The prospect of a strike by British Airways workers over the August Bank Holiday weekend seemingly became more real yesterday when a second union voted for industrial action.
The Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) yesterday voted for a 24-hour strike next Friday, just a few days after the GMB union agreed to go ahead with industrial action.
According to The Guardian, Brendan Gold, head of the TGWU, said that union members were angry and that a strike vote would send a “clear message” to British Airways. He is quoted as saying: “We want to avert industrial action but we are giving clear notice of the determination of our members.”
British Airways has reacted angrily to the latest vote, accusing the TGWU of ignoring a new offer of a £1,000 bonus for staff who take less than 17 days off sick over a two-year period.
Mike Street, BA’s director of customer service and operations, said: “This vote was based on an offer that has been substantially improved. It would be absurd for the unions to go ahead with a strike on the basis of an old offer. We again urge the unions to re-ballot their members on our new proposal.”
Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad
