British Airways Cabin Crew Urged to Reject New Offer

Unite, the union, is recommending their cabin crew members to reject the latest offer from British Airways. Next week, the union is to ballot the some 12,000 staff on whether to accept the offer or not. The joint general secretary for Unite, Tony Woodley, said that it’s disappointing talks with the airline have ended without reaching a deal they can recommend to their members. British Airways management refuses to move on victimizing striking cabin crew, he continued.

Woodley also accused the airline of taking disproportionate and vindictive disciplinary action against Unite members, as well as of attacking trade unionism. He calls the integrity and sincerity of the promises the airline has made and the value of other commitments they have negotiated into question. He believes that the carrier is seeking to break trade unionism among cabin crew by humiliating and bullying them, and they can’t and won’t accept that.

However, a spokesperson for British Airways said that they are very disappointed that the union is encouraging their members to reject the new deal. The airline has put a very fair offer on the table, they added, despite their financial circumstances. They believe that the offer addresses the union’s expressed concerns, the spokesperson continued, including crew numbers on some flights, allocation of routes, pay and allowing more room for members to choose part-time working.

The carrier’s spokesperson also condemned Unite for showing callous disregard for their customers and the business, particularly after only a few days have past for the airline to recover from the airspace lockdown, which was the costliest and longest in history. The recommendation from the union to reject the agreement is clearly out of touch with most of the crew, who worked as usual during their failed strike attempts in late March, they added.