BA cabin crew dispute may at last be resolved after breakthrough in talks

Published on Wednesday 11 May 2011 21:31

The bitter British Airways cabin crew dispute was last night on the verge of being resolved, following a breakthrough in crucial talks.

Members of the Unite union were to meet near Heathrow Airport today to hear details of a deal and decide whether it should go out to a ballot to end the long-running row.

It is understood that progress has been made on the two main sticking points, involving the removal of travel concessions for workers who went on strike last year, and disciplinary action against dozens of Unite members.

The proposed deal will also cover the issue of time off for union reps, as well as the ability of Unite to represent staff working on BA's so-called new fleet.

Pay is expected to be covered by the proposed agreement, which will be explained to today's mass meeting by Unite's general secretary Len McCluskey.

Any ballot will start within the next few weeks, with the result likely in July, ending any fears of further disruption to BA flights this summer.

It is understood that union officials will recommend the deal to cabin crew, who will then have to decide whether they want a ballot or if it should be rejected, which would raise the prospect of further industrial action.

Hopes were high last night that the dispute, the longest and most bitter in the transport industry for years, was close to being resolved, although neither Unite nor BA would make any comment ahead of the meeting.

The dispute started more than 18 months ago over cost-cutting, but developed into a row over travel concessions taken away from union members who went on strike.