BA in graffiti wall 'bullying' row

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British Airways (BA) has removed a graffiti wall from its headquarters, which union members claimed featured derogatory comments about cabin crew.

Members of the Unite union also said some of the comments breached the airline's own anti-bullying policy.

BA said the board was put up to encourage internal communication, but had been taken down after five days.

The row comes as Unite is once again balloting cabin crew members over possible strike action.

Diabolical

Unite members said messages written on the board included "I won't let Unite destroy BA", "overpaid cabin crew", and "we don't want to see spoilt cabin crew bring down this airline".

"It was diabolical," said Ken Ablard from the British Airlines Stewards and Stewardesses Association section of Unite.

He added that it represented "bullying and harassment".

BA said the wall at its headquarters near London Heathrow Airport was part of a programme of internal communications called "Backing BA", intended to enable staff to express their commitment to the airline by writing messages of support.

BA chief executive Willie Walsh, writing in last week's company newsletter said the wall "is filling up with some heartfelt messages of support and passion for our business".

His column was accompanied by a large photo of the wall, featuring an employee completing a unfinished sentence starting "the union should not be allowed to ruin..."

A BA spokesman said: "Any degrading or inappropriate comments would have been removed straight away.

"We're a responsible company. If people felt they were being bullied or harassed they should report it immediately."

The company said the white board had now been removed after five days, and was never intended to stay there for a long period.

The spokesman declined to comment on a union claim that one member of staff completed the statement "I'm backing BA because" with the phrase "I'm skint".

Strike threat

The row comes as BA cabin crew staff are being balloted for a second time over possible strike action in a dispute over pay and job cuts.

Unite members had been set to strike over the issue over Christmas, but a High Court action by BA prevented it.

The judge ruled that the union had incorrectly allowed staff who had recently left the firm to vote.

The latest strike ballot ends on 22 February.