11 March 2008

BA pilot strike talks break down

Efforts to avert a strike by British Airways pilots have broken down.

The airline has now threatened a High Court injunction preventing strike action from taking place.

The dispute over the establishment of BA subsidiary OpenSkies and the outsourcing of jobs went for talks at aribitration service ACAS after members pilots union BALPA voted for industrial action.

BALPA said that despite the union's willingness to accept the terms and conditions proposed by the airline to ensure the establishment of the new off-shoot, "BA was not prepared to provide the employment security and career development opportunities which are at the heart of the dispute".

The union said it was "considering its response" to BA's intention to seek an injunction to prevent the strike from going ahead.

OpenSkies intends to run flights from Paris and Brussels to New York from June. BA plans for six aircraft to be operated by OpenSkies as it expands.

BA said it believed the opportunity remains to reach a peaceful resolution and lift the strike threat.

"We are disappointed that BALPA has chosen to walk away from the talks led by the conciliation service ACAS," the airline said.

BA said it did not want a conflict with pilots and had not sought one.

"We have offered binding assurances that OpenSkies will pose no threat to the terms, conditions and job security of BA pilots," a statement said, adding that more than 300 new pilots are to be recruited in the next two years as its London-based fleet grows.

But BA added: "We felt it right and fair to give BAPLA private notice that we have a valid legal claim against them before they took the disproportionate step of calling a strike.

"If strike dates are issued, we will act to protect our customers by applying for an injunction.

"We must act to protect our customers and explore every option to prevent the massive disruption a strke would cause."

by Phil Davies