BA cabin crew discuss strike action

Negotiations with BA have stalled - Unite

British Airways' cabin crew were meeting today (November 2) at Sandown Park Racecourse in Surrey to discuss possible strike action.

The meeting was called by Unite, the union which represents the majority of BA's 14,000 cabin crew.

In a statement, it said it will tell members about why negotiations with the airline have stalled.

Derek Simpson, Unite's joint general secretary, said: "BA management's determination to impose unacceptable contractual changes on cabin crew leaves us no alternative."

Unite has also announced plans to launch a legal challenge against BA.

It said: "The challenge, in the High Court, is over the imposition of new contracts, including the reduction of crewing levels, which BA said it will force cabin crew to work to from 16 November."

The High Court hearing is currently set for this Thursday (November 5).

BA has reported pre-losses of £401m for last year and is expected to announce further losses for the second quarter on Friday (November 6).

The carrier said it is fighting for survival in what it has called the worst downturn in aviation history.

The airline has been in talks with Unite and another union, GMB, for several months, after announcing plans to make the equivalent of 1,700 staff redundant.

The airline said 1,000 cabin staff wished to leave while a further 3,000 wanted to switch to part time working.

BA also wants to impose a two year wage freeze on staff and change working practices.

This includes cutting staff on long hauls flights form 15 to 14, a change the airline plans to impose on November 16.

Unite said the changes would involve significant contractual changes for remaining employees and introduce "a second tier workforce on poorer pay and conditions".

BA said in a statement: "We have put together a package of changes, which despite the unprecedented financial circumstances facing the company, not only protects current cabin crew but also offers many new benefits.

"We have made it clear that there will be no change to the individual terms and conditions of our current crew. They will not take a pay cut. In fact some 75% of crew will receive a pay scale increase worth between two and seven per cent this year and again next year."

The airline's proposed new salaries for new cabin crew recruits will be ahead of the market rate, it added.

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