Strike threat over job cuts forces British Airways to call in Acas

Published on Wednesday 1 July 2009 21:59

BRITISH Airways has asked the conciliation service Acas to help it reach a deal with unions over jobs cuts and a pay freeze in an effort to avoid a damaging strike.

Talks between the airline and union officials ended without agreement on Tuesday, even though the company had set a deadline for them to reach a deal.

BA wants to cut more than 3,500 jobs and freeze pay as part of a huge cost-cutting drive it says is necessary in the wake of a downturn in flights caused by the recession.

BA said in statement: "It has not proved possible to conclude an agreement with the trade unions on our pay and productivity discussions by the deadline of June 30.

"We have therefore asked the conciliation service Acas to facilitate any future meetings."

Failure to reach a deal could lead to the threat of industrial action by thousands of workers over the busy summer months, which would heap more problems on BA.

The GMB and Unite unions have said that they are willing to continue talking to the management about ways of cutting costs and saving money.

But a number of sticking points remain, including fears of compulsory job losses, as well as concern over planned changes to consultations over redundancies.

Union leaders turned up at a hotel near Heathrow Airport hoping talks would restart at 10am yesterday, but no management from BA arrived.

Mick Rix, national official of the GMB union, said he was "bitterly disappointed" the company did not turn up for talks.

But he added: "I want to make it clear that there is no formal disagreement or dispute between BA and GMB."