British Airways strike - update 12/3/10 - March strike dates named

worldtraveller

Union bosses at British Airways will launch a new strike ballot in two weeks — meaning thousands of cabin crew could stage a walk-out at the beginning of March.

Unite aviation officer Steve Turner has written to 12,700 members telling them a new vote for industrial action will begin on January 22.

He said: "We are absolutely committed and determined to ensuring your voice is heard through this ballot."

The move comes just days after union leaders and BA held a first round of peace talks at the TUC — and it could hammer bookings for the lucrative Easter period.

A crippling 12 day Christmas strike by cabin crew over new pay and working conditions was only averted last month when a High Court judge ruled that Unite had broken the rules by sending ballot papers to 900 former staff.

The Sun

M4RKM

Oh Noes.. i'm flying to NYC on March 4th..


*checks*


aah.. Delta....


M

jackieblack

Am surprised to hear they are planning a strike for the beginning of March - kind of assumed it would be at the beginning of April as this would cause more disruption to all those travelling for Easter holidays! :rolleyes:

cclarke12

Yes, I phoned BA yesterday to say that I wanted to look at changing my April flights because of possible strike action (was supposed to be going on a cruise from Miami but have now cancelled as final payment was due and didn’t want to lose the money I have paid for this if BA do go on strike and we can’t get there). The women at the call centre said to me curtly “ I don’t know why you keep talking about strikes, it isn’t happening, they called it off”. I advised her that if she read the national newspapers or watched the news she would know that Unite were re-balloting this month with a view to strike action sometime from March onwards. She said “well no-one has told us about this”. They don’t seem very clued up on what is happening within their own company. I think the timing of the ballot just means early March is the earliest they can strike, and I can’t believe they won’t try and push for it to happen at Easter.

As bad as it sounds I am kind of hoping they do go on strike in April now so I can get my money back, as we have now made new holiday arrangements because of all the uncertainty! I can get a partial refund on my flights if I cancel, but will hold off doing this for now, in case they strike and we can get a full refund.

Not_a_Newbie

I really hope they don't strike. We are flying out to NZ at the end of Feb returning in March. BA are the only carrier that go from Newcastle to Heathrow. We will be !!!!!!ed if they go on strike!!!!

worldtraveller

The Unite trade union will open a strike ballot for British Airways cabin crew on January 25 after two weeks of talks with the airline failed to secure a deal on changes to working conditions, it said on Monday.

The vote is expected to take about a month and, if the almost 13,000 crew affiliated to Unite agree to strike, a walkout could begin from the beginning of March.

Reuters UK

worldtraveller

British Airways cabin crew have ruled out striking over Easter if, as expected, a ballot on industrial action endorses a walkout that could ground the entire airline.

The Unite trade union, which represents about 12,000 air stewards, said it never intended to launch a strike during the spring holiday, from 2 April to 5 April.

Len McCluskey, the Unite assistant general secretary, said: "I want to make it clear that, if industrial action receives the required mandate from the members and strike action is made necessary by continuing management intransigence, we will not call such action over the Easter holiday period. We are making this announcement now so families can plan their travel arrangements in confidence."

Guardian.co.uk

Gee, thanks Len! :rolleyes:

samal

:question:So what do you think, is July & August are safe bets to use BA?

fifeken

worldtraveller wrote: »

The Unite trade union, which represents about 12,000 air stewards, said it never intended to launch a strike during the spring holiday, from 2 April to 5 April.

But what about the week before or the week after when people may be leaving or returning from an Easter break?

worldtraveller

British Airways has told employees with no flying experience they can become cabin crew within 21 days as it plans to build a strike-breaking workforce.

BA flights could be crewed by baggage handlers and check-in agents following three weeks' training ahead of industrial action that could take place as soon as 1 March. In a message to around 25,000 non-cabin crew staff, the airline said temporary recruits will operate a scaled-down service during industrial action, implying that the emphasis with be on passenger safety rather than customer service.

"You will be responsible for delivering a simplified service onboard, undertake duties similar to existing cabin crew and be responsible for the safety of our customers," the company said.

The first training sessions will begin on Monday at BA's Cranebank facility outside Heathrow airport, where newcomers will learn safety basics such as opening exit doors and dealing with onboard fires. The sessions will last 20 days, plus one day of pre-course study.

Guardian.co.uk

captainhaggis

samal wrote: »

:question:So what do you think, is July & August are safe bets to use BA?

Yes. I wouldn't hesitate.

There is a union meeting for the cabin crew on the 25th Feb after the ballot closes on the 22nd.

I would suspect the cabin crew's union will make an announcement about a strike at the meeting so, by my calculations, the earliest the strike could take place will be the 04th March.