BA crew stage second walkout
Source: Agencies |
March 28, 2010, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
BRITISH Airways cabin crew began a four-day strike yesterday, the second walkout this month that will cost the company millions of pounds and lead to more travel chaos before the Easter holidays.
BA said its contingency plans would mean that 75 percent of its customers would be able to fly despite the action.
The Unite Union said the increasingly bitter dispute was damaging the airline's finances and reputation.
The action over pay and jobs is also embarrassing Prime Minister Gordon Brown as Unite is his Labour Party's largest financial backer and an election only weeks away.
Ministers yesterday called for a resumption of talks to bring an end to the strike over pay and staff cuts.
"We have been very clear that we don't think the strike is justified and we've urged both sets of parties to get around the negotiating table and efforts will continue to make that happen," said Ed Miliband, energy and climate change secretary.
The dispute began because BA wants to save an annual 62.5 million pounds (US$92.76 million) to cope with falling demand, volatile fuel prices and greater competition.
Last weekend's three-day stoppage, which the airline said cost it about 7 million pounds a day, led to claim and counter-claim from BA and Unite.
BA said it had been able to operate much of its usual schedule and that almost 60 percent of its 12,000 cabin staff had turned up to work.
This time it plans to run a normal schedule from London's Gatwick and City airports and 70 percent of long-haul flights from London Heathrow, flying more than 180,000 of the 240,000 passengers originally booked.
Another 18 percent have been re-booked to other carriers or change flight days.
"I am delighted that we will be able to fly such a large proportion of our customers to their chosen destinations in the coming days," said BA's Chief Executive Willie Walsh.
BA said its contingency plans would mean that 75 percent of its customers would be able to fly despite the action.
The Unite Union said the increasingly bitter dispute was damaging the airline's finances and reputation.
The action over pay and jobs is also embarrassing Prime Minister Gordon Brown as Unite is his Labour Party's largest financial backer and an election only weeks away.
Ministers yesterday called for a resumption of talks to bring an end to the strike over pay and staff cuts.
"We have been very clear that we don't think the strike is justified and we've urged both sets of parties to get around the negotiating table and efforts will continue to make that happen," said Ed Miliband, energy and climate change secretary.
The dispute began because BA wants to save an annual 62.5 million pounds (US$92.76 million) to cope with falling demand, volatile fuel prices and greater competition.
Last weekend's three-day stoppage, which the airline said cost it about 7 million pounds a day, led to claim and counter-claim from BA and Unite.
BA said it had been able to operate much of its usual schedule and that almost 60 percent of its 12,000 cabin staff had turned up to work.
This time it plans to run a normal schedule from London's Gatwick and City airports and 70 percent of long-haul flights from London Heathrow, flying more than 180,000 of the 240,000 passengers originally booked.
Another 18 percent have been re-booked to other carriers or change flight days.
"I am delighted that we will be able to fly such a large proportion of our customers to their chosen destinations in the coming days," said BA's Chief Executive Willie Walsh.
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