Morning:
10°c
Travel threat to Christmas as BA cabin crew prepare to strike
Dick Murray, Transport Correspondent26 Oct 2009
Thouands of British Airways cabin crew members are poised to strike before Christmas, causing major travel chaos.
BA's biggest union, Unite, is to ballot 14,000 staff with the recommendation that they vote for a walkout.
The first could take place as early as next month and continue into the weeks before Christmas — the busiest time of year.
Unite's joint general secretary Derek Simpson said: “Management's decision to impose unacceptable contractual changes on crew leaves us no alternative. We will strongly support our members if they vote for industrial action.”
BA says it must make changes to survive in a competitive market. It is cutting 3,700 jobs, changing conditions and cutting pay rates for new entrants.
A clash with the union appeared inevitable as BA insisted the changes would “go ahead” from 16 November.
There was no date for the start of the ballot, which would take about three weeks. By law the union must give seven days notice of any strike. A BA spokesman said: “We are extremely disappointed that Unite has decided to ballot for industrial action.
“There will be no change to the individual terms and conditions of our current crew. They will not take a pay cut.
“In fact some 75 per cent of crew will receive a pay scale increase worth between two and seven per cent this year and again next year.
“Last week we agreed to listen to any alternative proposals by Unite.” Those talks ended without agreement.
BA's chief executive Willie Walsh said changes must be made, adding: “This isn't a temporary problem and it won't disappear if we just keep talking.”
In addition to the cuts in cabin crew, jobs will go in other front-line areas. Unite claims BA is intending to axe 10 per cent of its workforce.
BA's management is understood to be working on contingency plans, but if cabin crew do strike the airline will almost certainly be forced to cancel flights during December.
Reader views (4)
To strike in the eye of the economic storm we are suffering proves that Turkeys really do vote for Christmas. Apart from the futility of seeking to protect conditions in a Ryanair world the falling demand and massive over capacity of flights means there are alternatives which once embrassed will rarely be given up. Poor old BA - if only they were not so narrow minded and had supported a new airport in the 70's they would not have anything like the roara of protest aimed at them which will never seea new runway at Heathrow. Its like they are a classic case of management strategy purely o the 12 month budget with no strategi plan - if they had they would never have made Heathrow the their Hub - I suspect we will see the decline of BA or at least a new AMIB Air (American Iberia and Air from British Airways).
- Christian Ball, London, UK, 27/10/2009 06:59
Report abuse
Are they going to accuse the other carriers of 'scab labour' for picking up the slack with the customers they leave in the lurch?
- Rogan, Irving, 26/10/2009 21:23
Report abuse
More stupid Luddites.
- Roger, Winchester, England, 26/10/2009 18:16
Report abuse
like the postal workers, they may well have very valid reasons for disallusionment, protest and disquiet, but going on strike will achieve little, but an acceleration in the demise of their employer and ultimately their jobs.the times are changing, so are working conditions and practices and the management of both royal mail and b.a are quite possibly inept and unable to manage the changes effectively.
- M.O'Brien, london.uk, 26/10/2009 13:33
Report abuse
