More travel disruption as BA strikes loom
Sunday, 21 Jan 2007 19:26
British Airways cabin crew will strike later this month
British Airways (BA) cabin crew are to strike for three days later this month after the talks with the Transport and General Workers' Union (T&G) collapsed.
Thousands of striking BA cabin crew on January 29th, 30th and 31st will mean more delays for passengers just one month after heavy fog caused severe disruption in the run-up to Christmas.
Cabin crew staff had approved strike action on January 15th and, now six days of talks with BA management have fallen through, the industrial action is set to take place.
"British Airways management have completely failed to engage with the union on our compromise proposals and appear unwilling to listen to this loyal, professional and hard-working group of employees," T&G deputy general secretary Jack Dromey said.
"Indeed management had preferred to provoke. Our members are fed up with being bullied into coming to work when sick and with the divisions caused by poverty levels of new entrant pay scales. They see customer care being cut and the airline's reputation damaged by bungling management."
But BA blamed the T&G for the impasse, saying that it was "extremely disappointed" by the union's "direct threat to the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of our customers".
"Despite its public rhetoric, the union in private remains resolute in its refusal to talk with us about any degree of change for our cabin crew," a statement from the airline said.
"We place immense value on the contribution of our cabin crew, which is why we provide them with terms and conditions that are among the very best in the industry."