Exposed: Richard Branson the cuddly union-buster

Ah, Richard Branson. We know he’s cuddly and radical because he does not wear a tie. However, he’s just completed a deal on Northern Rock that will enable asset-stripping worth £600 million.

Richard-Branson Oh, and he’s trying to bust a union drive among American workers at Virgin’s airline business.

The US based Transport Workers Union have collected a petition for a union to be recognised at Virgin in America, that carries the signatures of a majority of the American workforce.

The petition triggered a ballot, which closes today. Given that a majority of the workforces have asked for this ballot to go ahead, you would think it would be time for Branson to sit down with the union and work out how management and labour can have a constructive partnership.

Instead, he’s filming scare videos like this for staff to watch:

Virgin appears to need a union. One flight attendant, New Yorker Ramon Wood said:

“We’re very proud that Virgin America wins high marks from travelers, based on the service we provide.

“We believe we can make service better for passengers and elevate working conditions for in-flight team members by having a voice in our dealings with the company. Right now we’re seldom heard and our concerns are not addressed. This is why we turned to TWU.”

Meanwhile, the TWU already organise at Virgin rivals SouthWest Airlines – which has made a profit for the last 38 years - and Allegiant Airlines. You would think the new age businessman Branson would want to opt for co-operation over confrontation. But it turns out he prefers fear over partnership.

See also:

• Raab’s attacks on workers’ rights are – surprise – based on no evidence – Sarah Veale, November 16th 2011

• Priti Patel’s attacks on trade unions are all about ideology – Carl Roper, October 12th 2011

• The Daily Mail’s poisonous lies must be fought by all trade unionists – Rick Coyle, September 23rd 2011

• Mail masks Thatcher’s true legacy: Unions busted, hours extended, productivity held back – Daniel Elton, May 5th 2011

• The BA cabin crew dispute: The view from the shop floor – Anonymous, January 10th 2011

http://twitter.com/laughingnoam/status/149086935766413312 Just Say Noam

VIDEO: @RichardBranson the cuddly union-buster: http://t.co/dCv5cniF by @DanielElton #TWU
http://twitter.com/maxblunt/status/149087261579943936 Max Blunt

VIDEO: @RichardBranson the cuddly union-buster: http://t.co/dCv5cniF by @DanielElton #TWU
http://twitter.com/julianhburchill/status/149087484502999040 Chris Marshall

VIDEO: @RichardBranson the cuddly union-buster: http://t.co/dCv5cniF by @DanielElton #TWU
http://twitter.com/danielelton/status/149088265318834176 Daniel Elton

@TonyBurke2010 @unitetheunion Watch Richard Branson try to bust union-organising at Virgin's US airline on @leftfootfwd http://t.co/LGg8TetI
http://twitter.com/danielelton/status/149088416938737664 Daniel Elton

@mediocredave @aaronjohnpeters Watch Richard Branson try 2 bust union-organising at Virgin's US airline on @leftfootfwd http://t.co/LGg8TetI
http://twitter.com/danielelton/status/149088523063005185 Daniel Elton

@markthomasinfo Watch Richard Branson try 2 bust union-organising at Virgin's US airline on @leftfootfwd http://t.co/LGg8TetI
http://twitter.com/danielelton/status/149088708941975552 Daniel Elton

@billybragg @SamTarry Watch Richard Branson try 2 bust union-organising at Virgin's US airline on @leftfootfwd http://t.co/LGg8TetI
http://twitter.com/danielelton/status/149088768639516673 Daniel Elton

@GMB_union @GMBPressOffice Watch Richard Branson try 2 bust union-organising at Virgin's US airline on @leftfootfwd http://t.co/LGg8TetI
http://twitter.com/danielelton/status/149089022663327744 Daniel Elton

@CateySmith @OwenJones84 Watch Richard Branson try 2 bust union-organising at Virgin's US airline on @leftfootfwd http://t.co/LGg8TetI
http://twitter.com/danielelton/status/149089267249979392 Daniel Elton

@the_dbh @PennyRed @joshfg Watch Richard Branson try 2 bust union-organising at Virgin's US airline on @leftfootfwd http://t.co/LGg8TetI
Chriskitcher

