BA cabin crew strike ballot starts
Sunday, 16 Nov, 2009
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Ballot papers have been issued to more than 12,000 British Airways cabin crew the day the carrier imposes cost cutting changes to working practices from today (Monday).
The ballot for industrial action will close on December 14 the same day as the next mass meeting of the cabin crew is planned.
If crew vote in support then strike action could start from December 21 and hit the airline over the busy peak Christmas travel period.
A High Court hearing has been set to consider the union Unite’s case further on February 1.
Unite claims that BA’s changes will place crew under “additional stress” during flights, with fewer staff required to absorb the work of colleagues who have been removed.
This will have a negative impact on health and safety, and that the service crew can provide to passengers will suffer, the union claims.
Unite has lodged a collective letter of objection on behalf of its cabin crew members with BA.
The letter makes it clear that Unite’s members, making up more than 12,000 of the entire 14,000 crew workforce, do not accept the imposed changes.
A firm of leading employment solicitors has been asked to establish an e-helpline to allow crew to feedback on the impact on both working practices and customer service.
Brian Boyd, Unite national officer for aviation, said: “The way to deliver change is through negotiation, not imposition. Of course the cabin crew are angry; they care passionately about this business but feel they are not being listened to on serious matters of service delivery.
“This business is all about its customers and the crew do not want them to suffer as a result of these changes.
“We ask BA to signal that it is willing to abandon its plans to impose change and work with us on a way forward, one which delivers for passengers, shareholders and the workforce. Then we could begin to tackle the roots of this damaging dispute and find a way forward.”
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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