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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| 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' | '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. | "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." | "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 6 pence, or 1.1%, lower at 545p in London at 1330 GMT. | |
| Trust | |
| T&G Deputy General Secretary Jack Dromey said the strong vote showed just how serious the situation has become. | 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 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." | "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." |
| It's going to be very difficult for BA as they were hit by delays due to fog and security alerts before Christmas Mandy Kirby, Global Insight href="http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/fds/hi/business/market_data/shares/3/23417/default.stm" class="">See BA's share price | |
| 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 pension 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. | 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 | Fogbound flights |
| This is the latest in a series of problems that have hit the airline in recent months. | This is the latest in a series of problems that have hit the airline in recent months. |
| "It's going to be very difficult for BA as they were hit by delays due to fog and security alerts before Christmas," said Global Insight analyst Mandy Kirby | |
| Last month, BA domestic flights from Heathrow were cancelled for three days due to fog. | 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. | 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 terror alert in August had also hit BA flights. | |
| 'Strong proposal' | |
| Global Insight said BA would be "disappointed" the vote went against them. | |
| "There will be a very strong push to reach agreement but they may feel they've offered a very strong proposal already," said Ms Kirby. | |
| However, she said the damage to BA's image may be limited. | |
| "Customers will be unhappy but BA recently promised to wave as much of the recently announced air passenger duties as they can, so they should survive this on a wave of customer goodwill." |