

Wednesday 10 March 2010

Women Refuse Body Scanner

Manchester airport officials have released the first confirmed cases of passengers refusing the new controversial body scanners, two women who were british residents were selected at random to go through the body scanners, but refused claiming religious and medical reasons.

They were refused permission to board the aircraft unless they went through the security check, officials spent half an hour with the two women, but they still refused, so were unable to fly.

It is the first case of someone refusing the scanner and choosing not to fly since they were made mandatory on february 1st. The two women were flying from Termianl 2 to Islamabad, the only other UK airport using the scanners is Heathrow where there have been no cases of refusal reported.

Manchester airport officials say they were just following government directive by not allowing the women to fly.

Tuesday 9 March 2010

BAA Mortgage Houses

BAA has been forced to mortgage 39 of its houses near Stansted airport, with many of them due to be demolished to make way for the proposed second runway at Stansted airport. With the houses being offered as security against the £10.5bn already borrowed. The latest figures to come out of Stansted airport show it down £54m in operating profits at £27m.

A spokesman from the Stop Stansted Airport Expansion Campaign Group stated it was ironic that BAA were mortgaging the very houses that were bought as part of the runway plan and that it was proof of that the second runway could not be afforded.

Locals claim that the proposed £3bn runway would affect 11,000 houses and that a public enquiry has constantly been put back. BAA officials deny they are under financial strain and insist the mortgaged houses are simply to supply the bank with some security

Thursday 4 March 2010

BA Take Tough Stance

British Airways has refused to give into Union demands over pay and working conditions by drafting in emergency staff for the proposed strike action of its workers. BA Chief exec Willie Walsh stated he had no intention of caving in on Union demands.

He stated that 1000 volunteers had been trained up and were ready to take the places of striking staff with another 5000 on stand by. Which is a clear sign of BA's intentions that it will not be held to ransom by Union Unite, staff who were planning on striking must now fear if they will have a job to come back to in light of the revelation.

Mr Walsh also revealed that 70% of staff have said they will still come to work even if the Union calls for a strike, which in turn would mean the airlines long haul and half the short haul services would operate as normal whilst London Centarl Airport would be unaffected.

With passenger numbers up despite the proposed strikes and premium traffic rising in February for the first time in 18 months, BA obviously feel they have the upper hand, Unite secretary Len McClusker said it was regrettable that BA had chosen this stance as ongoing meaningful talks were still taking place and re-itterted the fact they still hoped to resolve the situation.

BA Terror Alert Grows

A second BA worker has been arrested along with two other men in connection with terrorism fund raising, the Heathrow worker was arrested last night and police have confirmed there is a connection with the other BA worker arrested at its Newcastle call center as reported yesterday.

Terror cops made their move on the suspects at around 5am yesterday including the BA worker aged 31 and two other men aged 32 and 43, police believe that more arrests will be made and are more than aware of the worrying connection with British Airways.

The three men are being held at London's Paddington Green police staition under the Terrorism Act 2000 in connection with raising funds for acts of terrorism supposedley against British Airways aircraft.

Background checks on the suspects and their contacts are now urgently being carried out with more arrests likely, the UK is already on severe terror alert which is 1 rank below critical after Umar Abdulmutallab's failed plan to blow up a jumbo jet on Christmas day

Wednesday 3 March 2010

BA In Terror Alert

A British Airways worker has been arrested on the suspicion of raising funds for a terrorism act, which is believed to of been against a jumbo jet, police recieved a tip off and made their move last Thursday. The man described as a 30 year old black Aisan was detained at London central police station where he is still currently being held.

The BA worker was part of 800 staff working at BA's Newcastle Upon Tyne call center where he had access to flight numbers and would have been acustomed to security procedures. The reason for the arrest is beleived to be the suspects frequent contacts and recent movements.

Police can apply for additional holding time later this week if required, the arrest came about after a combined effort involving the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command and the North East Counter Terrorism Unit.

A BA spokesman admitted an employee working at the Newcastle call center had been arrested and was currently being detained by police. BA also stated the police will have their full co-operation as they take security issues very seriously.