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Travel chaos as BA staff walk out
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British Airways cabin crew are staging their first strike in 13 years, causing disruption for thousands of passengers, with further action planned in the coming weeks.
Unite said early indications were that its 12,000 members were solidly supporting the three-day walkout, called in a bitter dispute over cost cutting.
Picket lines were mounted at airports including Heathrow, which will be the worst affected by the strike.
Unite said that no buses which normally transport crew to work had crossed picket lines. The union also claimed that two of the planes chartered by BA as part of the airline's contingency plans were delayed by technical problems and that more than 100 complaints had been made by passengers about catering. BA made no immediate comment on the claims.
Just under two-thirds of Heathrow's long-haul services are expected to fly this weekend and less than a third of short-haul flights.
BA is planning to operate all long-haul flights to and from Gatwick plus around half of short-haul flights, while all flights to and from London City Airport are expected to fly as scheduled.
BA said it was confident of handling as many as 49,000 passengers on Saturday and the same number on Sunday, which compares with a figure of around 75,000 for a normal weekend day in March.
The strike went ahead following the collapse of talks, which ended with Unite and BA blaming each other.
Unite's joint leader Tony Woodley accused BA of wanting a "war" with the union and complained that BA chief executive Willie Walsh had tabled a worse offer than one withdrawn last week.
Mr Woodley said that he had been set "mission impossible" because of the new offer, which included a four-year pay deal the union maintained would at best freeze wages until 2014.
Reader views (6)
Considering the average pay of BA crews is vastly superior to that of other airlines, I would firstly sack the lot. I would then recruit personnel from other airlines, offering better terms than they receive at present, but substantially less than the current BA crew salary level.How can one depend on loyalty from overpaid and arrogant staff?
- Jaime, Madrid, Spain, 20/03/2010 14:28
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How the rest of the airlines must be laughing all the way to the bank. Talk about shooting them selves in the foot B A cabin staff must be one slice short of a sandwhich. The country is going down the tube, We are desperate for business of any kind and this small group at B A are stabbing us in the back. Our souldiers are being killed every day for our home land. Think about it strikers. How it feels to help save your country and not putting the boot in.Walk Tall not small.
- Michael Deasy, newhaven UK, 20/03/2010 12:35
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Lets hope Gordon sacks his Unite prospective MPS. Surely the Deputy Prime Minister can use her influence with her husband to stop the strike, killing BA
- Alan,, England., 20/03/2010 11:08
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I stopped flying with BA about 5 years ago because the cabin crew are so incredibly rude and unhelpful. When BA go under I will be suprised if they get remployed by any other company as they really are sub standard. the arrogance that they are showing by striking is nothing less than I would expect of them.
- Janine, London, 20/03/2010 10:57
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Shame on you BA Staff - A Pay Freeze for 3 years whilst a recession is on is not a bad deal compared to bringing down one of Britians Last Big Companies. I hope you all lose your jobs so BA can employ people who WANT to work for a living.
- Enoch, Croydon, 20/03/2010 10:21
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If i do not fly out of Heathrow on my long-haul flight this evening from Heathrow, Unite can be assured I will NEVER fly with BA again. I hope other passengers do the same.These Dolly trolly pushers can go find work else where if they are not happy. Lets see who else will employ them.Stop whinging and get on and do what you are paid to do, everyone is sick of the lot of you. You are very well paid to do what you do,in other words serve meals and be rude to the paying passenger! Be warned the paying public will walk away from BA then you will have no Job.I can see that BA will belong to the history books within 12 months if this needless strike continues
- Mick, London, 20/03/2010 10:00
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