Twenty years ago on a two hour flight from London to Palma cabin crew would have to do a safety demonstration, serve a full meal followed by drinks and then sell duty-free (at a time when people actually bought duty-free on planes).
Now, the safety demo is often on video and the in-flight service on short-haul flights is very minimal. So it’s not really a huge surprise that British Airways are considering the use of strike-breaking cabin crew should BA staff vote in favour of strike action.
I’m not particularly knocking cabin crew, but the role has changed a lot in recent years and with that change has come a change in the attitude of cabin crew. As the primary function of the role has shifted from service to control and stewardship, so has the behaviour of cabin crew.
In my last post, I wrote about the plight of Mirko Fischer who had a BA Steward raise his voice at him when he objected to being asked to move seat. I’m probably not the only person who flies regularly who has seen this happen. If there is a dispute or dissatisfaction voiced it appears to be common practice now for cabin crew to raise their voice and generally make a scene. I don’t know why they do this; is it just to assert their authority or to imply that anyone who causes a problem is a threat to security?
I have also witnessed a very patronising tone be employed towards passengers. On a recent EasyJet flight a couple who were late boarding were greeted on board by EasyJet staff like a couple of errant five year-olds. As air travel has become cheaper and more accessible to everyone the politeness and respect of cabin crew seems to be disappearing.
So what does the union have to say about strike-breakers being used?
“Well-managed airlines embrace their cabin crew as a key element in their marketing and commercial success. Trying to grind skilled and professional employees and their organisation into the dirt is a short hop to catastrophe for BA”
Suddenly they care about the fate of BA.
photo by Giorgio Montersino
