Monday 28 June 2010

RIP Joy Cummins

I would like to say a personal goodbye to my old Caledonian colleague Joy Cummins who passed away last week after a battle with cancer.

I found out today and was deeply shocked, she was around my age, born in Merseyside and such a bundle of fun, she cheered up those nasty night flights and longhaul flights,and although liked a laugh on the aircraft she could be a bit of a loner downroute, i remember her not sunbathing with the crew but sneaking off to some secluded beach so she could be alone.

She was a smoker so hope that was not her downfall.

God Bless you Joy and RIP from your Extended Caledonian family

Sunday 27 June 2010

Strike Update 27-06-2010

UNITE NEWS RELEASE
>
> For immediate issue, Sunday, June 27th, 2010
>
> New offer from British Airways could postpone cabin crew strike ballot
>
> Unite the union confirmed today (Sunday) that the new offer to British
> Airways cabin crew could lead to the postponement of the new industrial
> action ballot which was set to begin on Tuesday, June 29th.
>
> Unite joint general secretary Tony Woodley, said: "As a consequence of the
> company's last and final offer the union and its representatives will have
> no choice but to delay our vote in order to allow our members to consult
> on the offer.
>
> "The company has made it clear that the offer on the table will be removed
> if the strike ballot starts on Tuesday.
>
> "It would be therefore be inexplicable if we did not put this offer to our
> members, and I expect this course of action will be confirmed by our cabin
> crew representatives when they meet tomorrow."
>
> However, Unite has warned that it is not in a position to recommend the BA
> proposal to members because it does not fully reinstate staff travel
> arrangements stripped from crew who took lawful industrial strike action
> in March and May.
>
> Tony Woodley added: "The fact that staff travel arrangements have not been
> restored to thousands of crew prevents this offer from BA being the
> breakthrough everyone seeks.
>
> "Failure by BA to restore travel in full means the possibility of a
> recommendation nil and makes acceptance of the offer uncertain."
>
> Tony Woodley ended: "This dispute could have been settled months ago. A
> company cannot expect to attempt to beat its employees into submission and
> still function normally - it has to win hearts and minds if it is to
> progress. By choosing conflict over consensus, BA has lost tens of
> millions of pounds and one and half million BA passengers have deserted
> the airline for other carriers.
>
> "We hope that postponement of the strike ballot will give them time to
> reflect on what more they need to do to restore peace and stability to
> this company."
>
> Unite said the new proposal contains protections for existing members from
> the new fleet inferior contracts BA is introducing and will provide cabin
> crew a minimum allowance payment, an improvement to the flat fee that had
> been offered before. Unite is also seeking an independent review of the
> cases of members suspended and sacked during the dispute.
>
> The consultative ballot on BA's new proposal could begin this week.
>

Friendless

I really do not know how to explain this, some of us grow up surrounded by friends, they go through life together, becoming so close that they are like family.

What is that like?

I have work colleagues that turn into friends for 3-9 days then disappear, i have friends who i thought were friends but never really were, and school friends who i say hello too once in a decade and then lose contact.

SO basically i have non, and have never had any real best friends, this is why today, as England play Germany and friends get together for BBQ's and parties to watch the football that i find myself alone at home, sitting here all by myself, no one calls, no one texts me, no one invites me anywhere.

I realise now what loneliness really is, i have managed it for years now but sometimes we all need a friend, sometimes we do not want to share everything with our parents as they want a peaceful life in older age so when lonely we bottle things up,this adds to health issues and depression.

It is hot today, 88 degrees the neighbours either side of me are all gathered to watch the football, i am wedged between the houses alone, maybe i am not nice to be with, maybe people do not want me around at their functions and parties.

I wish i was on a cruise now, on my own, sitting on my balcony with a book, i would take room service for all meals, i am paranoid that if people do not want to be around me in real life why would they want too on a cruise so i would isolate myself as i would not want to ruin anyones holiday, call me paranoid but this is how i think it is!

I still get those pains in my chest, usually left hand side, still have no feeling in half of my left hand so it is easy to test my blood sugar in my finger as i can usually not feel the needle going in.

Well....good look England, we need it playing the Germans but i am sure we can win and get through to the final 8 teams!

I should have bought a Vuvuzella in South Africa last week!

Friday 25 June 2010

Deal or No Deal???

After 18 months of talks, 22 days of strikes, £150 million in lost revenue and a summer of discontent and cancellations on top of more strikes, this is what we have been offered by BA.

BA makes new offer to Unite

British Airways has made a new offer to Unite today in a fresh attempt to end the current dispute.

The offer includes two changes that are intended to address cabin crew concerns about their future earnings:


a new top-up payment is being offered to guarantee that existing crew will not lose out on route allowances when newly-recruited crew begin flying in the autumn;
a proposal to increase staffing levels on some flights, funded by a reduction in crew allowances, has been withdrawn.

The offer also includes two years of guaranteed rises in basic salary from February 2011 in addition to annual increment pay increases.

