Strikes by BA cabin crew loom as talks end without agreement

Published on Wednesday 10 March 2010 21:59

TALKS aimed at averting strikes by British Airways cabin crew ended without agreement last night, dashing hopes of a breakthrough in a long-running row over pay, jobs and working conditions.

The breakdown of talks between officials from Unite and the airline raises the prospect of crippling walkouts by thousands of employees.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber, who had been chairing the talks, said: "Despite a prolonged period of negotiations it has not been possible to reach agreement between BA and Unite. Both parties will be reflecting on the position and the TUC will be keeping in touch but at this stage no further negotiations are planned."

The union will now have to decide whether to call strikes following two massive votes in favour of industrial action by more than 12,000 of its members working at the airline.

The two sides have been in dispute for several months over plans by BA to slash costs, including reducing the number of cabin crew on flights.

The union will meet today to decide its next move following last night's development.

Earlier yesterday, union leaders tabled a fresh offer aimed at averting strikes by cabin crew – believed to include possible savings of almost 63 million. During extended talks between Unite officials and airline managers, the two sides swapped documents on how to break a deadlocked row over cost savings.

Unite is understood to have put forward a ten-page document which details a series of savings on pay, crew numbers, natural wastage, hotel costs and meal allowances.

A union source said he believed the offer was "fair, far-reaching and generous" and met BA's financial demands, while giving safeguards on pay and conditions to existing crew.

It is believed that under Unite's proposal, BA would reinstate a 15th crew member on long haul flights, something the airline has been strongly resisting.

Unite was understood to be offering a one-year pay freeze, followed by a 2.6 per cent pay cut, then an increase in line with RPI inflation or 2.6 per cent, whichever is higher.