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| Court blocks BA Christmas strike | Court blocks BA Christmas strike |
| (10 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 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 in the case, Mrs Justice Cox, agreed with BA that Unite's ballot was invalid because it included workers that had already accepted voluntary redundancy. | The judge in the case, Mrs Justice Cox, agreed with BA that Unite's ballot was invalid because it included workers that had already accepted voluntary redundancy. |
| 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 href="/2/hi/business/8413529.stm">Q&A: What's the dispute about? | |
| She also poured scorn on the timing of the planned strike. | She also poured scorn on the timing of the planned strike. |
| "A strike of this kind over the 12 days of Christmas is fundamentally more damaging to BA and the wider public than a strike taking place at almost any other time of the year," she said. | "A strike of this kind over the 12 days of Christmas is fundamentally more damaging to BA and the wider public than a strike taking place at almost any other time of the year," she said. |
| Mrs Justice Cox also refused the union permission to appeal, but the union could apply directly to the Court of Appeal. | Mrs Justice Cox also refused the union permission to appeal, but the union could apply directly to the Court of Appeal. |
| 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". |
| The threat of strike action has been hugely damaging for the British Airways brand and customer loyalty has been tested Bob Atkinson, travelsupermarket.com | The threat of strike action has been hugely damaging for the British Airways brand and customer loyalty has been tested Bob Atkinson, travelsupermarket.com |
| "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. |
| Bob Atkinson of travel website travelsupermarket.com said the one million passengers booked to travel with BA over Christmas and the new year "can now breathe a sigh of relief and carry on with their travel plans". | Bob Atkinson of travel website travelsupermarket.com said the one million passengers booked to travel with BA over Christmas and the new year "can now breathe a sigh of relief and carry on with their travel plans". |
| "BA should now contact customers as soon as possible to confirm flights will be going ahead and normality has returned to the market," he added. | "BA should now contact customers as soon as possible to confirm flights will be going ahead and normality has returned to the market," he added. |
| "The threat of strike action has been hugely damaging for the British Airways brand and customer loyalty has been tested." | "The threat of strike action has been hugely damaging for the British Airways brand and customer loyalty has been tested." |
| One BA cabin crew worker contacted the BBC to say she was "delighted" the strike had been stopped. | One BA cabin crew worker contacted the BBC to say she was "delighted" the strike had been stopped. |
| "I voted for the strike but never dreamt it would be for 12 days over Christmas," she said. | "I voted for the strike but never dreamt it would be for 12 days over Christmas," she said. |
| "I'm delighted it's been stopped, we have the upmost respect and regard for our customers and I'm glad we have the opportunity to show this over the festive season." | "I'm delighted it's been stopped, we have the upmost respect and regard for our customers and I'm glad we have the opportunity to show this over the festive season." |