11 May 2010
British Airways

The problems caused by the volcanic ash cloud tended to obscure the ongoing problems at British Airways (BA) with regard to the dispute between the airline and cabin crew. However, despite the fact that BA has lost millions as a result of the slew of cancelled flights when UK airspace was closed, the dispute has continued to rumble on and has not been settled. Cabin crew and unions are particularly angry at BA's decision to withdraw travel perks from staff who went on strike in March. Crew received an allocation of free and subsidised flights for themselves and family but BA said that if staff chose to go on strike these would be withdrawn. BA management argued that these were not part of any contractual agreement between itself and staff and so it had the right to do so. Cabin crew and unions have argued that the withdrawal is another example of the bullying and intimidation that staff have suffered from management.

The dispute escalated further yesterday when unions announced further strike action over May and June. The main union, Unite, has said that staff will walk out for four separate five-day strikes beginning on 18th May. The remaining strikes will take place on 24th May, 30th May and 5th June. The plans for strike action will cause severe disruption to the airline at a particularly busy time of the year. Thousands of passengers will have made plans to travel during school half-term and the late spring bank holiday which occur in the latter part of May and into early June. The last strike action is reported to have cost BA around £45 million and this new round of strikes, if it goes ahead, will increase those costs considerably.

BA had tabled a new proposal at the start of May which crew have rejected; it is thought that there were no plans by BA in that deal to restore travel perks although details of the deal have not been published. Unite has said that over 80 per cent of crew rejected the latest deal and that its announcement of strike action allowed BA plenty of time to come back to the negotiating table and settle the dispute prior to the first strike being held. It is unlikely that BA will want to be seen to give in to such an ultimatum and has already said that it does not like to negotiate with the threat of strike action looming over the talks.