Crew start strike ballot as BA calls for volunteer staff - News - Evening Standard
       

Crew start strike ballot as BA calls for volunteer staff

Thousands of British Airways cabin crew begin voting today on whether to take strike action, in a move threatening disruption for hundreds of thousands of travellers.

The result will be announced on
22 February. The first walkouts could begin in March.

The Unite union accused the airline of intimidating crew to replace them with "vastly inexperienced" volunteers.

Passengers "could be put at risk if strike-breaking crew do not have experience to respond to emergencies".

BA is cutting crew numbers and employing crew on contracts which the union says involve worse pay and conditions. BA said a strike could cost it millions and force "much bigger" cuts. In a letter to staff, chief executive Willie Walsh wrote: "I'm asking for volunteers to back BA by training to work alongside cabin crew."

Comments

Don't Miss
Rock star: Erin Wasson

Rock star

Erin Wasson is the ultimate anti-supermodel
Maybe it’s because she’s a Londoner … Happy anniversary, Ma’am

Happy anniversary

The monarchy has become stronger and more respected in the past 60 years
Victoria Coren: My obsession with children, five proposals a week and why David and I are no power couple

Victoria Coren

David Mitchell and I are no power couple
The Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition preview party

Summer party

Stars at the The Royal Academy of Arts
London gets ready for the Diamond Jubilee - in pictures

Diamond Jubilee

London gets ready - in pictures
The Glamour Awards - stars turn on the style

Glamour Awards

Stars turn on the style
Duchess of Cambridge is pretty in pink at her first Buckingham Palace garden party

Garden party

Duchess of Cambridge is pretty in pink
FIRST review of Ridley Scott's latest sci-fi blockbuster Prometheus

First review

Is Ridley Scott's Prometheus any good?
Fair-weather goths

Fair-weather goths

The sultry shades of summer darks are coming out of the shadows
Dog save the Queen: Corgis surge in popularity

Dog save the Queen

Corgis surge in popularity