Yet when I asked for the advice given to George Osbourne by his advisers, you know the one which said that this was a very good deal and the best on offer, he would not provide it even under the FoI legislation
Ruonglue

how does this equate with http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhqKDLufUlA
http://tonyscott.org.uk/ Tony Scott

Looks like you’ve got a missing plugin for the video…
http://twitter.com/gmbx54/status/149142297123098624 GMB LHR Branch X54

Why is "Mr Nice Guy" @richardbranson So scared of Trade Unions? http://t.co/L6sqWAT7 #Solidarity #fb
Pedropat

Oh yeah, union buster…are you kidding? This is the same union that tried to put the company out of business when it objected to the government about getting certified to fly. What a joke.
http://twitter.com/rkerson/status/149163089391136769 Roger Kerson

RT @leftfootfwd: Exposed: Richard Branson the cuddly union-buster http://t.co/AmvL5Jo8
http://twitter.com/gmb_union/status/149163668754538496 GMB Union

@danielelton: @GMB_union @GMBPressOffice Watch Richard Branson union-busting at Virgin's US airline on @leftfootfwd http://t.co/KW3xSgsj"
http://twitter.com/creativecrip/status/149175933704736769 TheCreativeCrip

@billybragg @SamTarry Watch Richard Branson try 2 bust union-organising at Virgin's US airline on @leftfootfwd http://t.co/LGg8TetI
http://twitter.com/pinkichiban/status/149177271826137088 Emma

@billybragg @SamTarry Watch Richard Branson try 2 bust union-organising at Virgin's US airline on @leftfootfwd http://t.co/LGg8TetI
http://twitter.com/maxblunt/status/149177351727624192 Max Blunt

@Propensity I don't trust that guy. http://t.co/kDizxg4Y
http://twitter.com/johannabaxter/status/149198630773985280 Johanna Baxter

RT @leftfootfwd: Exposed: Richard Branson the cuddly union-buster http://t.co/QOfeMtDs
http://twitter.com/savetheehrc/status/149199370343030784 Save the EHRC

RT @leftfootfwd: Exposed: Richard Branson the cuddly union-buster http://t.co/QOfeMtDs
http://twitter.com/labour52rose/status/149202472433483778 Alex Braithwaite

RT @leftfootfwd: Exposed: Richard Branson the cuddly union-buster http://t.co/rxkyjkre
http://twitter.com/salardeen/status/149204941959991296 salardeen

RT @leftfootfwd: Exposed: Richard Branson the cuddly union-buster http://t.co/QOfeMtDs
guest

Amazing how everything unions do is for workers’ rights (even though they support blatantly and purposely anti-worker legislation, while refusing to support pro-worker laws like Right to Work laws). BTW — the union vote failed. 59.2% NO to 40.8% yes. Seems like the flight attendants at Virgin America know that a union isn’t in their best interests. Congratulations Virgin America FAs for seeing through the lies and propaganda of TWU!
http://twitter.com/europabridge1/status/149555293762756609 E. Durham

RT @leftfootfwd: Exposed: Richard Branson the cuddly union-buster http://t.co/CQohgdKo Independent Spirit thrives best w/out unions says Sir
http://twitter.com/dianelawrence1/status/149589322406965248 Diane Lawrence

RT @leftfootfwd: Exposed: Richard Branson the cuddly union-buster http://t.co/ri5ioHhn
http://twitter.com/europabridge1/status/149619884773482497 E. Durham

@nigelcameron Yes, encore for me too. Re: Your Virgin worries? Link: Exposed: Richard Branson the cuddly union-buster http://t.co/CQohgdKo
http://twitter.com/grahamemorris/status/149620457853816832 Grahame Morris

RT @leftfootfwd: Richard Branson the not so cuddly union-buster http://t.co/FFWAtMoe
#northernrock staff beware
http://twitter.com/saggydaddy/status/149620913053245440 Saggydaddy

RT @leftfootfwd: Richard Branson the not so cuddly union-buster http://t.co/FFWAtMoe
#northernrock staff beware
http://twitter.com/lemonknickers/status/149621272706416642 Zara Lockwood

