Unite seeking fresh ballot on strike action

Summer strikes expected

Unite is hoping to tell BA today (June 22) that it plans to hold a new ballot for further strike action by the airline's cabin crew in August.

If the union, which represents the bulk of the airline's cabin crew, does tell BA today, it will be able to hold its ballot from next Tuesday (June 29).

If its members vote for new strike action, the union could call stoppages from early August.  

A spokeswoman for the Union told ABTN that it was now "working on the process to inform the company, hopefully later today".

She confirmed that Unite would ask cabin crew to approve further strike action but said it had not yet been decided how long any strike would be.

She said the notice to BA gave it and the union a week to talk.

The last talks between the two sides to settle the long running dispute, initially about working practices, broke up last week.

BA has twice won court battles to stop strikes going ahead but three five day strikes were held in May and June.

Willie Walsh, BA's ceo, said last week that if any further strikes went ahead, the airline would be able to run 100% of its long haul services.

During the previous three strikes, BA ran normal services out of Gatwick and London City Airports.

During the last dispute which ended on June 9, BA said ran  more than 80% of long haul services and 60% of its short haul services out of Heathrow.

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