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Unite Reported British Airways Is Harassing Its Flight Attendants |
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March 21, 2010 -
Day two of British Airways Cabin Crew strike. Unite the union
representing British Airways Flight Attendants has published a 'dossier
of disgrace' exposing bullying and harassment that is taking place
against union members and representatives under the management of Willie
Walsh.
British Airways
has suspended or disciplined 38 crew members. One crew member on bed
rest, in danger of losing her baby, was suspended by letter. Another
crew member was unable to attend a disciplinary hearing because she was
caring for a seriously ill child was instructed to bring the child with
her. Management did not go through the normal disciplinary process. In
all cases, the decision to suspend had already been taken.
Some crew members
are on anti-depressants with one female crew member being admitted to an
urgent treatment centre because of the deterioration of her mental
health. |
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British Airways
has suspended crew members including trade union representatives for:
• Receiving and forwarding e-mails from their private accounts •
Discussions on union member only forums
Unite, Assistant General Secretary, Len McCluskey, said: "Cabin crew
under the management of Willie Walsh have been victims of a disgraceful
witch-hunt. The bullying and harassment set out in our dossier shows the
lengths BA will go to gag and intimidate cabin crew and destroy trade
unionism."
Unite is appalled by the manner in which staff were told of their
suspension - some by email, some were called on their emergency
contacts. Some were met by managers on landing and accompanied from the
aircraft. Others were marched out of briefings or met by managers when
they arrived for work. One pregnant crew member on bed rest in danger of
losing her baby was suspended by letter as was another crew member who
was recovering from surgery. |
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All of the staff
were suspended on allegations of bullying and harassment, some also had
charges of contravening data protection leveled at them. All had their
IDs taken from them and were accompanied from the premises. The
frequency and speed with which these disciplinaries have been conducted
has been unprecedented, with crew being contacted over a dozen times in
a single day.
There are many
more examples of aggressive management style of BA management. For
instance union reps responsible for the union crew forum website have
been contacted by management demanding that they provide them with the
names of crew writing under pseudonyms. A motorcycle courier was sent to
the home of the union’s branch secretary at 9pm with a 45 page legal
document demanding he provide BA with the names of 32 crew writing under
pseudonyms on the union forum website.
Several of the
suspended cabin crew have been left extremely unwell as a result of
their treatment by management, a number of staff have been medically
signed off with stress and depression. One female crew member has been
admitted to an urgent treatment centre because of the deterioration of
her mental health. One is under the care of a psychiatrist. Several
staff have letters from their GPs clearly stating that they are unable
to attend a meeting with the company and in some cases should not be
contacted at all.
In every case
British Airways Health Services occupational therapists have overridden
the GPs advice. Despite crew being highly distressed and in some cases
hysterical on the telephone, BA has passed every single one fit to
attend hearings. |
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