Union calls for a ‘pause for peace’ in BA dispute
Union chiefs have called on British Airways to use its ‘pause for peace’ to enter talks to find a resolution to the long-running dispute with its mixed fleet cabin crew.
Writing to chief executive Alex Cruz, Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said: "You will be aware that we have not issued any further notice for strike action which will currently end on 30 August.
"This is in order to create a ‘pause for peace’ so that our respective teams can get around the table with a view to securing a mutually accepted resolution to the current dispute.
"Given the nature and length of the dispute I am more than willing to involve myself in any future talks with you and would ask that the company looks at a number of dates from 31 August onwards."
The call comes as Unite members working for British Airways’ mixed fleet near the end of two months’ of strike action, which will finish after the Bank Holiday weekend on August 30.
The action involving cabin crew, working on short and long haul flights from Heathrow, has led to the cancellation of flights and British Airways spending millions on ‘wet leasing’ aircraft to cover striking cabin crew.
Unite is pushing for pay rises for the mixed fleet crew, who joined the airline after 2010, and at the same time it is pursuing legal action on behalf of those crew members who have been sanctioned for taking strike action in the long-running dispute.
Sanctions have included the removal of bonuses worth hundreds of pounds, according to Unite.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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