‘Dysfunctional’ Unite to ballot on January strikes
Monday, 30 Nov, 2010
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Fresh punches were exchanged on Monday between British Airways and the cabin crew union Unite as the latter announced plans to ballot on fresh strike action and the carrier labelled it “dysfunctional” and militant.
BA cabin crew will ballot on a new round of strikes timetabled for early in January and Unite is to issue the papers shortly.
Unite has waged a year-long battle against what it sees as bully-boy tactics from BA management. It is unhappy with a raft of BA acts including punishing strikers by taking away their travel perks.
Unite joint general secretary Tony Woodley said: “BA’s continued hounding of our members leaves us no option but to conduct a new ballot. Our door is open to negotiations, but BA must understand the depth of feeling among our members.”
In a statement, BA said that Woodley had reneged on his word to let cabin crew vote on a new deal placed on the table by British Airways back in October.
The deal was drawn up with the help of conciliatory service Acas and Woodley initially agreed to put it to ballot.
But after Unite branch BASSA refused its terms, Woodley changed his mind.
BASSA was unhappy with the deal’s conditions that union members gave up their right to retrospectively take legal action against British Airways. It also disliked the clause that gave BA the right to withdraw travel concessions from staff in future.
British Airways called the deal “fair and reasonable”.
The statement said: “Tony Woodley shook hands with us on an agreement in October, and said he would let cabin crew vote on the deal with a recommendation for acceptance.
“Unite has broken this promise and instead has now chosen to create fresh uncertainty for customers and damage the interests of thousands of its own members within British Airways.
“We have said for some time that Unite is dysfunctional, and the disagreements between different sections of the union have been played out in public.
“In recent days, Unite has changed its position yet again, calling for fresh talks then announcing a strike ballot before such talks take place.”
The airline said that it had taken all the necessary measures to ensure that should another strike go ahead, it would be well prepared.
The statement added: “Should any industrial action take place, we are confident that our well-established contingency plans will allow us to operate normal timetables at Gatwick and London City airports.
“At Heathrow, we will aim to run a substantial proportion of our short-haul programme and 100 per cent of our long haul operation.”
The news of fresh balloting came on the day that BA shareholders ratified the BA/Iberia merger.
The statement concluded: “We have taken a big step toward our merger with Iberia. This will create a stronger business for the long-term benefit of our customers, our shareholders and our employees. Unite wants to lurch backwards to old-style union militancy. We are moving forwards.”
by Dinah Hatch
Dinah
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