British Airways has failed with a call on the Transport & General Workers’
Union to completely call off its planned strike action.
The union agreed to cancel the first day of a planned three-day cabin crew strike due to take place on January 29-31 but a two-day walk out will go ahead.
BA expressed “deep regret” at the failure of talks aimed at averting the reamaining strikes.
Speaking after more than 24 hours of discussions with the T&G’s deputy general secretary Jack Dromey and other senior T&G shop stewards, the airline’s chief executive Willie Walsh said: “We are bitterly disappointed that the T&G has refused to respond positively to the serious proposals we have made on the union’s two crucial issues.
“We have accepted the T&G’s proposal to improve the application of the absence management policy. We have put forward a solution on pay as part of our upcoming wage round. The T&G has rejected our position out of hand.
“It has chosen instead to confirm a 48-hour stoppage for next week that will wreck the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of customers.
“If it is serious about solving this dispute peacefully it should turn away from confrontation and support our approach to Acas in a bid to find a breakthrough.”
The T&G has said it will call out cabin crew members on strike on January 30-31; February 5, 6, 7; and February 12, 13 and 14.
BA is to announce details of its flight programme for the strike days later today.
Customers concerned about their travel plans can call 0800 727 800 or visit www.ba.com.
By Bev Fearis and Phil Davies
