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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| BA's Walsh 'wants to break union' | BA's Walsh 'wants to break union' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Ninety-five employment relations experts have accused British Airways boss Willie Walsh of union-busting. | Ninety-five employment relations experts have accused British Airways boss Willie Walsh of union-busting. |
| In a letter to the Guardian, the academics say they can find no other reason for his stance in the industrial dispute with the Unite union. | In a letter to the Guardian, the academics say they can find no other reason for his stance in the industrial dispute with the Unite union. |
| BA cabin crew are due to begin a second round of strikes - a four-day stoppage - at midnight over proposed changes to their pay and conditions. | BA cabin crew are due to begin a second round of strikes - a four-day stoppage - at midnight over proposed changes to their pay and conditions. |
| BA rejects the academics' claim, adding it has been in talks for months. | BA rejects the academics' claim, adding it has been in talks for months. |
| The academics come from a range of universities from the UK and elsewhere, including the London School of Economics and Warwick University. | |
| The letter states the signatories have expertise in analysing the causes of industrial disputes and the dynamics of strike action. | The letter states the signatories have expertise in analysing the causes of industrial disputes and the dynamics of strike action. |
| "It is clear to us that the actions of the chief executive... are explicable only by the desire to break the union which represents the cabin crew." | "It is clear to us that the actions of the chief executive... are explicable only by the desire to break the union which represents the cabin crew." |
| It says that a victory for the company would bring "unilateral management prerogative" and an erosion of worker rights and democracy. | It says that a victory for the company would bring "unilateral management prerogative" and an erosion of worker rights and democracy. |
| In a statement, BA set out several specific rebuttals of the charges. | In a statement, BA set out several specific rebuttals of the charges. |
| The airline asked why, if strike-breaking was the aim, it had involved the TUC and the conciliation service Acas to try to reach a negotiated settlement with the union in the dispute with cabin crew. | The airline asked why, if strike-breaking was the aim, it had involved the TUC and the conciliation service Acas to try to reach a negotiated settlement with the union in the dispute with cabin crew. |
| Renewed strike | Renewed strike |
| It also pointed out that Mr Walsh himself had spent three days at the TUC talking with union representatives. | It also pointed out that Mr Walsh himself had spent three days at the TUC talking with union representatives. |
| BA is loss-making and facing stiff competition from other airlines and needs to cut costs. | BA is loss-making and facing stiff competition from other airlines and needs to cut costs. |
| Cabin crew, represented by the Unite union, held a three-day strike last weekend over proposed changes to pay and working conditions. They are preparing for a further four-day strike, set to begin at midnight. | Cabin crew, represented by the Unite union, held a three-day strike last weekend over proposed changes to pay and working conditions. They are preparing for a further four-day strike, set to begin at midnight. |
| They have repeatedly called for further talks with BA, and have offered their own programme of cost-reductions. | They have repeatedly called for further talks with BA, and have offered their own programme of cost-reductions. |
| The dispute has become increasingly fractious, with the union calling BA "bullying and contemptuous" towards its employees. | The dispute has become increasingly fractious, with the union calling BA "bullying and contemptuous" towards its employees. |
| British Airways said it has lost at least £21m because of the action. | British Airways said it has lost at least £21m because of the action. |