British Airways (BA) Strike News

Unite is to launch a legal challenge against British Airways’ plans to impose new pay and conditions on 14,000 cabin crew, the union said today.

Originally posted here: href="http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/266/f/3852/s/6d9dded/l/0L0Sindependent0O0Cnews0Cbusiness0Cnews0Cunion0Eto0Eseek0Einjunction0Eover0Eba0Eplans0E18120A280Bhtml/story01.htm" title="Union to seek injunction over BA plans">Union to seek injunction over BA plans

BA facing union legal challenge

BA says it needs to make changes

Unite the union is to take legal action to try to stop British Airways’ plans to impose new pay and conditions on 14,000 cabin crew.It will make the High Court challenge “against the imposition of new contracts” which it says are due to be brought in by BA on 16 November. The action is separate to a ballot for industrial action, a spokeswoman said. BA argues the changes are not contractual so can be brought in without the unions’ consent. However, the union disagrees. It says one example of the proposed changes is the plan to cut the number of cabin crew on long haul flights by one. The union says this requires existing crew to absorb their responsibilities so is a contractual change. Unite hopes a court hearing will take place next week. It says if the court rules in its favour and the changes are prevented from coming into force, it will review the strike ballot which is under way. Cost-cuttingOn Wednesday, BA held talks with unions aimed at averting a dispute with BA’s check-in workers and other staff who deal with customers. Officials from the Unite and GMB unions met airline management to discuss planned job losses and cost cutting. BA plans to shed 3,700 jobs in addition to the 2,500 it has cut since 2008. Earlier this week, BA said it was “disappointed” by the Unite union’s decision to ballot cabin crew about whether to take strike action. Unions and management have been in talks since the announcement of cost-cutting measures earlier this month. A BA spokesman said the announcement of changes followed more than nine months of negotiation with Unite. “The changes do not alter contractual terms and conditions for individual crew members. British Airways is facing very difficult economic conditions and is heading for a second consecutive year of financial losses for the first time in our history,” he said. “Everyone within the company knows we must reduce our costs to move back toward profitability.” BA expects to report a big loss for this year, which will be its second in a row. It has said that the changes are essential to its survival. In common with most airlines, it has been hit by falling passenger numbers in the recession as well as the volatility of fuel prices.

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Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8334100.stm

British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh is to meet with union chiefs today as part of a renewed bid to avert looming industrial action this winter. The airline boss, himself a former negotiator for the Irish Airline Pilots Association, will spearhead efforts to persuade frontline staff that cutbacks are necessary. Cabin crew have already said they will go to the ballot box in a row over new contracts, but the latest talks focus on check-in staff and other employees. Officials from the Unite and GMB unions will meet with management to discuss BA’s plans to cut 3,700 jobs on top of the 2,500 already shed since 2008. They are concerned that the proposed job losses will lead to outsourcing of airport staff, as well as unfavourable new rosters and a lower rate of starting pay. “It beggars belief that the airline would want to cause conflict with workers who are so customer-focused and proud of their jobs,” commented Steve Turner, national officer of Unite, ahead of today’s new round of talks. “That … is just unacceptable.” But Mr Walsh has defended the measures, accusing the unions of “[f]ailing to grasp the critical need for BA to make significant changes for the future of the business”.”We have got fantastic cabin crew but we can’t avoid the realities of the cost structures that we have within the business ,” the airline boss was quoted by The Times as saying. “They simply are not sustainable. This is a business that is losing money.” Unite yesterday confirmed that it will ballot BA’s 14,000 cabin crew over strike action after the airline tabled dramatic changes to working practices. Among the measures put forward by BA management was a heavily curtailed allowances system, which would see the annual amount claimed by some long-haul cabin crew plummet by 5,000. The airline also wants to freeze basic salaries for two years. British Airways posted losses of 401 million this summer, prompting it to unleash a wave of cost-cutting measures that included asking staff to work for free.

