News

BA strike to take place next week

A strike by British Airways cabin crew, which was suspended over Christmas, is to take place for two days next week.

The 48-hour walkout by members of the so-called mixed fleet crew represented by the Unite union is due to be staged on January 10 and 11.

The action comes after members rejected a revised pay offer from the airline by 7-1.

BA is to publish contingency plans for dealing with the strike on Friday and said it planned to ensure all passengers reached their destinations.

The dispute affects mixed fleet workers who joined BA after 2010 and account for about 15% of the carrier’s total crew – one of five cabin crew fleets.

The estimated 2,700 staff due to strike on Christmas Day and Boxing Day suspended their industrial action to allow for talks at the conciliation service Acas.

But Unite national officer Oliver Richardson said: “British Airways is needlessly provoking strike action by refusing to extend the mandate of the strike ballot and allow meaningful talks to take place.

“Instead of listening to why its ‘mixed fleet’ cabin crew rejected the offer negotiated at Acas, British Airways has sought instead to try and bully a workforce of young men and women who are trying to eke out a living on poverty pay.

“Such game playing and a desire to seek confrontation is not only a great disservice to passengers, but shows an unwillingness by British Airways to engage in constructive industrial relations.

“Unite remains hopeful that a negotiated settlement which meets our members’ aspirations can be achieved and would urge British Airways to engage constructively in meaningful talks to address poverty pay.”

BA said: “We are extremely disappointed that Unite has once again chosen to target our customers.

“We are looking to ensure that all of our customers, with bookings on those two days, will travel to their destinations. We will publish more details about our contingency plans on Friday 6 January.

“British Airways remains focused on resolving this issue as quickly as possible.”

A spokesman said: “Mixed fleet Unite represents only 15% of our cabin crew.

“Our proposal for our mixed fleet cabin crew reflects pay awards given by other companies in the UK and will ensure their reward levels remain in line with cabin crew at our airline competitors.

“It is also consistent with pay deals agreed with Unite for other British Airways colleagues.”

Share article

View Comments

Jacobs Media is honoured to be the recipient of the 2020 Queen's Award for Enterprise.

The highest official awards for UK businesses since being established by royal warrant in 1965. Read more.