Just like us, British Airways cabin crew are transport workers facing attacks on their jobs, pay and conditions. Just like us, they work for a company that should be a public service but has been poisoned by privatisation and made into a profit-driven, cost-cutting enterprise. Just like us, their strike is being hysterically condemned in the press. Just like us, their bosses have crawled to the courts to use the anti-union laws against them.
It's a no-brainer then, isn't it? Support the BA cabin crew!
Comments
Aviation strike action
As a Heathrow worker, hopefully I can give a perspective on the action faced, which will impact on aviation workers, Heathrow, BA, or otherwise. Those who know me will hopefully forgive the clumsiness of my arguments, as they will understand that I personally am very new to left-wing political thought and trade unionism in general, as a recently-elected branch official at Heathrow. In the interest of saving myself from my employer's draconian code of conduct rules, I must stress that any opinions I offer, here or elsewhere, are those of an individual worker and of a PCS activist, and are not intended to reflect negatively on my employer. Sure. You know, whatever.
I have been watching the BA case with interest for some time, and while my personal principles of solidarity remain strong, as a PCS rep and branch official I cannot ignore the concerns of my members that the action taken by Unite is excessive. The "nuclear" option (as described in mainstream media) is obviously a brave and commendable stance to be taken, particularly in such an uncertain political and economic situation. Though it is difficult to ignore that such drastic action by a section of the aviation workforce has a ripple effect throughout the industry that may hinder the struggles of other workers in aviation, Unite has chosen to press on. In air traffic we (PCS members) are facing with all seriousness the threat of compulsory redundancy (Prospect, who represent Air Traffic Controllers and Engineers, are facing similar, if slightly more distant, threats), and such extreme action is of great concern to us. We face the very real prospect of fighting for our members' jobs; members who have niche skills that would not lend themselves well to "getting by' in a global recession.
My chief concern is that such extraordinary action by Unite could damage the aviation workers' trade union movement as a whole, and pave a rotten path, sullied by mainstream-media condemnation of all industrial action in aviation, that would hamper effective future campaigns by any of the unions representing workers in the industry.
My question to Unite is effectively "what price your action?" as I am very doubtful that they have considered the impacts to the Trade Union movement in the industry beyond their own members'/FTOs' concerns.
Aviation Strike Action
This is all a bit up in the air for now (no pun intended) given the high court injunction. Though given the size of the strike mandate BA aircrew should be organising to go ahead anyway as Xmas is their best bet for leverage. Of course it is the militants in the industry who will need to be arguing this.
Why do you think your members feel it is excessive? I would say 2 reasons, first media demonisation blaming strikes/strikers for standing up for themselves and secondly because it is so unusual for most unions to act like this- threatening or even taking action that creates real pressure.
Why would the "ripple effect...hinder the struggles" of other workers in the industry?Surely a victory for this group of workers would improve the situation of everyone?
I think hoping for good media coverage of your or any other aviation workers dispute or action is wishful thinking. There is definitely a need for putting the case that workers and service users have a unity of interests. However this must not mean workers backpedalling on the action necesary to save their jobs in the hope of "getting good press".
What do you think?