Walsh claims more crew will cross picket line this weekend
Tuesday, 24 Mar, 2010
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One in five flights were affected by Unite’s three-day strike at British Airways, costing the airline £21m.
But chief executive Willie Walsh has said this weekend’s strikes, which will see 12,000 staff walk out, will affect less passengers. He said fewer flights will be cancelled because more crew want to cross the picket line.
Said Walsh: "As a result of the numbers of crew wanting to work, we are increasing significantly our flying schedule and will be operating a full schedule at Gatwick and London City airports." At Heathrow, BA wants to fly 70% of long-haul and 55% of short-haul flights.
But Unite’s joint general secretary Tony Woodley rubbished the statement, saying the schedule “had more holes in it than a Swiss cheese”.
This week has seen unlikely support for BA from Ryanair boss Micheal O’Leary who agreed to lease three planes to the carrier during last weekend’s strike and will lease more this weekend.
Known for his refusal to have any dealings with unions, O’Leary branded Unite’s Woodley a “dinosaur” stuck in the seventies. He told The Telegraph: “BA is in financial difficulties. It has an enormous pension deficit. But at the top of the trade union movement in the UK they have a lot of old headbangers clinging on to the 1960s and 1970s."
BA isn’t the only airline in Europe suffering from industrial unrest. Lufthansa staff will stage a four day walkout in April and TAP is to strike this weekend over pay.
By Dinah Hatch
Phil Davies
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