BA strike still an option as talks resume

Passengers aboard BA flights in April have been spared the possibility of disruptions after the Unite Union agreed to continue in mediation talks with the management over changes to staff contracts. But they stressed the option to call a strike remains on the cards.

This follows a meeting by the British Airlines Stewards and Stewardesses Association (Bassa), a branch of Unite, at Kempton Park race course within earshot of Heathrow’s flight path. About 15,000 cabin crew were at the meeting to vote in favour of taking industrial action over changes to their contracts which they deem to be illegal and unacceptable.

However, it was agreed that this option would be reserved in case talks mediated by representatives fro the Trade Union Congress (TUC) broke down. Their decision was said to be ‘unanimous’ but they ruled out the possibility of a strike occurring during the Easter break.

This follows an attempt at a 12 day strike over the Christmas break, which was ruled illegal by an urgent High Court injunction on the grounds that their voting procedure had not been conducted properly.

British Airways management, under pressure to cut costs and reduce large losses incurred in the current economic climate, have described the changes as ‘modest’, and gained the support of the High Court last week in deeming them to be legally undertaken.

In a statement BA said: “We are involved in the TUC process and we want to resolve these issues.”