The Power of Solidarity...

British Airways strike leaves 70,000 stranded
All Heathrow flights cancelled after transport, food workers walk out

LONDON - At least 70,000 travelers were left stranded Friday as British Airways canceled all flights to and from Heathrow Airport after a wildcat strike among catering staff spread to baggage handlers and other ground crew.

Problems for British Airways’ flights started Thursday after baggage handlers and other ground staff walked out in support of employees who were fired by the airline’s caterer after going on strike. The caterer, Gate Gourmet, said they were trying to resolve the dispute.

The dispute started when Gate Gourmet, which provides onboard meals for British Airways flights, fired 800 workers on Wednesday, according to a union representing the catering workers. The company said only 667 workers had been dismissed.

BA baggage handlers and loaders represented by the same union — the Transport and General Workers Union — stopped work in sympathy with the fired catering staff.

Gate Gourmet Chief Executive Dave Siegel said the firm was “actively engaged in trying to find a solution.”

Later Thursday, another union representing British Airways check-in staff advised their members to stop work for health and safety reasons after disgruntled passengers took out their frustrations on staff.

And guess where the offending company is from?

Gate Gourmet, which is owned by the Fort Worth, Texas, buyout firm Texas Pacific Group, claimed that workers staged an unofficial strike, but the Transport and General Workers Union accused managers of deliberately provoking the dispute.

And furthermore:

British Airways Chief Executive Rod Eddington said in a statement Thursday that nearly 100 aircraft and 1,000 pilots and cabin crew were left “in the wrong places around the world” because of the dispute.

“It is a huge disappointment to us that we have become embroiled in someone else’s dispute,” Eddington said.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8910867/

Why is it that if a company outsources, they feel not responsible for their actions? The airline passenger is paying BA to get on a flight. Therefore BA is responsible for all aspects of that service. If you hire someone that treats labor poorly, you are responsible for the consequences. BA should have either kept the service in house, or hired a responsible provider.

Anyway, back to solidarity - I hope the our labor leaders are seeing the result of true solidarity between workers. I feel sorry for the stranded passengers, but great for working people worldwide.