BA communicated to its different stakeholders in a number of ways during the strike period. BA shareholders, in particular the large investors, were behind the BA management strategy to make cuts, so BA did not appear to suffer from shareholder pressure in this situation. However, employees (cabin crew of BA) have been the party that had lost out.
The customers have suffered hugely in these 2010 strikes because they have had to endure disruptions with their flights, which has left many BA customers upset and angry with the strikers. BA were cleverly able to generate public sympathy and have customers on their side by the way they were tactical in their approach. Matthew Moore from the Telegraph states that ‘BA’s bullish stance reflects a confidence within the company that it now holds the upper hand in the long running dispute’. This here shows that BA are sticking to what they have decided and therefore are not prepared to negotiate and by the strikers continuing to stand their ground all they are doing is causing more upset and aggravation for the customers.
Below is some quotes from passengers who could not fly because of the strikes happening.
I was stuck on a plane for eight hours; we had boarded, our luggage was on, the ramp was retracted, and the ground staff decided to stage a walkout. We couldn't disembark because a license is needed to operate the ramp, we couldn't leave because the plane needs to be pushed back. Stuck for eight hours with kids throwing up, and no food thanks to Gate Gourmet. I have no sympathy for the BA ground staff who walked out illegally. There was no consideration for passengers whatsoever.
Brian Reilly, Athens, Greece
Brian Reilly, Athens, Greece
Trade unions have no place in an economy with full employment. The difficulty businesses in the South East have in finding half decent workers gives individual employees more than enough bargaining power. Three cheers for the Gate Gourmet management. British Airways must now follow their lead and take the opportunity to rid themselves of their own TGWU members.
Paul, London, UK
Paul, London, UK
Nicola, UK
I wonder if all these people who say they support the strikers would have felt the same if it was their holidays, weddings, and business journeys etc that were going down the pan. They should all be sacked.
Ken, UK
Please could you leave your comments on this issue.
Tell me what you think
BA to blame or strikers?
Thanks
This is a difficult one because BA obviously had to make cuts presumably due to the recession and generally bad economical climate.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to cost cutting, most organisations begin with internal cuts - meaning staff. Whether this is making redundancies or cutting staff privileges, or in this case - Both!
Of course the employee's aren't going to like being told they can't get discounted flights, etc, but I think it's kind of inevitable and general business practice. I'd hope they didn't work for BA purely for the benefits and employee perks anyway.
I don't think it is ethical or fair, but as an organisation I don't think they have much choice. As long as people are getting sufficient redundancy packages, etc. there's not a great deal more BA can do to make the situation better.
I don't think it was handled particularly well, as the employees went on strike and lots of flights got cancelled, I bet BA lost out on more money due to cancelled flights and lost custom.
They should know that stakeholders (in this case, the employees) hold the most power in an organisation, and predicted the strikes and the after affects of this happening.
Sometimes, things in life happen that we don't often like, and unfortunatly here, the BA staff clearly had a problem with having their perks cut, and also some staff cuts. These things happen when you are in the middle of a recession, and its not nice, but you have to deal with it.
ReplyDeleteI can understand how, from having such great benefits, to having nothing, it can be quite a shock, but the BA staff should surely remember that actually they were very lucky to have recieved them in the first place. I have a friend who's parents worked for BA for over 30 years, and have now since retired, yet they skill get the perks they built up over the years, for example, last year he got a return first class flight to New York for just £79! Amazing isn't it that BA are still so good to their staff years down the line.
If you ask me, I think if we were to all recieve such good perks from a job, and suddenly have them cut, we would all be annoyed, which is very selfish, but it is just the way the world works, but I do think it is very wrong for those who were un happy to just walk out and affect so many other people's lives in such a negative way
I completely agree with both comments made above. BA's staff is extremely lucky to get these perks but we have to remember they do work bloody hard for them. Airports are run 24/7 and these people's jobs, I'm assuming, are much more demanding than your typical 9-5 office job. So I can understand the major frustration from staff.
ReplyDeleteHowever when putting myself in the passenger's shoes I would be very pissed off with the situation. Staff come across as selfish when there are people who obviously have there own important reasons for flying and are prevented from doing so.
I think that with any business, things have to get worse in order to get better. If these cuts were not made then who knows what other problems BA would have encountered. Staff should be loyal to their company and understand that when the poblem is resolved and the company starts doing better again, there will be enough money going round for the company to reward their employees loyalty