Thousands of British Airways (BA) cabin crew began a five-day strike yesterday, though the airline claimed it would still be able to carry 70 percent of passengers who have booked flights.
The walkout in the increasingly bitter feud follows the failure of weekend talks between the union, called United, and the airline. A key issue is Unite’s demand that the airline restore employee travel benefits that the airline suspended following an earlier strike.
The union’s joint leader, Tony Woodley, said that BA had already secured its aim of cutting 1,700 jobs. He said the dispute had turned personal because he believed the airline dislikes the cabin crew’s Unite union branch, the British Airlines Stewards and Stewardesses Association (BASSA).
PHOTO: REUTERS
British Airways said it had accepted an invitation for more negotiations, adding that it believed the union would also accept.
“Those savings are in the bank. This dispute has been broadened, so this is not just about cost downs, it is about regime change. It is personal because of the dislike and trust of the branch,” Woodley said in an interview with BBC radio.
BA said it had already offered to reinstate travel concessions to cabin crew once all elements of its offer were implemented, but it accused Woodley and the union of reopening issues that had been settled.
“This position reinforces our view that BASSA, at the center of this dispute, is not serious in trying to come to a negotiated agreement with British Airways — and that Tony cannot control BASSA,” the airline said in a statement.
BA said all flights at London Gatwick and London City airports would operate as normal, and it expected to operate more than 60 percent of long-haul flights and half of its short-haul schedule from London Heathrow.
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