British Airways faces wave of strikes as talks hit stalemate
By Matt Falloon |
June 1, 2010, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
BRITISH Airways could face even more strike disruption this summer unless it resolved a dispute with cabin crews over travel perks, the co-leader of the country's biggest union, Unite, said yesterday.
Cabin crews began a second five-day strike on Sunday, ahead of a week of school holidays, after talks between Unite and the airline failed.
Both sides have claimed a deal over pay and cuts to staffing levels and travel could be close but blame each other for the lack of further progress.
Unite has offered to suspend the walkouts if the airline restores travel perks stripped from cabin crews.
A third wave of strikes, which stem from a long-running dispute over the airline's cost-cutting drive, are due on Saturday, days before the start of the World Cup soccer tournament in South Africa.
Tony Woodley, the joint general secretary of Unite, told delegates at a union conference yesterday that a new ballot for continued industrial action could be only a week or so away.
"There is only one thing to do with bullies - stand up to them until they learn some manners," Woodley said.
He addressed BA Chief Executive Willie Walsh directly in his speech.
"We all know there is a deal to be done at British Airways, one that recognizes the real commercial needs and problems of your company as well as our members' legitimate interests," he said. "Unite is ready to do that deal.
"But we are not, and never will be, prepared to see our members and our union humiliated, victimized and reduced to ruins."
The stoppages have happened at a difficult time for the airline and come on top of seven days of walkouts in March which cost BA 43 million pounds (US$62.75 million).
Last month BA reported a second straight year of record losses as it battles a global economic downturn as well as disruption caused by volcanic ash drifting over Europe.
Cabin crews began a second five-day strike on Sunday, ahead of a week of school holidays, after talks between Unite and the airline failed.
Both sides have claimed a deal over pay and cuts to staffing levels and travel could be close but blame each other for the lack of further progress.
Unite has offered to suspend the walkouts if the airline restores travel perks stripped from cabin crews.
A third wave of strikes, which stem from a long-running dispute over the airline's cost-cutting drive, are due on Saturday, days before the start of the World Cup soccer tournament in South Africa.
Tony Woodley, the joint general secretary of Unite, told delegates at a union conference yesterday that a new ballot for continued industrial action could be only a week or so away.
"There is only one thing to do with bullies - stand up to them until they learn some manners," Woodley said.
He addressed BA Chief Executive Willie Walsh directly in his speech.
"We all know there is a deal to be done at British Airways, one that recognizes the real commercial needs and problems of your company as well as our members' legitimate interests," he said. "Unite is ready to do that deal.
"But we are not, and never will be, prepared to see our members and our union humiliated, victimized and reduced to ruins."
The stoppages have happened at a difficult time for the airline and come on top of seven days of walkouts in March which cost BA 43 million pounds (US$62.75 million).
Last month BA reported a second straight year of record losses as it battles a global economic downturn as well as disruption caused by volcanic ash drifting over Europe.
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