British Airways strike: Willie Walsh comments on the cabin crew strike

[MrMaster12100]

thanks ba for keeping me flying i was glad to meet my family tha

[77jwise]

Fully 100% support WW and BA in not surrundering to this militant union. What planet do these union people live on?! The rest of the country is having to accept the new economic reality but apparently this union is not.

I am flying BA next Friday; not changing my plans and have been put on another BA flight the same day with minimum fuss.

[dipperdon]

I haven't heard anything from Mr Walsh about what he intends to do in support of the CC who are carrying on working despite the intimidation

[FlyBritishAirways]

Thanks for your comment. Willie Walsh has been very supportive of cabin crew and volunteer crew operating during Unite's strike period. He has been very vocal about this in media interviews and in staff forums. However, please note that these video messages are directed at customers, to keep them up to date with the latest information. Willie uses other internal channels to thank our cabin crew. Many thanks.

[philpetrossian]

@RuthlessInterloper

Thanks for your answer that proves that you are not fully trained.

Indeed, administrating drugs is not the only medical action CC are been trained to. Using defibrilators is also (a big/complex) part of the job. Seems you need to study again my friend.

[theotherguyuk]

@philpetrossian Using an automatic external defib? The one you put on the chest and press the "on" button? How long did it take to teach you that bit?

[eggymark]

hello

[MrConcession]

@hstscotsman

Glad you with Unite someone needs to be,the rest of human race wanting to survive

[MrConcession]

All these negative comments,LISTEN TO THE VIDEO,no compulsory redundancy,no pay cuts,UNITE GET PAID ANYWAY

[Tandyful]

The greed not need of the bankers, MPs, non doms, city spiffs have all bleed the country dry. done nothing wrong its LOOP HOLES. If the above were the average Mr and Mrs Bloggs, would be fraud without a doubt.

[MegaTrainspotter]

if you don't know much about this dispute ask yourselves?why did thousands of workers vote to strike ? why are workers who have never been on strike in their lives prepared to give up 3 days pay? is it because they haven't anything better to do?

[paddythetinker]

Hope BA survives, union should get a life. It a bit like asking a dieing man for the 10quid he still owes you.

[MrConcession]

@paddythetinker

With you Paddy

[MegaTrainspotter]

if these changes are implemented by management the only people to suffer are the customers.waken up people..smell the coffee..

[MrConcession]

@MegaTrainspotter

We wont have any customers,and you will have plenty of time to smell coffee and spot trains...330000000 loss in 6 months,i dont wanna see you on the dole queue,thats why i helping instead of damaging

[MegaTrainspotter]

@citylife82-you say you are volunteering to do these jobs ?so you won't be wanting any extra pay? What if your job becomes a threat will you just take on the chin?

[simongbb7]

I really like BA. I hope this strike doesn't destroy the company.

[thelearner60]

Lets hope not but if it carries on it might just do that. A lot of Continental national airlines have gone to the wall recently.

[epmorris]

Poor old Willie- It is clearly a failure of management to have an effective mutiny of staff. All the posturing in the video cannot hide this . I cannot believe that cabin crew are militants and in todays world the 'Union' might actually be the best hope for reaching a compromise . In the end a compromise is what is needed . Yes BA is a great company ,staff and management and will get throught this .

[MickyHollywood]

what is wrong with these people going on strike, first thing, at least they have a job, second if they don't like what they do for there wage, then they could always go to another competitor, n not get paid as much, i say make sure them striking know their jobs are on the line, and get other people who care for Britain and British company's, we have just come through a difficult time, and unfortunately the company i worked for shut down as of it, i would have taken a pay cut.

[yourTravelConcierge]

Good luck British Airways. We used you to get to Moscow and New York for our travel guides.

[thelearner60]

I'm flying with them next Tuesday to States and hopefully back on Sunday on one of the next strike days. Mind you I wish I was now flying with somebody else too Washington DC?

[Moustafro]

This site should be banned from You tube on the basis that it's nothing more than a propagandist and apologist site for a corporation.

[Tandyful]

@Moustafro Your right, my comment not giving the time off day. Probably to militant, its a disgrace that a legal strike is belittled, over looking the plight of a decent pay, working environment for average workers. Private sector in a mess, public sector will pay the price. Bloody angry.

[Moustafro]

Find it remarkable that we have now become a nation where ordinary people are vilified for opting to strike. We are now a nation in which private corporations are subsidised at taxpayers expense for massive failings, yet the ordinary worker is treated like cattle. For all you BA apologists - could you live on £18k per annum and still accept reduced terms? Respect to Unite and the ordinary BA staff.