The new top-up payment means all crew will receive a guaranteed minimum amount of variable pay, irrespective of the routes they fly.

Crew who are not members of Unite are being invited to accept the offer on an individual basis. Members of Unite who want to accept the offer are being urged to express their views to the union.

Bill Francis, British Airways’ head of cabin crew, said: “We have changed our offer in line with feedback we have received from crew and we genuinely believe that it can end this dispute – which is what the vast majority of crew and our customers want.”

The new proposal continues to provide existing crew with assurances about their future. These include:

A firm commitment that crew can keep their current pay and conditions
An assurance that promotions and part time contracts within their current fleet will be on existing terms and conditions
An assurance that Heathrow crew can transfer between Worldwide and Euro Fleet on current terms and conditions
A fair share of routes and access to new aircraft across all fleets
A commitment to look for opportunities for growth at Gatwick.

Friday 18 June 2010

The hurt in my heart

As i use this blog as a diary type offload it always seems to be the people who really need to know how i am feeling will never find out.
Here i am in Johannesburg, the hotel overlooks the runway as the worldcup football has filled all the other hotels, it is nice but basic, noisy in many ways, hotel staff hoovering outside, housemaids slamming doors and having conversations in the corridors, planes taking off and people blowing those annoying horns associated with the football, not the best environment for a resting jetlagged crew member already on the edge.

My life is revolves around myself, not in a selfish way, just my own company, i have to sort out my own problems, deal with things and then get on with life, i have no one to share problems with and this is the main cause of the illnesses i am suffering.

I still have moments of bursting into tears, thinking of losing loved family and pets, i get angry that i have waited until so late to become close to my cousins etc as one is 70 and wish i had not let so many years slip by.

My job is difficult, strike atmospheres are still around, i am even working in the same cabin as a colleague, he has yet to say hello to me yet never mind have a conversation with me, now in Johannesburg so you can imagine how uncomfortable that was, he is straight and there are 11 guys on the crew so maybe he is pissed off he will not have his pick of the ladies to keep him company, he is black also so no one wants to address it as he will probably turn it into a "race" issue.

I will add pictures of the odd lay out of a hotel room when i get back as cannot download onto this small netbook, no hard drive and no bluetooth, but the bath and shower are in the bedroom, only the toilet is seperate, it will be come self explanatory in the photographs once you see them.

Well i feel a little better now just typing this, i have no idea where my future lies, where i will live, what job will i do, i have always dreamed of living on an uninhabited island but then i suppose i would have to be self sufficient and that sounds like bloody hard work unless Tesco drop in shopping via parachute and airplane.

I am drawn to Canada, Switzerland, South of france, also love Boston and the New England coastline but i suppose not being an American i would be unable to be a resident.

Maybe it will be a good move, could be sooner could be later only time will tell, what i do know is that there is nothing worth staying in the UK for, i will give the newly elected conservative government and chance first and see what happens but the cut backs to cover the trillions of pounds of debt the UK is in can only come from the people so this will affect us all!!

Tuesday 15 June 2010

Bravo nomination for my Indian Detective work!

Congratulations! You have received a BRAVO nomination from Greg Jepp who would like to say 'Thank you' to you and show their appreciation for a job well done.

Fleet: 777
Date: 12Jun2010
Sector: BLR-LHR
Flight No: 118

I wish to highly commend Gary for his keen eye with regard to security. Through his observation and dilligence not only did he prevent the theft of personal property from myself but he also has highlighted a potentially serious security issue in BLR. He is clearly a thoughtful and professional individual and whilst I have personally thanked him I believe that our company also owes at least a vote of thanks to Gary. He has prevented further personal losses to fellow crew members and also potential breaches of security and hence protected flight safety for the airline. The report I have submitted to BA security is cut and pasted below for your consideration. I have concealed the names of the accused parties untill the investigation is complete but security will I am sure speak to you if wished.Thankyou.

Theft From And Interference With Crew Baggage In BLR 12/06/2010
Security reference GL/4/11 June.



This account contains to the best of my recollection events surrounding the above incident and if required can be corroborated by the crew members mentioned within this report.
In BLR we are accompanied on the crew transport by a security guard and someone dressed in what appears to be a hotel uniform but I am informed is actually a “facilitator” from the transport company. Incidentally there is on occasion a third person who I have observed on several occasions whose actual purpose is unclear to me and will be challenged next time.

On boarding the bus crew usually (as do I) deposit hand baggage on the first few rows of seats in order to allow colleagues to be seated comfortably. On this occasion myself, my first officer (SFO Jerry Spence) and steward Gary Marshall-Gleghorn sat either directly behind the guard and transport staff member or in my case one further row back. Our baggage was then clearly visible to us. Jerry and Gary observed the transport employee (or so we believe him to be), subsequently found to be named Xxxxxx, positioning himself very close to Jerry’s briefcase and in fact repositioning it to be directly next to him on his seat. Xxxxx then appeared to rest his arm over said luggage. After a moment’s thought Jerry decided that this seemed a little suspicious and retrieved his briefcase and placed it by his side. In what appears to be a well practiced smokescreen Xxxxxx then stood up, pretended to attend to something in the overhead hat rack and used this as an excuse to reposition himse
lf to be seated next to my briefcase. Steward Gary then watched Xxxxx attempt to cover his right arm from view with a newspaper whilst leaning on my bag in such a way as to cover his activities but which in fact aroused my colleague’s suspicion.

