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BA 'examining all strike options' BA 'examining all strike options'
(about 2 hours 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 is continuing to explore its options ahead 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. The airline is still assessing the impact the strike will have on its flights schedule, with almost all its cabin crew expected to be unavailable.
BA is trying to rework flight schedules but is also pondering legal action such as an injunction to stop the walkout. The strikes, which are due to begin on 22 December, are expected to affect up to a million passengers.
Cabin crew voted nine to one in favour of strikes from 22 December over job cuts and staffing levels. The Unite union said 96% of BA's 13,500 cabin crew were union members.
'Immense cost' 'Incredibly complicated'
BA is insisting it will not climb down on its decision to reduce cabin crew numbers, which is at the heart of the dispute. British Airways is currently sorting through thousands of crew and pilot rotas in order to work out a new schedule for the Christmas period, but was not able to say when the new plans would be finalised.
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 BBC's employment correspondent Martin Shankleman, said he doubted if the airline would be able to schedule many flights, given the huge numbers of crew set to strike.
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. When faced with a strike in 2007, BA opted to ground all flights before the strike was eventually called off.
Len McCluskey on the reasons behind the strike action John Stickland, an airline consultant at JLS Consulting said the process of rescheduling was likely to be "incredibly complicated".
The strikes are set to begin on 22 December and run until 2 January following the union ballot, which had an 80% turnout. "BA will want to forget short-haul and European flights and prioritise long-haul instead," he said.
BA chief executive Willie Walsh called the strike "senseless". "With reduced cabin crew numbers, it's difficult to say how many flights will run. At a guess I would say a maximum of 10%, but its likely to be much less."
"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. Rivals jump in
He said the company would be doing everything it could to limit the effect of the strike action. BA's rivals have been quick to take advantage of the potential absence of its competitor during the busy Christmas season.
"We are going to look at all our options - operational, legal and industrial relations options," he said. BMI has already launched adverts in several national newspapers alluding to the strikes, while Easyjet and Ryanair are hoping to attract BA customers despite many flights already being full.
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. "We have seen additional bookings over the past 24 hours and we will do whatever we can to accommodate people's travel needs over the holiday period," said Paul Simmons, Easyjet's UK general manager.
I cannot believe the completely selfish behaviour of people who are employed by BA Anthea Barteau, London class="" href="/2/hi/business/8412799.stm">BA Christmas strike threat: Your stories class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=7343&edition=2">Send us your comments "However, to put this into context, as we stand the flights are already over 75% full, so people looking to get away should act quickly."
Unite assistant general secretary Len McCluskey said staff wanted to be treated with "dignity and respect". Large mandate
The ballot of BA cabin crew saw them vote in favour of strike action by nine to one according to Unite, with an 80% turnout.
Unite assistant general secretary Len McCluskey said the outcome demonstrated the strength of feeling among staff, saying they 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.
I cannot believe the completely selfish behaviour of people who are employed by BA Anthea Barteau, London BA Christmas strike threat: Your stories Read more reactions from across newspapers and the web Send us your comments
Unions have been in negotiations with BA for weeks over changes to staffing levels and cabin crew contracts.
However, some union members expressed surprise at the duration and timing of the strike action.
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 Huge cost
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.
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.
Currently, BA is losing the equivalent of £1.6m every day, and the strike is likely to add to those financial woes.
Analysts estimate that the airline will lose between £200m and £300m in revenues if all flights are grounded.
Overall losses are likely to be smaller, however, thanks to reduced operating costs.
Laurie Price, aviation consultant at Mott McDonald, estimated the total net loss resulting from the strike at between £180m and £240m.
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?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?
Send your comments using the post form below.Send your comments using the post form below.
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