23 February 2010

STRIKE THREAT: BA cabin crew vote to take action

LONDON - Air travellers in Europe face weeks of uncertainty - and possible travel chaos - even as striking Lufthansa pilots suspended their strike today.

British Airways passengers face the risk of strikes after cabin crew voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action over pay and conditions.

And unions representing French air traffic controllers have announced a four-day strike this week, which will result in hundreds of flights in and out of Paris' Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports being cancelled.

BA said it would do everything it could to protect customers' travel plans should strikes take place.

By law the union must give a week's notice if it plans to take action - meaning strikes could begin from the first week of March.

Unite has already pledged that there will not be stoppages over the Easter period.

The union's general secretary Len McCluskey said the ballot result was "a clear indication of the deep sense of grievance that our members feel".

An earlier vote in favour of strikes was deemed illegal.

Cabin crew were due to take 12 days of strike action over Christmas but BA won a legal battle to prevent this, after it emerged that the union had balloted members who were no longer at the airline.

In France, air traffic unions have called for a four-day strike starting today to protest at Europe's single sky policy which partly aims to modernise air traffic control.

Union members say their jobs and status are under threat.