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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Union loses fight to halt BA cuts | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The union Unite has failed in a High Court action against British Airways to try to overturn changes brought in by the airline last year. | The union Unite has failed in a High Court action against British Airways to try to overturn changes brought in by the airline last year. |
| It claimed it was not consulted properly, and said the changes including freezing pay and cutting crew on long-haul flights, were imposed. | It claimed it was not consulted properly, and said the changes including freezing pay and cutting crew on long-haul flights, were imposed. |
| The union had been set to strike over the issues over Christmas, but a separate High Court action stopped it. | The union had been set to strike over the issues over Christmas, but a separate High Court action stopped it. |
| A new strike ballot is ongoing, and will close on 22 February. | A new strike ballot is ongoing, and will close on 22 February. |
| 'Unnecessary' | 'Unnecessary' |
| BA, which has already threatened to take away generous travel perks for workers who do strike, said it was "extremely pleased" with the ruling. | BA, which has already threatened to take away generous travel perks for workers who do strike, said it was "extremely pleased" with the ruling. |
| "Unite's central demand over the last three months has been that we reverse these changes, despite the severe financial impact this would have on the company at a time when we are facing a second year of record annual losses," the company said. | "Unite's central demand over the last three months has been that we reverse these changes, despite the severe financial impact this would have on the company at a time when we are facing a second year of record annual losses," the company said. |
| "Unite brought this case to court. We believe it should reflect on the court's decision rather than impose an unnecessary strike on the travelling public." | "Unite brought this case to court. We believe it should reflect on the court's decision rather than impose an unnecessary strike on the travelling public." |
| Unite assistant general secretary Len McCluskey said that industrial action remained a "possibility". | Unite assistant general secretary Len McCluskey said that industrial action remained a "possibility". |
| "This regrettable judgment makes absolutely no difference to the substance of our dispute with BA," he said. | "This regrettable judgment makes absolutely no difference to the substance of our dispute with BA," he said. |
| Service impact? | Service impact? |
| The plans for the changes were first presented to BA staff - and unanimously rejected - at a mass meeting in July. | The plans for the changes were first presented to BA staff - and unanimously rejected - at a mass meeting in July. |
| ANALYSIS By Richard Scott, BBC transport correspondent | ANALYSIS By Richard Scott, BBC transport correspondent |
| The ruling from the High Court is a big blow to the union, Unite. | The ruling from the High Court is a big blow to the union, Unite. |
| It's the second court case it has lost to BA in two months, after the High Court ruled its Christmas strike was illegal. Now it is waiting for the result of a new strike ballot which we'll get on Monday. | It's the second court case it has lost to BA in two months, after the High Court ruled its Christmas strike was illegal. Now it is waiting for the result of a new strike ballot which we'll get on Monday. |
| It'll be interesting to see whether negative media coverage, criticism from the public and the threat from BA of the removal of generous staff travel perks for strikers, will make a difference to the result. | It'll be interesting to see whether negative media coverage, criticism from the public and the threat from BA of the removal of generous staff travel perks for strikers, will make a difference to the result. |
| They were then introduced in November - when BA reduced the number of cabin crew on long haul flights from 15 to 14 and brought in a two-year pay freeze from 2010. | They were then introduced in November - when BA reduced the number of cabin crew on long haul flights from 15 to 14 and brought in a two-year pay freeze from 2010. |
| The union said this would hit passenger services, as well as the earnings and career prospects of cabin crew. | The union said this would hit passenger services, as well as the earnings and career prospects of cabin crew. |
| The airline has also proposed new contracts for fresh recruits and newly-promoted staff. These include a single on-board management grade, no seniority, promotion on merit, and pay set at the market rate plus 10%. | The airline has also proposed new contracts for fresh recruits and newly-promoted staff. These include a single on-board management grade, no seniority, promotion on merit, and pay set at the market rate plus 10%. |
| This would still see new recruits paid significantly less than current staff, however. | This would still see new recruits paid significantly less than current staff, however. |
| The union argues it should have been consulted, because the changes are contractual. | The union argues it should have been consulted, because the changes are contractual. |
| But BA disputed this, saying it was not obliged to consult as "the changes do not alter contractual terms and conditions for individual crew members". | But BA disputed this, saying it was not obliged to consult as "the changes do not alter contractual terms and conditions for individual crew members". |
| The changes are all part of cost-cutting measures at the loss-making airline. | The changes are all part of cost-cutting measures at the loss-making airline. |
| Earlier this month, British Airways announced it made a pre-tax loss of £50m ($79m) in the three months to December 2009. | Earlier this month, British Airways announced it made a pre-tax loss of £50m ($79m) in the three months to December 2009. |
| This was down from the £122m it lost in the same period in 2008 and smaller than many analysts had expected. | This was down from the £122m it lost in the same period in 2008 and smaller than many analysts had expected. |
| However, BA's pre-tax loss in the nine months to December rose to £342m from £70m in the same period in 2008. | However, BA's pre-tax loss in the nine months to December rose to £342m from £70m in the same period in 2008. |
| Mr Justice Sir Christopher Holland said he had made his judgement based in the light of the airline's financial position. | Mr Justice Sir Christopher Holland said he had made his judgement based in the light of the airline's financial position. |
| "If [the changes] materially and fairly contribute to the preservation of BA and more importantly for present purposes job security and pay, how can I condemn the less-than-extreme changes as unreasonable?" |