British Airways has been working to resolve its labor trouble with the flight cabin crew union, Unite, for several months now.  It appears that both BA and United have finally come to enough of an agreement that a deal is on the table and it will be voted on.

The problem is, both parties here went a bit too far in these labor actions.  Unite went too far in trying to protect jobs by insisting on unproductive staff levels in the cabins.  BA went too far by punishing those who went out on strike.

Labor conflicts shouldn’t be treated as “personal” and when Willie Walsh & Co decided to punish those strikers by removing their travel benefits, that was over the line.  The strike was legal and you shouldn’t punish people for doing what was within their legal rights. 

In addition, remaining stubborn about restoring those benefits was just childish.  It’s insisting you were right when there is an opportunity to get what you originally wanted by just stopping your own foolishness. 

I’m actually somewhat skeptical that this vote on the deal will be approved.  BA has agreed to restore “90%” of the travel benefits and seniority would only be restored on the basis of “good behaviour” over 3 years.  That’s punitive and unnecessary.

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