Union to ballot 14,000 BA crew members
Union to ballot 14,000 BA cabin crew members following job cuts and pay freeze
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Monday, 26, Oct 2009 03:30
By Sarah Garrod
The union Unite has said it will ballot 14,000 British Airways (BA) cabin crew over strike action.
The airline's cost-cutting measures announced earlier this month sparked anger from staff, with 1,700 jobs being cut and current staff having their pay frozen.
Today Unite said BA's imposition of contracts had left them with "no alternative" but to ballot 14,000 cabin crew, despite hopes that unions and management talks could prevent industrial action.
Derek Simpson, joint general secretary of Unite, said: "Unite is going to ballot our British Airways cabin crew members on industrial action.
"BA management's determination to impose unacceptable contractual changes on cabin crew leaves us no alternative.
"We will strongly support our members if they vote for industrial action, while of course remaining ready to negotiate with the company. Negotiation, not imposition, is the only proper way to conduct industrial relations."
BA has been hit hard by the downturn tourism has taken since the global economic crisis.
Earlier this month they issued a statement which said: "Without changes, we will continue to lose more money with every month that passes.
"It is essential we make ourselves more efficient if we are to ensure our long-term survival."