RT @leftfootfwd: Richard Branson the not so cuddly union-buster http://t.co/FFWAtMoe
#northernrock staff beware
http://twitter.com/samsoprano30/status/149621513035857921 Sam hussain

RT @leftfootfwd: Richard Branson the not so cuddly union-buster http://t.co/FFWAtMoe
#northernrock staff beware
http://twitter.com/tonydowling/status/149624075608784896 Tony Dowling

RT @leftfootfwd: Richard Branson the not so cuddly union-buster http://t.co/FFWAtMoe
#northernrock staff beware
http://twitter.com/oliverhopkins/status/149630863083188225 Oliver Hopkins

RT @leftfootfwd: Richard Branson the not so cuddly union-buster http://t.co/FFWAtMoe
#northernrock staff beware
http://twitter.com/grayee/status/149652796281602048 John Gray

RT @leftfootfwd: Exposed: Richard Branson the cuddly union-buster http://t.co/tSXc7oAg
http://twitter.com/martysm/status/149859735242412032 Martin Mulchrone

RT @leftfootfwd: Richard Branson the not so cuddly union-buster http://t.co/FFWAtMoe
#northernrock staff beware
http://twitter.com/iamalrightjack/status/149861394773311488 I’malrightJack

Exposed! Richard Branson the cuddly union-buster! http://t.co/PDbNvYiQ #Osborne #vincecable #gove #lansley #guardian #Frothers mumsnet RT
http://twitter.com/paulrooke10/status/149861571026366464 Paul Rooke

RT @leftfootfwd: Richard Branson the not so cuddly union-buster http://t.co/FFWAtMoe
#northernrock staff beware
http://twitter.com/wildey2/status/149861687183425537 Wildey

Exposed! Richard Branson the cuddly union-buster! http://t.co/PDbNvYiQ #Osborne #vincecable #gove #lansley #guardian #Frothers mumsnet RT
http://twitter.com/iamalrightjack/status/149862014842449921 I’malrightJack

Exposed! Richard Branson the cuddly union-buster! http://t.co/PDbNvYiQ #ukpoverty #ukhousing #ukcare #elderly #parents Everyone RT!
http://twitter.com/nhsspy/status/149876914901880832 Watching You

Exposed! Richard Branson the cuddly union-buster! http://t.co/PDbNvYiQ #ukpoverty #ukhousing #ukcare #elderly #parents Everyone RT!
http://twitter.com/pennytindall/status/149905871630123009 Penelope Tindall

RT @leftfootfwd: Richard Branson the not so cuddly union-buster http://t.co/FFWAtMoe
#northernrock staff beware
http://twitter.com/creativecrip/status/149968288233955329 TheCreativeCrip

VIDEO: @RichardBranson the cuddly union-buster: http://t.co/dCv5cniF by @DanielElton #TWU
http://twitter.com/hlcheathrow/status/150083328920399873 Jon Purdom/Paco Saez

"Exposed: Richard Branson the cuddly union-buster" A report on Virgin's opposition to TWU union recognition in the US. http://t.co/REoEnJ6l
http://twitter.com/hlcheathrow/status/150085493198032896 Jon Purdom/Paco Saez

RT @leftfootfwd: Exposed: Richard Branson the cuddly union-buster http://t.co/QOfeMtDs
http://grayee.blogspot.com/ grayee

I’ve now totally had it with Virgin and Branson – any chance you can post on youtube or share embed info for video?
Tyrone Shoelaces

Does anyone really think that Branson has ever been interested in anything other than making huge amounts of money for himself? He’s a twat, pure and simple.
http://twitter.com/brian40mk/status/151095600346169344 Brian Barton

RT @leftfootfwd: Exposed: Richard Branson the cuddly union-buster http://t.co/SNe6RCBG
http://twitter.com/racyboldhare/status/153640410961555456 Rachel

@kmflett http://t.co/TKM1O4JC With attachment this time!
http://twitter.com/uksajidmo/status/155068533427023872 mohammed sajid

RT @leftfootfwd: Exposed: Richard Branson the cuddly union-buster http://t.co/NqOxz58a