Talks aim at averting BA crew strike, but no sign of row's end

Published on Sunday 1 August 2010 16:17

CRUCIAL talks aimed at averting fresh strikes by British Airways cabin crew will be held today, although there is little sign of a breakthrough to the long-running dispute.

BA chief executive Willie Walsh said he believed the airline's "best and final" offer rejected by Unite members last month still formed the basis of a resolution to the bitter row.

He also made it clear he was pressing ahead with contingency plans to deal with further strikes, saying he was confident of running 100 per cent of long-haul flights if there was more industrial action.

Cabin crew have taken 22 days of strike action since March and further walkouts could take place from September unless the peace talks, being held at the conciliation service Acas, lead to a deal.

The wave of strikes, coupled with disruption caused by Iceland's volcanic ash cloud, sent BA 164 million into the red for the three months to June, the carrier reported last week.

Mr Walsh said: "We continue to train volunteer cabin crew and that programme is going very well. I am looking forward to hearing what the trade union has to say in light of the poor turnout in the last ballot.

"I want to reach a resolution, but we are preparing for further industrial action. I am confident we will operate 100 per cent of our long-haul services and we are looking at the short-haul programme."

Mr Walsh described BA's last offer as "very fair", adding: "If the union wanted to bring an end to the dispute, they would have looked to get an agreement and acceptance of the proposal.

"It addresses all the genuine concerns and I still believe it forms the basis of a resolution to the dispute."

Unite joint leader Derek Simpson said: "This is a dispute over 10m. Contrast that with the 164m in losses this quarter alone and questions must be asked about the direction of BA's management and the sense of them maintaining this dispute with cabin crew.

"On every call in this dispute, BA's management has got it wrong. It claimed crew would accept the offer if Unite put it to them; they did not. Only 15 per cent voted in favour, with 85 per cent finding no appeal in it."