Not having observed this activity up to now I was then appraised of what had happened by SFO Spence and it seemed sensible therefore to remove my bag from Xxxxx’s reach also. On inspection of its’ contents my wallet was found to be missing and it was clearly appropriate to challenge Xxxxx at this time. He seemed remarkably calm and sanguine (as he remained subsequently) as I instructed him to stand and levelled the accusation. Initially all seemed innocent and a simple misunderstanding until Jerry and Gary shone a torch into the area where Xxxxx was seated and purely by very diligent searching discovered my wallet very well secreted and hardly visible stuffed well down the side of the seat.

There is no way this could have occurred accidentally and it was a deliberate attempt to steal and conceal the evidence for later retrieval. CSD Brian Yip who also had a bag in the vicinity could also see that his bag had been rummaged through but fortunately none of the contents removed. The hotel security manager/Transport company airport rep (named Xxxxxxx) /BA station staff and I believe via them the police were all informed and Xxxxx was detained on board the coach whilst arrangements were made.

I believe there have been more than one unproven case of theft on this route which although not known personally by me was reported to me by crew members as having occurred (Gary was aware of this and hence particularly alert) and caused an albeit unofficial warning to be circulated. Of course the implication of interference with crew baggage is not just the theft and removal of property but also the possibility of insertion of an item which could very well pose a serious security risk.

I did not take further part in the subsequent actions as the pre flight preparations needed my attention but have submitted this account to you and copied it to any relevant or involved parties.

I wish to highly commend both SFO Spence and STD Marshall-Gleghorn for both saving me considerable personal irritation but more importantly for their security awareness and diligence in uncovering and highlighting something that could as I have suggested above pose a serious risk to flight safety.

Gregory Jepp (Captain)
705075.
13/June/2010.


The following BA Values have been recognised:
- Safe and Secure
- Professional

Thank you for your contribution, very well done and please keep up the good work.

A copy of this BRAVO nomination will be placed on your operational file.

Sunday 13 June 2010

Thieving Indian!


It was 430am in India, we met as a crew in the lobby ready for the long flight home from Bangalore, little did i know what was about to unfold between the hotel and the airport.
We boarded the crew transport, the front rows left and right were occupied with a security guard and a member of hotel staff, rows 2 left and right were empty apart from crews bags left on seats, bags were also in rows one with the security man and hotel staff member, i sat in row three on the left and a first officer sat in the third row on the right, the rest of the crew were dotted about behind me.
I had been aware of keeping an eye on my luggage and that of others for security reasons so my attention was drawn to the hotel staff member who was sitting at the front of the bus, he kept looking to see if anyone was looking, my bag was next to him but nothing of value was in it as i always keep my smaller bag next to me.
After about ten minutes of "shifty" behaviour he stood up, checked the air con outlets above the seat as if to say his were not working and he moved to row behind, now sitting in front of a pilot, he was using his newspaper as a smokescreen to hide his arms and hands so i kept watching, in the end i asked the first officer to look between the seats, he saw nothing so turned to the captain who was sitting behind and suggested it may be a good idea to move his bag which was next to this staff member.
When the captain retrieved his bag he had a look in and noticed his wallet was missing, the staff member stood up and asked what the problem was, the Pilot leaned to over to the row he had been sitting and found the captains wallet jammed between the two seat cushions.
This guy had been rumbled, he was shocked and obviously knew there was no escape and his job had just been taken from him.
After numerous telephone calls from the crew transport we were met at the airport by security and hotel staff and they were going to hand him over to the police and charge him with theft.
I became the hero of the day, i was chuffed with the result as i had read on crew online forums about missing i-pods, wallets, cameras etc etc but the source had never been found as once crew get to the aircraft or possibly back home to UK, this is when you discover you have lost something and cannot trace it back.
I will never leave my bag unattended ever again as it they can take something out, they could also put something in.
Safety First!!!

Tuesday 1 June 2010

NEW TV

I wired some money to dad yesterday as i think it is about time they had a new flatscreen tv, he paid £2500 for his 32" flatscreen in 2004, that is how much they were then, he is going to get a Panasonic freesat hd ready 42", i am so pleased to be able to help them out, well it is a good job i do as no one else bothers.
I must have spent 20K on them in past three years, and they deserve every penny and it is a great feeling to be able to help them out.

In years to come when i have no parents i will be able to sit down, remember all the good times and know i did as much as i could with what i had and brought pleasure, luxury and comfort to the two most important people in my life.

I love them dearly.