Source: http://news.cheapflights.co.uk/2009/10/british-airways-in-fresh-talks-to-avert-strike.html

BA to meet unions over cut plans

BA says it needs to make changes

British Airways is set to hold talks with unions later aimed at averting a dispute with BA’s check-in workers and other staff who deal with customers.Officials from the Unite and GMB unions will meet airline management to discuss planned job losses and cost cutting. Unite has already announced a ballot on industrial action among almost 14,000 cabin crew in protest at the imposition of new employment contracts next month. BA plans to cut 3,700 jobs in addition to the 2,500 it has shed since 2008. ‘Beggars belief’Negotiations with the check-in staff ended without agreement in the summer. Wednesday’s meeting is being seen as an attempt to get talks back on track. BA said chief executive Willie Walsh would lead the meeting for the carrier – but that this was “the normal process”. National officer of Unite, Steve Turner, said there were fears that BA’s airport staff would be outsourced, rosters changed and a new, lower rate of pay introduced for new employees.. He also claimed that BA was looking to cut 1,250 jobs among that section of the workforce, including about 800 at Heathrow. “It beggars belief that the airline would want to cause conflict with workers who are so customer-focussed and proud of their jobs that it is just unacceptable,” Mr Turner said. ‘Essential’ changesEarlier this week, BA said it was “disappointed” by the Unite union’s decision to ballot cabin crew about whether to take strike action. Unions and management have been in talks since the announcement of cost-cutting measures earlier this month. BA denied it would be cutting pay, and saying current cabin crew remained the best paid in the country “by some way” and that some would get pay rises. BA expects to report a big loss for this year, which will be its second in a row. It has said that the changes are essential to its survival. In common with most airlines, it has been hit by falling passenger numbers in the recession as well as the volatility of fuel prices.

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Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8329045.stm

Differences between the U.S. transportation and justice departments are contributing to delays in a ruling on the proposed alliance between American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia.

Original post: U.S. to Miss Deadline on Airline Antitrust Ruling

Strike ballot for BA cabin crew

Unite’s Steve Turner: Members are ‘completely and absolutely fed up’

British Airways has said it is “disappointed” by the Unite union’s decision to ballot 14,000 cabin crew about whether to take strike action.Unions and management have been in talks since the announcement of cost-cutting measures earlier this month. BA had said it would cut 1,700 jobs and freeze pay for current staff. “Management’s determination to impose unacceptable contractual changes on cabin crew leaves us no alternative,” said Unite union boss Derek Simpson. “Negotiation, not imposition, is the only proper way to conduct industrial relations.” Pay increasesIn a statement, BA denied it would be cutting pay, and said: “Our current cabin crew remain the best paid in the country by some way.”

It added: “In fact some 75% of crew will receive a pay scale increase worth between 2% and 7% this year and again next year.” BA expects to report a big loss for this year, which will be its second in a row. It has said that the changes are essential to its survival. In common with most airlines, it has been hit by falling passenger numbers in the recession as well as the volatility of fuel prices. The job cuts are part of a total of 3,700 jobs set to be axed over the next year. ‘Absolutely unacceptable’”Its cabin crew costs are much higher than its rivals, in particular people like Easyjet and Virgin Atlantic,” said Simon Calder, travel editor of the Independent. “What BA decided to do unilaterally after months and months of talks… is to remove one senior member of cabin crew from each flight to and from Heathrow.”

Mr Walsh flew to Las Vegas on Sunday on BA’s inaugural direct flight

Union members were already due to hold an emergency meeting on Monday, 2 November. The changes are due to come into effect on 16 November. “This is completely and absolutely unacceptable,” said Steve Turner, Unite’s national officer for civil aviation. “It’s more work being done by less people, providing a worse service, on the UK’s national flag-carrier.” Last week, British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh held “open and frank” talks with union leaders to try to avoid cabin crew balloting for strike action. Mr Walsh is currently in Las Vegas, having flown there on Sunday on BA’s inaugural direct flight to the US city.

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Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8325917.stm

BA chief in ‘frank’ union talks

BA is hoping to avoid strike action

British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh has held “open and frank” talks with union leaders to try to avoid cabin crew balloting for strike action.The two sides have been locked in a row about BA’s plans to cut 1,700 jobs and make changes to pay and conditions. Unite has said it will have no option but to ballot for industrial action if BA’s changes are imposed on staff. BA said Mr Walsh had written to Unite joint leader Derek Simpson after the meeting. The union declined to comment. “The discussion about cabin crew pay and productivity issues was open and frank,” BA said in a statement. The job cuts are part of a total of 3,700 jobs to be axed over the next year. BA said in addition to the 1,700 cabin crew jobs, it was looking to reduce its check-in and administration staff headcount. The airline also plans to freeze pay for current staff and cut wages for new workers. Unite has called the proposals a “fundamental attack” on jobs, wages and career opportunities.

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Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8314440.stm