This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/business/8561352.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Union considering BA strike dates | Union considering BA strike dates |
| (18 minutes later) | |
| Union leaders representing British Airways cabin crew are meeting to decide whether to call strike dates. | Union leaders representing British Airways cabin crew are meeting to decide whether to call strike dates. |
| Negotiations ended on Wednesday, but BA said it was "open for talks", while the Unite union told the BBC that "the lines of communication are still open". | Negotiations ended on Wednesday, but BA said it was "open for talks", while the Unite union told the BBC that "the lines of communication are still open". |
| BA cabin crew voted for strike action last month over jobs, pay and changes to working conditions. | BA cabin crew voted for strike action last month over jobs, pay and changes to working conditions. |
| The Unite union has until Monday 15 March to announce any strike dates, the day when its mandate runs out. | The Unite union has until Monday 15 March to announce any strike dates, the day when its mandate runs out. |
| "We can't rule out that strike dates will be announced later, but there are also clearly windows of opportunity available if there is sufficient willing on both sides for progress to be made," BBC business correspondent John Moylan said. | |
| BA could allow the union to extend its strike mandate to allow for further negotiations, for example, delaying any announcement of industrial action. | |
| Alternatively, the union could announce strike dates, giving the necessary seven days notice, and both sides could use that time to try and come to a deal. | |
| Union deal rejected | Union deal rejected |
| The latest talks ended after a union-proposed cost-cutting package was rejected by BA. | |
| Unite said the plans could save the airline £63m, through a combination of pay cuts and an offer for some staff to work part-time. | Unite said the plans could save the airline £63m, through a combination of pay cuts and an offer for some staff to work part-time. |
| BA said the proposals would not save the airline that much and "would require pay cuts for crew of between £1,000 and £2,700 a year". | BA said the proposals would not save the airline that much and "would require pay cuts for crew of between £1,000 and £2,700 a year". |
| Jamie Bowden, former British Airways cabin crew manager: "The strike cannot be as effective as the union would like it to be" | Jamie Bowden, former British Airways cabin crew manager: "The strike cannot be as effective as the union would like it to be" |
| The airline said its own proposals would save £62.5m from "minor changes to onboard crew numbers and [would] involve no reduction in earnings for existing crew". | The airline said its own proposals would save £62.5m from "minor changes to onboard crew numbers and [would] involve no reduction in earnings for existing crew". |
| The current dispute between BA and its cabin crew began in November last year, when BA announced plans to cut the number of cabin crew on long-haul flights, and freeze pay for two years. | The current dispute between BA and its cabin crew began in November last year, when BA announced plans to cut the number of cabin crew on long-haul flights, and freeze pay for two years. |
| Unite complained that it had not been adequately consulted on the plans, and balloted members on strike action. | Unite complained that it had not been adequately consulted on the plans, and balloted members on strike action. |
| Despite overwhelming support from union members, a strike planned for Christmas was blocked by an injunction after the High Court declared it illegal. | Despite overwhelming support from union members, a strike planned for Christmas was blocked by an injunction after the High Court declared it illegal. |
| Cutting costs | Cutting costs |
| BA has said it is already preparing contingency plans for a possible strike, and has trained up 1,000 staff as cabin crew in order to cover for striking workers. | BA has said it is already preparing contingency plans for a possible strike, and has trained up 1,000 staff as cabin crew in order to cover for striking workers. |
| Jamie Bowden, an aviation analyst and former BA employee, told the BBC that BA had up to 7,000 crew to work on aircraft, and was also preparing to allow other airlines to fly BA passengers in order to minimise disruption. | Jamie Bowden, an aviation analyst and former BA employee, told the BBC that BA had up to 7,000 crew to work on aircraft, and was also preparing to allow other airlines to fly BA passengers in order to minimise disruption. |
| "With 7,000 crew ready to work the strike cannot be as effective as Unite would like it to be," he said. | "With 7,000 crew ready to work the strike cannot be as effective as Unite would like it to be," he said. |
| BA remains under pressure to cut costs after reporting huge losses in recent months. | BA remains under pressure to cut costs after reporting huge losses in recent months. |
| Last month it said it lost £342m for the last nine months of 2009. That followed an annual loss of more than £400m reported in May last year. | Last month it said it lost £342m for the last nine months of 2009. That followed an annual loss of more than £400m reported in May last year. |