British Airways cabin crew are to be balloted on strike action over job losses and changes to working conditions.
The ballot of BA’s 14,000 cabin crew will open next Monday (November 16) and close on December 14, according to the Unite union.
The union says the ballot has been called in response to BA’s determination to force through a package of measures including contractual changes without agreement.
Unite claims the airline has failed to consult properly on 2,000 notified redundancies. It is also determined to impose “fundamental changes” to working practices, work organisation and terms and conditions of employment.
The BA changes are to be introduced on November 16, the day the ballot opens, reducing crew numbers on all flights by between one and three and forcing through new working schedules.
The union says that the company’s imposed reduction to crew numbers is “unfair and unworkable” leaving fewer people doing more work but for less money – and that this will hit the service to passengers.
BA last week announced record losses of almost 300 million pounds.
by Phil Davies
