Misery for passengers as BA union unveils strike dates

Talks aimed at averting industrial action at British Airways (BA) collapsed earlier this week and, as a result, Unit has today announced BA cabin crew members will strike for three days from March 20 and for four days from March 27.

Last month, BA‘s 12,000 cabin crew members voted to take industrial action over cost-cutting measures, which include a pay freeze and a switch to part-time working for thousands of staff.

Cabin crew members were scheduled to take 12 days of strike action over the Christmas period but the High Court ruled that the Unite union had not correctly included the votes of some cabin crew who had already accepted voluntary redundancy under the airline’s cost-cutting programme.

BA has admitted in the past that it is fighting for its survival and said the cost-cutting programme is part of a strategy to reduce salary costs.

The union confirmed it would not strike over Easter, but has warned further industrial action could be taken after 14 April if a resolution had not been agreed.

Meanwhile, BA is also in talks with baggage handling staff at Heathrow, but a spokesperson for the airline said any talk of strike action involving them would be “extremely speculative and premature”.

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