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BA to hold fresh talks with union BA to hold fresh talks with union
(about 5 hours later)
British Airways is to hold fresh talks with its main union in a bid to avert the renewed threat of strike action by cabin crew.British Airways is to hold fresh talks with its main union in a bid to avert the renewed threat of strike action by cabin crew.
Unite said it and the airline had agreed to meet in the coming days to try to find a negotiated settlement to the row over jobs, pay and conditions.Unite said it and the airline had agreed to meet in the coming days to try to find a negotiated settlement to the row over jobs, pay and conditions.
The announcement comes after a High Court judge ordered Unite to call off a planned 12-day walkout over Christmas.The announcement comes after a High Court judge ordered Unite to call off a planned 12-day walkout over Christmas.
This prompted Unite to say it would hold a fresh ballot on strike action.This prompted Unite to say it would hold a fresh ballot on strike action.
"We have said all along that this dispute could only be resolved through negotiation, rather than imposition or litigation, so we are delighted to be joining BA management in talks at the TUC," said Unite joint general secretaries Derek Simpson and Tony Woodley."We have said all along that this dispute could only be resolved through negotiation, rather than imposition or litigation, so we are delighted to be joining BA management in talks at the TUC," said Unite joint general secretaries Derek Simpson and Tony Woodley.
In the air
"We will be approaching those talks in a constructive spirit, seeking to find a settlement that meets the real concerns of BA's skilled, loyal and professional cabin crew, while keeping the airline flying.""We will be approaching those talks in a constructive spirit, seeking to find a settlement that meets the real concerns of BA's skilled, loyal and professional cabin crew, while keeping the airline flying."
BA said it was "pleased" that the talks with Unite would now resume under the auspices of the TUC.BA said it was "pleased" that the talks with Unite would now resume under the auspices of the TUC.
"We have always said we would make ourselves available for talks with Unite at any time without preconditions," said a spokeswoman."We have always said we would make ourselves available for talks with Unite at any time without preconditions," said a spokeswoman.
The High Court judge ruled last month that the planned Christmas strike was unlawful as Unite had balloted workers who had since left BA and were therefore not eligible to vote.The High Court judge ruled last month that the planned Christmas strike was unlawful as Unite had balloted workers who had since left BA and were therefore not eligible to vote.
Unite described that ruling as a "disgraceful day for democracy".Unite described that ruling as a "disgraceful day for democracy".
Meanwhile, the airline revealed that the threat of strike action before Christmas appeared to have a limited impact on customer demand.
Traffic figures showed passenger numbers fell by 4.4% in December. In the key Club World long-haul business class, numbers actually rose by 1.6%.