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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Court blocks BA Christmas strike | Court blocks BA Christmas strike |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| A strike by British Airways cabin crew planned for Christmas has been declared illegal in a High Court ruling. | A strike by British Airways cabin crew planned for Christmas has been declared illegal in a High Court ruling. |
| The judge agreed with BA that the cabin crew's union, Unite, had not correctly balloted its members on the strike action. | |
| The injunction means that the 12-day strike cannot now go ahead. | The injunction means that the 12-day strike cannot now go ahead. |
| Unite called it "a disgraceful day for democracy" and vowed to hold a fresh ballot of cabin crew if the dispute with BA was not resolved. | Unite called it "a disgraceful day for democracy" and vowed to hold a fresh ballot of cabin crew if the dispute with BA was not resolved. |
| "There is something wrong with the law," said Unite joint general secretary Derek Simpson. | "There is something wrong with the law," said Unite joint general secretary Derek Simpson. |
| He admitted that while there would be "great euphoria" among the travelling public, the union would immediately put in place plans for a fresh ballot alongside its continuing negotiations with BA. | He admitted that while there would be "great euphoria" among the travelling public, the union would immediately put in place plans for a fresh ballot alongside its continuing negotiations with BA. |
| "We'll see at the end of the day who wins this, we will see at the end of the day proper democracy, proper justice," added Mr Simpson. | "We'll see at the end of the day who wins this, we will see at the end of the day proper democracy, proper justice," added Mr Simpson. |
| If Unite does go ahead with another ballot, industrial relations laws would mean that fresh industrial action could not be announced until well into the new year. | If Unite does go ahead with another ballot, industrial relations laws would mean that fresh industrial action could not be announced until well into the new year. |
| Opportunity to reflect | Opportunity to reflect |
| The judge refused the union permission to appeal, but the union could apply directly to the Court of Appeal. | The judge refused the union permission to appeal, but the union could apply directly to the Court of Appeal. |
| The court injunction against the Christmas strike is temporary relief, not proper recovery: BA still needs to resolve its dispute with cabin crew over staffing levels and pay Robert Peston, BBC business editor Read Robert's blog Send us your comments | The court injunction against the Christmas strike is temporary relief, not proper recovery: BA still needs to resolve its dispute with cabin crew over staffing levels and pay Robert Peston, BBC business editor Read Robert's blog Send us your comments |
| British Airways said the decision would be welcomed by "hundreds of thousands of families in the UK and around the world". | British Airways said the decision would be welcomed by "hundreds of thousands of families in the UK and around the world". |
| "There was never any need for a strike and we hope that Unite will take this opportunity to reflect before deciding its next steps," a statement from the company said. | "There was never any need for a strike and we hope that Unite will take this opportunity to reflect before deciding its next steps," a statement from the company said. |
| "In recent days, we believe Unite has formed a better understanding of our position and of the ways in which we could move forward. | "In recent days, we believe Unite has formed a better understanding of our position and of the ways in which we could move forward. |
| "It has also become very clear that our customers do not believe that old-style trade union militancy is relevant to our efforts to move British Airways back toward profitability." | "It has also become very clear that our customers do not believe that old-style trade union militancy is relevant to our efforts to move British Airways back toward profitability." |
| Dispute 'not settled' | Dispute 'not settled' |
| Mr Simpson and Unite's other joint general secretary, Tony Woodley, said the dispute was "far from settled". | Mr Simpson and Unite's other joint general secretary, Tony Woodley, said the dispute was "far from settled". |
| "While we have never wanted this dispute, it is a disgraceful day for democracy when a court can overrule such an overwhelming decision by employees taken in a secret ballot," they said. | "While we have never wanted this dispute, it is a disgraceful day for democracy when a court can overrule such an overwhelming decision by employees taken in a secret ballot," they said. |
| "The fact remains that this dispute is not settled." | "The fact remains that this dispute is not settled." |
| The original ballot saw 92.5% of those balloted vote in favour of industrial action. | The original ballot saw 92.5% of those balloted vote in favour of industrial action. |
| Sitting at the High Court, Mrs Justice Cox agreed that Unite had improperly included BA employees already set to leave the company in the ballot. | Sitting at the High Court, Mrs Justice Cox agreed that Unite had improperly included BA employees already set to leave the company in the ballot. |