Rod Eddington to leave BA!

Hey, come on guys, lets not slag these people off, they really believe they have to make stand. Ask yourselves the question, what would you do if you were in a similar position? I don’t go along with strike action but unfortunately alot of the people at BA don’t have much of a choice.

It’s not that long ago that it was us, the cabin crew that were on strike. I can tell you it was the worst period of my adult life. As a memeber of the one of the very powerful unions BASSA or Cabin Crew 89 you had to go along with the majority. Unless you have been in that position and experienced it you have no idea what you are talking about and making sweeping statements about groups of people is stupid. The vast majority are hating the situation and dreading the strike going ahead, hopefully it won’t. Sure there are some very selfish, greedy individuals that are just after what they can get and yes we have an extremely good package of benefits but that is one of the things we originally joined the company for. I can’t comment about the % they have been offered as I’m not sure of all the details but it’s not all about money. There’s always two sides to every story but I can assure you that most of those invloved and considering strike action will be obsolutely s******g themselves!!!!

This is the most i can find (from www.thetelegraph.co.uk):
Eddington to quit BA ‘for personal reasons’
By Robert Peston and Edward Simpkins (Filed: 08/08/2004)

Rod Eddington, the highly regarded chief executive of British Airways, is planning to quit the perennially troubled airline at the end of next year.

Preparing to fly: Ron Eddington
The board of BA is already considering how to replace him. “Rod’s done a brilliant job in appalling circumstances,” said a director. “Finding a replacement is the task from hell. But he’s made it clear that he wants to go, for personal reasons.”

It’s all change on the BA board, which met on Friday. Anna Mann, the prominent headhunter, has been mandated to find a staggering four new non-executive directors.

They are needed because Lord Marshall recently quit as chairman, Baroness O’Cathain is soon to retire and – as of next year – neither Lord Renwick nor Dr Ashok Ganguly will be deemed independent non-executives under the Higgs corporate governance rules.

Meanwhile, BA will announce tomorrow that it is to hike its fuel surcharge from £2.50 to between £6 and £8 per leg for long-haul flights, as it seeks to reduce the impact of record oil prices on its profitability.

The higher surcharges for long-haul will apply to tickets bought from Wednesday.

Analysts calculate that the current cost of oil, around $40 a barrel, will add £200m to BA’s annual fuel bill if sustained for the rest of the year.

BA announces first quarter results tomorrow. Analysts are expecting profits before tax of £100m for the airline, reversing a loss for the first quarter last year of £45m.

One of my good freinds works for BA handling and he does not earn bad money!! BA also has industry leading company benefits.
Sadly the company suffers,like many, with people who have been there too long and just take, for example BA’s Sickness levels are very high…
Striking will only harm BA, but sadly greedy employees want more and more…
I am proud of our National Airline and Rod has help contribute far more then that idiot Ayling.

I have to say I tend to agree with Bmused55

But that’s one of the reasons how Eddington got the Airline made a profit 😉

erm no.

They are making profit by increasing productivity of their staff, their planes and cutting overheads.

The Workers are striking because their pay isn’t rising the percentage they want.
I think they want 6%, BA can only afford 3.5%

At the end of the day, the workers are shooting themselves in the foot, they’re strike could very well cost BA millions, and who will pay for it? the workforce with further job cuts.

Bemussed

No problem mate.

But that’s one of the reasons how Eddington got the Airline made a profit 😉

Ok, so they cut Concorde,a few B767’s and then trimmed the whole UK regional structure, which save a few quid, but the ground staff are being paid a lot less than other handing agents. That’s why the staff are striking, and if all those who plan to strike, do strike, the profits will dissapear v quickly!
I Have the latest BA news here, which shows me wot will happen

Yes ok, they are going on strike.

But thats not the only way BA made a profit, as you first suggested

Ok, so they cut Concorde,a few B767’s and then trimmed the whole UK regional structure, which save a few quid, but the ground staff are being paid a lot less than other handing agents. That’s why the staff are striking, and if all those who plan to strike, do strike, the profits will dissapear v quickly!
I Have the latest BA news here, which shows me wot will happen

The only way BA have made a profit, is by paying peanuts to ground staff. Thats why their striking! Eddington will have a problem trying to sort them out!

the only way?

how niave are you?

The only way BA have made a profit, is by paying peanuts to ground staff. Thats why their striking! Eddington will have a problem trying to sort them out!

Bemussed

I think you misunderstand, I wasn’t scathing the man, I repeat, I have no view about him either way, he is simply the CEO, end of story as far as I’m concerned.