[yeldarbwehttam]

Good for you Walsh, standing up to the union! It won't be SARS, or 9/11 or Polonium 210 or the economy that will eventually destroy this great company and iconic British brand - sadly it will be the staff and the union. I wrote the same on a customer feedback form a few years ago. Despite all this, I love BA and I will continue to choose BA over their competitors because I honestly think they are the best and I want to support BA as a company.

[ThePoonDoctor]

Are you joking?

[citylife82]

I am BA staff and I will be volunteering this weekend to make sure the Flag keeps Flying!

[theotherguyuk]

It's a shame those who intend to strike don't see the bigger picture. The economy isn't exactly booming, and if the company doesn't do well then it doesn't look good for their jobs!

Plus the only people who suffer are those who have arranged flights. Shame on the union!

[philpetrossian]

This page is just BA's propaganda. All comments are not published if they don"t serve BA's interests. Be honest ... for once!

[FlyBritishAirways]

Thank you philpetrossian. We welcome everyone's comments as long as they aren't defamatory or abusive towards an individual or group and is relevant to the video content.

[semsemsam]

@philpetrossian Shame on you, shame on the union.

[NeilGOwen]

@semsemsam You need to put reasons for your argument

[diplomeuk]

BA and the union members who are NOT striking have my admiration.

Unite/BASSA have been unreasonable in the extreme and should not be allowed to destroy this great airline.

[ilclinte]

Our flight is cancelled this sunday. Writing this while I am on hold to the travel agency... 15 minutes and counting.

...

"We will get back to you", I was just told. We have this vacation planned for 8 months. I'm sitting on nails here. My sympathy for the strike is...hmm...dvindling.

[rivnac]

Am flying with BA to LA tomorrow and not put off by the looming strike action - I'd rather do what I can to help BA survive, which is more than the unions seem to be doing.

[stephy418]

Great response Willie! I applaud you're decision to get your side of the story out - it IS about the customers...Thank you for adding clarification on which flights are actually still operating.

[gujujainuk]

I'm backing BA

[thelearner60]

So am I.

[pakarinen4]

@thelearner60 : people like you are disguisting! You should feel ashamed of yourself! I hope one day someone will replace your job while you're fighting for your rights!

[philpetrossian]

@thelearner60

So am I. But BA isn't just its management, it's also its employees who have ben devoted to the airline for years. Just as a reminder, don't forget that more than a thousand of them have offred free works last july, and many of them where CC, and what for?

This policy has been aplied at Aer Lingus few years ago by the same management, and see the result ... it's going to be bought by Ryanair and will become a low cost airline.

[FlyBritishAirways]

@thefoole We're finalising the flight schedules as not all our flights will be cancelled. We're also working with other airlines who've flights on the same routes as us during the strike period. This will enable us to provide additional rebooking options onto their services. All this information can be found on our website.

[mattiaswac]

Best of luck in tough conditions. Looking forward to my next fligth with you!

[sparkmouse]

i only need pilots i can serve my own drinks if thats any help..

[philpetrossian]

And can you secure the cabin? Apply all security procedures? Organize emergency evacuation if needed? Give first aid to passengers?

Well I guess not!

But thanks for tryin!

[FlyBritishAirways]

Thanks for your comments. We appreciate your concern, however please let me assure you that all volunteer cabin crew have been trained to the highest standards in a CAA approved training programme. All volunteer crew have received the same amount of security and safety training as current cabin crew.

Replacement cabin crew will always be working with experienced cabin crew.

[philpetrossian]

That's wrong. All volunteers won't be allowed to use mediacl kits. Which means that if there is any trouble with a passenger, some crews may not be able to provide first aid. On long haul flights, there are now 15 crews instead of 16 and all of them are not fully trained. Security first did you say ?

[FlyBritishAirways]

Thank you once again for your comments. I have to restate that all our cabin crew have received the same amount of security and safety training as current cabin crew. Replacement cabin crew will always be working with experienced cabin crew. We take the safety and security of our customers and our airline seriously and our priority is to maintain the high standard everyone expect from us.

[theotherguyuk]

@philpetrossian Using a first aid kit isn't that tricky. Don't talk things up!

[ew4n]

I thought I'd come here and get it straight from the horse's mouth rather than watching the 10 second soundbite on mainstream media. I recognise the Union's perspective but I can't agree with their methods -- it's a total arse to have to go and swap to another airline in order to get certainty.