Tuesday deadline for BA / Unite deal
24.06.10
BA cabin crew will be balloted on fresh strike action if there is no progress on a solution to the long running and bitter dispute by next Tuesday, the Unite union has announced. The airline's cabin crew has staged 22 days of strikes so far this year in a dispute originally over pay, staffing and working conditions, but which now also includes the use of non-cabin crew on flights, the withdrawal of travel concessions and disciplinary action against a number of striking workers.
Unite said that it was giving BA until June 29 to ‘demonstrate that it is willing to negotiate a solution to the fresh issues between the parties - or will ballot its members for strike action’. Recent talks via ACAS have failed to break the deadlock. BA said Unite had demonstrated a ‘selfish lack of concern for customers and their own colleagues', whilst the union said new issues under dispute were: BA's use of other employees to cover as cabin crew; the removal of travel benefits from the over 5,000 cabin crew who went on strike; and ‘vindictive, disproportionate and unnecessary disciplinary action’ taken by BA against around sixty of its crew members, some of whom have already been dismissed by the airline.
BA chief executive Willie Walsh has stood firm against the action and vowed to increase flights - operating 100% of long haul services and a 'substantial portion' of short haul flights - should cabin crew strike again. If a ballot goes ahead, it will open on Tuesday and close on July 27, with strikes during the 12 weeks from August 3 to October 25.
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