You could go elsewhere, Branson tells airline staff
(TVLW) - Sir Richard Branson has angered Virgin Atlantic staff who are threatening to strike by telling them they should “consider working elsewhere”.
The entrepreneur, estimated to be worth £3.1 billion, told 4,800 cabin crew in a letter that he would not meet their pay demands. He said: “For some of you, more pay than Virgin Atlantic can afford may be critical to your life-style and if that is the case you should consider working elsewhere.”
Union members have voted to stage 48-hour strikes on January 9-10 and January 16-17.
Sir Richard said he had drawn a line in the sand in the dispute with staff belonging to the Unite union, which is embroiled in separate negotiations with BAA, the airports operator.
“To go further would result in unacceptable risks and would set a dangerous precedent to the company,” he wrote. “It would be irresponsible of our management and they, rightly, are not going to take that risk.”
A spokesman for Unite said the letter was “insulting” and would worsen relations with employees.
The carrier has offered 8.3 per cent on basic pay over two years, with a 4.8 per cent increase in the first year. Sir Richard argued that staff using British Airways wages as a benchmark were being unrealistic. “It’s like comparing chalk with cheese,” he wrote, adding that Virgin Atlantic did not have the benefit of a history of state support and priority landing slots.
Paul Charles, Virgin Atlantic’s director of communications, said: “We have been inundated with calls from staff saying ‘we want to come into work to keep the airline flying’.”
timesonline.co.uk
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Comments
Well having read the two contrasting comments above I have the folowing to attach - As a business owner, Mr Harris comments on the treatement of staff by Virgin - Virgin has been for many years the preffered employer for a number of reasons, treatment and freedom to express themselves by the staff has always been paramount to Virgin as a brand and an ethos, so that argument is trifle and lacking in any depth. As far as a business owner goes...If it was my business and the business could not afford to pay what the staff want but rather I could only pay what I could afford then thats the pure busines context needed..if its not affordable then the reader above Vito has hit the nail on the head, short sightedness of going for the extra few % of salary will eventually lose both customers and competitors will pounce...if its just a wage they want then maybe they should look alsewhere...after all if they are there for the right reason and for the long haul then they will be loyal to the their employer who was loyal to them..remember Sept 11 and how he managed to at leats keep the airline going by taking second over drafts etc... think wise dear friends not shallow.
If any Virgin flight attendants read this, I hope you will seriously consider your position again. I was very proud to have worked for one of the greatest airlines the world has ever know: Pan American World Airways. And look where they are today! A strike benefits no one. It weakens the airline, and shakes the confidence of the travelling public. They will look elsewhere for their flights, and once you lose them, it will be quite difficult to get them back. You have a great job - and I miss it. Try working 9-5 for five days in a row, and I think you'll see what I mean.
Isn't it interesting that a man with so much can be so arrogant and still pay his staff less than other carriers. Everyone deserves a decent living wage. Let him try and survive on a cabin crew salary, especially in the UK!! I used to have a lot of respect for this man. I was at London Gatwick the day his airline launched the maiden voyager flight to Newark. I hope that the entire cabin crew walk out. I am a business owner and I always try and reward my employees for their hard work. Mr Branson forgets that his cabin crew have the most contact with his customers!! Keep your employees happy and faily rewarded and they will not only look after your customers, they will look out for you too!!!!
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