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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| BA 'examining all strike options' | BA 'examining all strike options' |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| British Airways says it is exploring "all options" to help it cope with the impact of a planned 12-day strike by cabin crew over the Christmas period. | British Airways says it is exploring "all options" to help it cope with the impact of a planned 12-day strike by cabin crew over the Christmas period. |
| Up to one million passengers face the prospect of having journeys cancelled during the action by Unite members. | Up to one million passengers face the prospect of having journeys cancelled during the action by Unite members. |
| BA is trying to rework flight schedules but is also pondering legal action such as an injunction to stop the walkout. | BA is trying to rework flight schedules but is also pondering legal action such as an injunction to stop the walkout. |
| Cabin crew voted nine to one in favour of strikes from 22 December over job cuts and staffing levels. | Cabin crew voted nine to one in favour of strikes from 22 December over job cuts and staffing levels. |
| 'Immense cost' | 'Immense cost' |
| BA is insisting it will not climb down on its decision to reduce cabin crew numbers, which is at the heart of the dispute. | BA is insisting it will not climb down on its decision to reduce cabin crew numbers, which is at the heart of the dispute. |
| The Unite union is also adopting a tough stance, calling for talks to resolve the dispute but threatening another round of strikes unless BA backs down. | The Unite union is also adopting a tough stance, calling for talks to resolve the dispute but threatening another round of strikes unless BA backs down. |
| BBC employment correspondent Martin Shankleman says BA's offer to refund passengers grounded by the strike is likely to come at an immense cost to the company. | BBC employment correspondent Martin Shankleman says BA's offer to refund passengers grounded by the strike is likely to come at an immense cost to the company. |
| Len McCluskey on the reasons behind the strike action | Len McCluskey on the reasons behind the strike action |
| The strikes are set to begin on 22 December and run until 2 January following the union ballot, which had an 80% turnout. | The strikes are set to begin on 22 December and run until 2 January following the union ballot, which had an 80% turnout. |
| BA chief executive Willie Walsh called the strike "senseless". | BA chief executive Willie Walsh called the strike "senseless". |
| "It is very sad that [the union] are seeking to use the Christmas holiday plans and family reunions of hundreds of thousands of people to try to pursue their case," he said. | "It is very sad that [the union] are seeking to use the Christmas holiday plans and family reunions of hundreds of thousands of people to try to pursue their case," he said. |
| He said the company would be doing everything it could to limit the effect of the strike action. | He said the company would be doing everything it could to limit the effect of the strike action. |
| "We are going to look at all our options - operational, legal and industrial relations options," he said. | "We are going to look at all our options - operational, legal and industrial relations options," he said. |
| Unite said that BA's cuts involved imposing "significant contractual changes" on cabin crew employees, resulting in extended working hours, and reduced wages for new starters. | Unite said that BA's cuts involved imposing "significant contractual changes" on cabin crew employees, resulting in extended working hours, and reduced wages for new starters. |
| I cannot believe the completely selfish behaviour of people who are employed by BA Anthea Barteau, London BA Christmas strike threat: Your stories class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=7343&edition=2">Send us your comments | |
| Unite assistant general secretary Len McCluskey said staff wanted to be treated with "dignity and respect". | Unite assistant general secretary Len McCluskey said staff wanted to be treated with "dignity and respect". |
| "We have taken this decision to disrupt passengers with a heavy heart and we are hoping that the company can still avoid it happening," he said. | "We have taken this decision to disrupt passengers with a heavy heart and we are hoping that the company can still avoid it happening," he said. |
| One cabin crew member, who asked not to be named, told the BBC he would have preferred to see strike action delayed until after the busy Christmas period. | One cabin crew member, who asked not to be named, told the BBC he would have preferred to see strike action delayed until after the busy Christmas period. |
| "Had there been a box on the ballot form saying yes to a strike - but wait until the new year - I personally would have ticked it, and I can see large numbers of cabin crew doing the same thing," he said, saying that ballot forms offered only two options - strike or no strike. | "Had there been a box on the ballot form saying yes to a strike - but wait until the new year - I personally would have ticked it, and I can see large numbers of cabin crew doing the same thing," he said, saying that ballot forms offered only two options - strike or no strike. |
| "We've been backed into a corner by BA. I have to say yes to industrial action." | "We've been backed into a corner by BA. I have to say yes to industrial action." |
| The cabin crew member added that staff were receiving often contradictory information from the union and BA. | The cabin crew member added that staff were receiving often contradictory information from the union and BA. |
| "At the end of the day I have to put the trust in my union who I pay to look after my terms and conditions," he said. | "At the end of the day I have to put the trust in my union who I pay to look after my terms and conditions," he said. |
| Pay freeze | Pay freeze |
| The result of the ballot was announced at a mass union meeting at Sandown Park racecourse in Esher, Surrey, on Monday. | The result of the ballot was announced at a mass union meeting at Sandown Park racecourse in Esher, Surrey, on Monday. |
| BA has offered passengers who are booked to travel during the strike period - and 48 hours either side of it - the chance to rebook their flights at no extra cost. | BA has offered passengers who are booked to travel during the strike period - and 48 hours either side of it - the chance to rebook their flights at no extra cost. |
| Otherwise it said it would inform customers of changes to schedules by e-mail or mobile phone text. | Otherwise it said it would inform customers of changes to schedules by e-mail or mobile phone text. |
| BA has reduced the number of cabin crew from 15 to 14 on all long-haul flights and has frozen pay for two years. | BA has reduced the number of cabin crew from 15 to 14 on all long-haul flights and has frozen pay for two years. |
| The airline says it urgently needs to cut costs to ride out its dire financial situation. | The airline says it urgently needs to cut costs to ride out its dire financial situation. |
| Last month it revealed it had lost £292m in the first half of the year - the worst period in its history - and said it would have to cut a further 1,200 staff. | Last month it revealed it had lost £292m in the first half of the year - the worst period in its history - and said it would have to cut a further 1,200 staff. |
| Will you be taking part in the British Airways strike? Are you cabin crew for another airline? Will your holiday be affected by the walkout? | |
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