BA staff vent anger as Christmas strike looks more likely

Published on Monday 2 November 2009 16:27

BRITISH Airways cabin crew vented their anger today over the company's plans to cut jobs, pay and conditions as the threat of a strike just days before Christmas came a step closer.

More than 2,500 members of Unite travelled from across the world, some still in uniform, to attend a mass meeting which backed calls for industrial action.

Workers spoke of their "anger and frustration" at the planned imposition of new employment contracts from November 16 on top of thousands of job cuts and a pay freeze.

Unite will launch a ballot of more than 13,000 workers next week, with the result due on December 14, raising the threat of a strike from December 21 – the start of the busy Christmas period.

One cabin crew worker, who has been at BA for 20 years, said: "We are all very proud of the jobs we do, providing a great service to customers. But this is now a battle for the heart and soul of BA's cabin crew."

The cabin crew workers who spoke were unwilling to give their names saying they faced possible disciplinary action if they spoke to the media.

Len McCluskey, assistant general secretary of Unite, said after the meeting that workers were feeling "resolute" and were determined to resist the imposition of the new employment contracts.

BA said in a statement: "We are extremely disappointed that Unite has decided to ballot for industrial action.

"We have put together a package of changes, which despite the unprecedented financial circumstances facing the company, not only protects current cabin crew but also offers many new benefits.

"We have made it clear that there will be no change to the individual terms and conditions of our current crew. They will not take a pay cut. In fact some 75% of crew will receive a pay scale increase worth between two and seven per cent this year and again next year."

The dispute moves to the High Court on Thursday when Unite take legal action against imposition of the new contracts.