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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| BA strike ballot results imminent | BA strike ballot results imminent |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| British Airways is expected to face fresh threats of strikes by some cabin crew, when the results of a ballot on industrial action are revealed. | British Airways is expected to face fresh threats of strikes by some cabin crew, when the results of a ballot on industrial action are revealed. |
| About 12,000 members of the Unite union have been voting on whether to take action in a row over jobs, pay and working conditions. | About 12,000 members of the Unite union have been voting on whether to take action in a row over jobs, pay and working conditions. |
| An earlier vote, overwhelmingly in favour of strikes, was deemed illegal. | An earlier vote, overwhelmingly in favour of strikes, was deemed illegal. |
| On Friday, a High Court judge ruled that BA was within its rights to make the changes to save money. | On Friday, a High Court judge ruled that BA was within its rights to make the changes to save money. |
| The union had claimed it was not consulted properly, but the judge said the "less-than-extreme changes" including freezing pay and cutting crew on long-haul flights, were not unreasonable. | The union had claimed it was not consulted properly, but the judge said the "less-than-extreme changes" including freezing pay and cutting crew on long-haul flights, were not unreasonable. |
| Public criticism | Public criticism |
| Staff have been voting for two weeks in the ballot whose result will be announced at 1400 GMT on Monday. | |
| The cabin crew voted by more than nine to one in favour of strikes last year and union officials expect another resounding "yes" vote. | The cabin crew voted by more than nine to one in favour of strikes last year and union officials expect another resounding "yes" vote. |
| They were due to take 12 days of strike action over Christmas but BA won a legal battle to prevent this, after it emerged that the union had balloted members who were no longer at the airline. | They were due to take 12 days of strike action over Christmas but BA won a legal battle to prevent this, after it emerged that the union had balloted members who were no longer at the airline. |
| Legally, the union must give a week's notice if plans to take action - meaning strikes could begin from March 1. | Legally, the union must give a week's notice if plans to take action - meaning strikes could begin from March 1. |
| Unite has already pledged that there will not be stoppages over the Easter period. | Unite has already pledged that there will not be stoppages over the Easter period. |
| BA has already threatened to take away generous travel perks for workers who do strike. | BA has already threatened to take away generous travel perks for workers who do strike. |
| BBC transport correspondent Richard Scott said it would be interesting to see whether negative media coverage, criticism from the public over its Christmas strike plans and the threatened loss of perks, would make a difference to the result of the ballot. | BBC transport correspondent Richard Scott said it would be interesting to see whether negative media coverage, criticism from the public over its Christmas strike plans and the threatened loss of perks, would make a difference to the result of the ballot. |
| The changes were 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 changes were 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 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 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. |