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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| BA talks on again as strike looms | BA talks on again as strike looms |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Talks between British Airways and the Transport and General Workers Union to try and avert a strike by cabin crew on Tuesday and Wednesday have resumed. | Talks between British Airways and the Transport and General Workers Union to try and avert a strike by cabin crew on Tuesday and Wednesday have resumed. |
| BA chief executive Willie Walsh and other managers are negotiating with officials from the T&G, including its general secretary, Tony Woodley. | BA chief executive Willie Walsh and other managers are negotiating with officials from the T&G, including its general secretary, Tony Woodley. |
| Both sides want to reach an agreement to avoid a 48-hour walkout over sick absence, pay and staffing at BA. | Both sides want to reach an agreement to avoid a 48-hour walkout over sick absence, pay and staffing at BA. |
| BA has already moved to cancel flights during the duration of the strike. | BA has already moved to cancel flights during the duration of the strike. |
| All flights out of Heathrow and domestic and European flights out of Gatwick are cancelled for the two days. | |
| BA said that "talks continue" and added that if there was a deal reached during Monday's discussions then it would "do what we could to reinstate operations". | BA said that "talks continue" and added that if there was a deal reached during Monday's discussions then it would "do what we could to reinstate operations". |
| Talks had been adjourned on Sunday night, part of ongoing top level negotiations which have been running since Thursday evening. | Talks had been adjourned on Sunday night, part of ongoing top level negotiations which have been running since Thursday evening. |
| 'Committed to resolution' | 'Committed to resolution' |
| Earlier, BA had sent an e-mail to customers to say that the strikes were going ahead. | Earlier, BA had sent an e-mail to customers to say that the strikes were going ahead. |
| In its message BA said that it "was committed to finding a resolution" to the proposed strike. | In its message BA said that it "was committed to finding a resolution" to the proposed strike. |
| BA STRIKE DISRUPTION HEATHROWNo flights outSome long-haul arrivalsGATWICKNo domestic or European flightsUp to six of the nine long-haul flights will operateMANCHESTERFlights to New York will operate normallyBA CONNECT AND OTHER FRANCHISED SERVICESNot affected British Airways strike Q&A | BA STRIKE DISRUPTION HEATHROWNo flights outSome long-haul arrivalsGATWICKNo domestic or European flightsUp to six of the nine long-haul flights will operateMANCHESTERFlights to New York will operate normallyBA CONNECT AND OTHER FRANCHISED SERVICESNot affected British Airways strike Q&A |
| It had been reported in the Mail on Sunday that the company was paying cash "sweeteners" to tempt staff to break any potential strike, but BA says any money is simply expenses to cover taxi journeys made by non-union staff who will work during the strike and want to avoid picket lines. | It had been reported in the Mail on Sunday that the company was paying cash "sweeteners" to tempt staff to break any potential strike, but BA says any money is simply expenses to cover taxi journeys made by non-union staff who will work during the strike and want to avoid picket lines. |
| Unless a solution to the dispute is found, a second three-day strike is possible for 5 to 7 February, and a third three-day strike possible for 12 to 14 February. | Unless a solution to the dispute is found, a second three-day strike is possible for 5 to 7 February, and a third three-day strike possible for 12 to 14 February. |
| Train offer | Train offer |
| If the strike goes ahead, all flights from Heathrow airport will be cancelled, as well as all domestic and European BA-operated flights to and from Gatwick. | If the strike goes ahead, all flights from Heathrow airport will be cancelled, as well as all domestic and European BA-operated flights to and from Gatwick. |
| Each side has been arguing that the other is being unreasonable in the dispute over pay and sick leave. | Each side has been arguing that the other is being unreasonable in the dispute over pay and sick leave. |
| Those hit by the strike can get a refund or fly on alternative days | Those hit by the strike can get a refund or fly on alternative days |
| BA has said it wants customers to have sufficient warning of its contingency plans for the strike days, to give them enough time to make alternative travel arrangements. | BA has said it wants customers to have sufficient warning of its contingency plans for the strike days, to give them enough time to make alternative travel arrangements. |
| Passengers due to travel on one of the strike days can either change their flights to another date, at no extra charge, or else gain a full refund. | Passengers due to travel on one of the strike days can either change their flights to another date, at no extra charge, or else gain a full refund. |
| Meanwhile Virgin Trains said it expected to transport BA customers caught up in the strike after offering free first-class travel. | Meanwhile Virgin Trains said it expected to transport BA customers caught up in the strike after offering free first-class travel. |
| It said anyone turning up with a ticket for a BA flight on strike days would be given a free first-class seat. | It said anyone turning up with a ticket for a BA flight on strike days would be given a free first-class seat. |
| New rules | New rules |
| In all, 1,300 BA flights will be cancelled over the two days. | In all, 1,300 BA flights will be cancelled over the two days. |
| Out of the airline's 14,000 cabin crew, about 11,000 are members of the T&G - 96% of whom voted for strike action. | Out of the airline's 14,000 cabin crew, about 11,000 are members of the T&G - 96% of whom voted for strike action. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY We have just been forced to cut our holiday short by the total chaos caused by this Simon, Harrow Send us your comments Profile: Willie Walsh | HAVE YOUR SAY We have just been forced to cut our holiday short by the total chaos caused by this Simon, Harrow Send us your comments Profile: Willie Walsh |
| They have complained that a new regime on sickness pay, introduced 18 months ago, means they are forced to work when they are ill. | They have complained that a new regime on sickness pay, introduced 18 months ago, means they are forced to work when they are ill. |
| BA insists the measures were needed to cut high levels of sickness absence. | BA insists the measures were needed to cut high levels of sickness absence. |
| Staff now take an average of 12 days sick leave each year - down from 22 days before the new rules were brought in, the airline says. | Staff now take an average of 12 days sick leave each year - down from 22 days before the new rules were brought in, the airline says. |
| Starter pay rates for crew members, overall pay grading and promotion opportunities are also subject to dispute, with the union unhappy that the starting wage for staff is £10,000. | Starter pay rates for crew members, overall pay grading and promotion opportunities are also subject to dispute, with the union unhappy that the starting wage for staff is £10,000. |
| The union also wants the introduction of a single pay arrangement for cabin crew staff, rather than the existing two tier system, with staff who joined after 1997 being paid less than those employed before that date. | The union also wants the introduction of a single pay arrangement for cabin crew staff, rather than the existing two tier system, with staff who joined after 1997 being paid less than those employed before that date. |