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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| BA staff vote for strike action | BA staff vote for strike action |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| British Airways (BA) cabin crew have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action in a dispute over sick leave, pay and staffing. | British Airways (BA) cabin crew have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action in a dispute over sick leave, pay and staffing. |
| Members of the Transport & General Workers Union backed the industrial action by 96%, a move that threatens serious disruption to BA's services. | Members of the Transport & General Workers Union backed the industrial action by 96%, a move that threatens serious disruption to BA's services. |
| The airline's managers and the union are now due to hold talks on Tuesday to try to avert a series of walkouts. | The airline's managers and the union are now due to hold talks on Tuesday to try to avert a series of walkouts. |
| BA said any industrial action would be "completely unnecessary". | BA said any industrial action would be "completely unnecessary". |
| 'Worrying time' | |
| "We have arranged to meet T&G officials this week and we very much hope they will enter into meaningful discussion with us on the issues the union has raised," said the airline. | "We have arranged to meet T&G officials this week and we very much hope they will enter into meaningful discussion with us on the issues the union has raised," said the airline. |
| "We have not been seeking to achieve new ways of working by imposition, but by negotiation as in many other areas of our business," the airline's statement added. | |
| "The leaders of the (union's) cabin crew branch have created a worrying time for our customers and our staff." | |
| BA's shares were trading 9.75 pence, or 1.8%, lower at 541.25p in London during midday trading. | BA's shares were trading 9.75 pence, or 1.8%, lower at 541.25p in London during midday trading. |
| 'Serious breakdown' | 'Serious breakdown' |
| T&G Deputy General Secretary Jack Dromey said the strong vote showed just how serious the situation has become. | |
| "BA cabin crew have voted to say the airline has gone too far," he said at a meeting of the cabin crew. | |
| "BA must rebuild the trust of its cabin crew by negotiating rather than imposing change and by listening to its staff rather than riding roughshod over their concerns." | |
| The T&G union had earlier said there had been a "serious breakdown" in relations with the airline. | |
| After the strike vote T&G regional secretary Steve Hart added: "BA's success and reputation is built on the loyal workforce that have stuck by this airline through thick and thin. | |
| "Yet while profits and share prices rocket, cabin crew have seen their terms and conditions attacked, an imposition from management rather than negotiation." | "Yet while profits and share prices rocket, cabin crew have seen their terms and conditions attacked, an imposition from management rather than negotiation." |
| The union said cabin crew workers claimed they were under pressure to turn up for work even if they were unwell. | The union said cabin crew workers claimed they were under pressure to turn up for work even if they were unwell. |
| A separate dispute focuses on pensions plans. | |
| As part of a plan to lower BA's £2.1bn deficit, the airline has agreed to make a one-off contribution of £800m into the pension fund in return for changes to benefits. | |
| Fogbound flights | |
| This is the latest in a series of problems that have hit the airline in recent months. | |
| Last month, BA domestic flights from Heathrow were cancelled for three days due to fog. | |
| As well as delayed flights, there was further bad publicity as a backlog of more than 10,000 bags checked in by BA passengers piled up at the airport. | |
| It came after a terrror alert in August had also hit BA flights. |