BA Strike Vote- The Real Figure and Two Origins

Despite new Unite leader Len McClusky's claims of a resounding victory against BA's evil management the facts are rather different on both scores.

First the vote:
Total BA cabin crew : 13,350
Total vote of a strike: 5,751
% in favour of a strike: 43

Of that 43% in favour ,only a minority is likely to take strike action when it comes to the day.

Putting aside the problems of old fashioned behaviour by unreconstituted unions and nearly four decades of confrontation averse "Peace in our time" CEOs on the mangement side,there are two fundamental underlying causes of this ongoing and unnecessary dispute. One is sociological and centres around group behaviours, cultures, self image and attitudes which have built up over years. The other is the accumulation of old fashioned heavy industry type detailed contracts and agreements covering almost every aspect of the job which link to a complex system of cash allowances and concessions which reinforce slavish compliance to the rule book and the exinction of anything like a deep and proactive service culture.They also help to destroy loyalty to the employer as they create the basis for everlasting conflicts, great and small.

BA has for the last two years been trying to deal with the contracts issue and is probably now close to a conclusion by one means or another. Once that is dealt with they and other legacy airlines should to look very closely at the the first question and figure out how to get from where they are to where the newcomers are.Just don't let anyone with "Human Resources " in their title be part of the study though.