BA unions locked in talks over possible strike action

Mar 11, 2010, 15:28 GMT

London - Britain's Unite trade union was locked in talks Thursday about possible strike action by British Airways (BA) cabin staff after cost-cutting negotiations with the airline collapsed.

The union, which said negotiations aimed at averting a strike ended without an agreement late Wednesday, is considering its next move after an overwhelming majority of its 13,000 members voted for strike in a ballot at the end of last month.

BA has not commented on the end of the talks, which were held under the auspices of the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

'Despite a prolonged period of negotiations it has not been possible to reach agreement between BA and Unite,' TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said.

Unite has until Monday to announce strike dates. But it has ruled out disruptions over the busy Easter holiday weekend.

The union said BA management rejected a last-minute proposal of a pay cut of 2.6 per cent for cabin crew this year, to be followed by a two-year pay freeze as well as arrangements for part-time work.

The measures would have saved BA 63 million pounds (94 million dollars), said Unite, a calculation rejected by BA.

The latest confrontation began last year when BA unilaterally reduced the number of cabin staff on long-haul flights in a cost- saving measure, a move it has decline to reverse.

However, BA chief executive Willie Walsh, who has said the airline is in a 'fight for survival,' has vowed that the airline would not be grounded if strikes were called.

BA maintains it has 1,000 volunteer staff ready to work as cabin crew in the next few weeks. It would also hire 23 fully-crewed planes from charter companies to help fill the gaps, Walsh has said.

BA made record losses of 410 million pounds in 2008, and has predicted that figures for 2009 were not likely to be much better.