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BA: '75% will fly despite strike' BA: '75% will fly despite strike'
(31 minutes later)
British Airways has said that it will fly more than three quarters of passengers during the next strike by cabin crew, due to begin at midnight. British Airways expects to fly more than three quarters of passengers during the next cabin crew strike, due to begin at midnight.
It is more than last weekend's strike, but cancellations will affect 17,000 customers during the four-day stoppage. This is more than during last weekend's strike, but some 17,000 customers will still be hit by flight cancellations during the four-day stoppage.
Willie Walsh said he was pleased to be able to offer so many flights, but was "really sorry" for affected travellers. The news comes amid growing hostilities between BA and the Unite union over the travel perks enjoyed by cabin crew.
He also said he would not reinstate the perks of striking crew that the union says is crucial to any peace deal. BA boss Willie Walsh has said he will never reinstate the perks for strikers.
British Airways said that all London Gatwick and London City flights would operate normally. At its main hub at Heathrow, it said it planned to run at least 55% of short-haul and 70% of long-haul flights. BA said that during the strike, all London Gatwick and London City flights would operate normally. At its main hub, Heathrow, at least 55% of short-haul and 70% of long-haul flights would operate.
BA STAFF PERKS Staff and family/close friend get tickets at 10% of face valueReciprocal agreements with other airlinesBut tickets are standby only - so there is no guarantee of a seat What perks have BA staff lost?BA STAFF PERKS Staff and family/close friend get tickets at 10% of face valueReciprocal agreements with other airlinesBut tickets are standby only - so there is no guarantee of a seat What perks have BA staff lost?
Of the 240,000 customers originally booked to fly in the strike period, 180,000 will fly either on BA planes, or on hired planes. A further 43,000 have been rebooked onto other carriers, or changed the dates of their travel, BA said.Of the 240,000 customers originally booked to fly in the strike period, 180,000 will fly either on BA planes, or on hired planes. A further 43,000 have been rebooked onto other carriers, or changed the dates of their travel, BA said.
The unite union said the airline's contingency plans were "costing more money than it would cost to solve the dispute". Mr Walsh said he was pleased to be offering more flights, but was "really sorry" for affected travellers.
Both sides have said they are open for talks, but there are no plans for any meetings ahead of the industrial action, making a last-minute deal highly unlikely. The Unite union said the airline's contingency plans were "costing more money than it would cost to solve the dispute".
Speaking at the EU summit in Brussels, Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who has been involved in efforts to end the dispute, said he hoped workers would "recognise the need to get back to work as quickly as possible".
'No compromise''No compromise'
The union has insisted that any peace deal must now include giving back travel concessions to cabin crew. Travel perks available to cabin crew have become the latest issue to divide the two sides. BA has withdrawn these perks for staff who went on strike.
But, speaking on BBC television, Mr Walsh took a hard line, saying strikers knew their perks would stop and that he would not "compromise" on this. But Unite said in a letter to members that the "full restoration" of these concessions was a condition of any peace deal with BA.
And the BBC has learnt that some cabin crew are considering legal action over the withdrawal of these perks.
Brian Boyd, Unite: "We are now committed to the four days of action"Brian Boyd, Unite: "We are now committed to the four days of action"
But, speaking on BBC television, Mr Walsh took a hard line, saying strikers knew their perks would stop and that he would not "compromise" on this.
The BA chief executive's comments are likely to intensify hostilities with Unite. In a letter sent to members, Unite called the ending of travel concessions "unacceptable anti-union bullying".The BA chief executive's comments are likely to intensify hostilities with Unite. In a letter sent to members, Unite called the ending of travel concessions "unacceptable anti-union bullying".
Mr Walsh rejected suggestions that the withdrawal of concessions was a "punishment" or attempt to "break the union".Mr Walsh rejected suggestions that the withdrawal of concessions was a "punishment" or attempt to "break the union".
But he said the perks would "never" be reinstated, something likely to widen the rift with Unite. "We told them [cabin crew] about the consequences if they went on strike." But he said the perks would "never" be reinstated. "We told them [cabin crew] about the consequences if they went on strike."
In a letter to cabin crew members before Mr Walsh's interview, Unite said: "Any agreement to end this dispute must and will include a framework for the full restoration of those travel concessions." Staff travel is a non-contractual benefit granted solely at the company's discretion, he said.
Union bashingUnion bashing
Meanwhile, 116 industrial relations experts have accused Mr Walsh of union-busting.
ANALYSIS By Martin Shankleman, BBC employment correspondentANALYSIS By Martin Shankleman, BBC employment correspondent
Willie Walsh reinforced his uncompromising reputation by speaking in such absolute terms. When asked if he will restore the travel perks taken away from strikers, he replied: "That will never happen... We have never, never negotiated on these perks and we never will."Willie Walsh reinforced his uncompromising reputation by speaking in such absolute terms. When asked if he will restore the travel perks taken away from strikers, he replied: "That will never happen... We have never, never negotiated on these perks and we never will."
While the categorical nature of these statements makes BA's negotiating position crystal clear, it has also, by definition, made it harder to reach an eventual deal.While the categorical nature of these statements makes BA's negotiating position crystal clear, it has also, by definition, made it harder to reach an eventual deal.
In a previous strike in 1997, the perks were removed by BA, only to be reinstated at the end of the dispute. This must have fuelled the hopes of some strikers that the same conciliatory approach would be adopted by BA this time.In a previous strike in 1997, the perks were removed by BA, only to be reinstated at the end of the dispute. This must have fuelled the hopes of some strikers that the same conciliatory approach would be adopted by BA this time.
In a letter to the Guardian newspaper, the academics say they can find no other reason for his stance in the industrial dispute with the Unite union. Mr Walsh's conduct during the dispute has drawn criticism from 116 industrial relations experts, who have accused him of union-busting.
BA rejects the academics' claim, adding it has been in talks for months. In a letter to the Guardian newspaper, the academics write: "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."
The academics come from a range of universities from the UK and elsewhere, including the London School of Economics. In a statement, BA rejected the charge, pointing out that Mr Walsh spent three days at the TUC talking with union representatives.
"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." The company said it had been trying to resolve the disagreements with cabin crew for months, and had asked the TUC and conciliation service Acas to get involved.
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.
It also pointed out that Mr Walsh himself had spent three days at the TUC talking with union representatives.
Renewed strike
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. BA said it expected the stoppage to cost it £7m a day.
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.