Unite Union to Re-Vote on BA Strike Plans

After the High Court ruling that the Unite strike ballot was invalid, due to members no longer affiliated with British Airways voting, the Unite workers union is planning on holding a second ballot for the cabin crew employees.

The original strike ballot deemed to have been undertaken illegally showed that high numbers of the union members voted in favour of strike action. Basing their hopes on the previous nine to one vote, the Unite union will again vote on a 12-day proposed stoppage of work at the British Airways airline.
The last ballot which called for the same number of days to cease work would have seen the strike beginning on December 22 and continuing on into the Christmas holiday. Thousands of passengers were relieved to find out that the strike would not be taking place as it could have severely affected holiday travel plans for British Airways ticket holders.

The High Court hearing, which took place over two days, BA’s counsel, Bruce Carr told Justice Cox that the ballot and subsequent vote had serious irregularities. The most serious allegation being that workers who no longer worked for the airline and had taken redundancy packages had taken part in the vote.

Unite defended themselves saying all steps were taken to ensure that the vote had been undertaken properly. In making her ruling, Justice Cox said that a strike during the Christmas holiday would have affected British Airways much worse than a strike by the union at any other time of the year.