I think I am in a good position to speak as I work for the company and I have been a part of his changes for several years, changes that I have accepted without challenge as I appreciate it had to happen but being honest, non of the cuts and changes have effected me that much. I’m thankful I still have a job I enjoy. But I do know that British Airways like all corporate companies are in it purley to make money for it’s shareholders, nothing else and that’s been skippy’s job since he joined BA. So you could say he’s done a good job.

Oh, the comments weren’t aimed at you. I apologise if that how it seemed. It was a general comment to all.

In one Respect Rod Eddington was a breath of fresh air after the Bob Ayling Years.
So if the Report is True,who steps up on in to take over the “Worlds Favorite Airline”

Bemussed

I think you misunderstand, I wasn’t scathing the man, I repeat, I have no view about him either way, he is simply the CEO, end of story as far as I’m concerned.

I think I am in a good position to speak as I work for the company and I have been a part of his changes for several years, changes that I have accepted without challenge as I appreciate it had to happen but being honest, non of the cuts and changes have effected me that much. I’m thankful I still have a job I enjoy. But I do know that British Airways like all corporate companies are in it purley to make money for it’s shareholders, nothing else and that’s been skippy’s job since he joined BA. So you could say he’s done a good job.

Opinions aren’t the same as “scathing attacks”, if scathing attacks are called for they tend to best aimed at boards as a whole and not individuals.

As Purser has said large corporations such as BA tend to ride roughshod over the opinions/feelings of it’s staff in search of a better return for it’s shareholders. Moral is worth it’s weight in gold in my opinion but just don’t ask the share watchers how they value it ?

That’s business of course but some businesses seem to be the ones people want to work for and some seem less appealing ?

You could of course apply that to a lot of airlines, large and small.

I supose its not a scathing attack. Wrong phrase to use.

But you are right about the corporate attitude. Sometimes, for survival it is necessary and is not just down to the CEO

Pan Am is still going allbeit new ownership etc!

That’s an entirely new airline, only the name remains.

Bear this in mind before post scathing attacks on the man.

Opinions aren’t the same as “scathing attacks”, if scathing attacks are called for they tend to best aimed at boards as a whole and not individuals.

As Purser has said large corporations such as BA tend to ride roughshod over the opinions/feelings of it’s staff in search of a better return for it’s shareholders. Moral is worth it’s weight in gold in my opinion but just don’t ask the share watchers how they value it ?

That’s business of course but some businesses seem to be the ones people want to work for and some seem less appealing ?

You could of course apply that to a lot of airlines, large and small.

Pan Am is still going allbeit new ownership etc!

From someone who works for BA –

He does appear to have turned the airline around post 9/11 but at what cost. Moral in many departments of the airline is rock bottom, some staff are possibly going on strike soon but then I guess the city is happy which is what counts. At the end of the day it’s all about share holders, nothing to do with employees or even customers. From the shareholders point of view he’s done a good job.

I have no thoughts about him either way, I still enjoy my job and have no interest if he stays or goes.

On the subject of concorde, I was gutted when she left the fleet. She set us apart from other airlines and made us special. Terminal 4 isn’t the same without her and now we are like all the rest. But then we are still the worlds favourite!!!!! However I do understand the economics, she was costing a fortune and the pax loads had dropped so it was only a matter of time.

Interesting, an “insiders” perspective.

I know a lot was sacrificed in order to keep BA going. But thats exactly what has been done. BA is still going, no bankruptcy like a few other, much larger, airlines have gone into.

Rod got BA back into its feet. Bad things had to be done for the greater good. People will hate him for that. But they way I see it, if it was for Eddington, ba would have gone the same way as Sabena, TWA and Pan Am. All once great airlines… now only memories.

Bare this in mind before post scathing attacks on the man.

From someone who works for BA –

He does appear to have turned the airline around post 9/11 but at what cost. Moral in many departments of the airline is rock bottom, some staff are possibly going on strike soon but then I guess the city is happy which is what counts. At the end of the day it’s all about share holders, nothing to do with employees or even customers. From the shareholders point of view he’s done a good job.

I have no thoughts about him either way, I still enjoy my job and have no interest if he stays or goes.

On the subject of concorde, I was gutted when she left the fleet. She set us apart from other airlines and made us special. Terminal 4 isn’t the same without her and now we are like all the rest. But then we are still the worlds favourite!!!!! However I do understand the economics, she was costing a fortune and the pax loads had dropped so it was only a matter of time.