BA strikes off as court rules against union

A High Court injunction has been won by British Airways to halt the latest strikes by cabin crew.

The first of a series of four five-day walkouts had been due to start at midnight, but will not go ahead following the decision by Mr Justice McCombe based on a technicality and whether the Unite union followed rules in contacting its members with strike result details.

Unite is to appeal against the injunction ruling and may go back to court today (Tuesday).

BA said it aimed to restore a full flying programme at Heathrow by the weekend and a full programme at Gatwick and London City Airport as planned.

The airline apologised to passengers due to travel during the early part of the planned industrial action and will see flights affected.

Unite condemned the judgment as an "absolute disgrace" and as a landmark attack on free trade unionism and the right to take industrial action.

"Its implication is that it is now all-but impossible to take legally-protected strike action against any employer who wishes to seek an injunction on even the most trivial grounds," a statement said.

"Because of the far-reaching consequences of this injunction for all trade unions and indeed for our democracy, we are seeking leave to appeal immediately. It need hardly be said that this brings the prospect of a settlement to the dispute with British Airways not one day closer.

"However, we will of course comply with the injunction, and will be immediately telling our cabin crew members, who have three times voted against the company’s conduct by overwhelming majorities, to work normally and not take or threaten any industrial action."

BA said: "We are delighted for our customers that Unite’s plans for extreme and unjustified strike action cannot go ahead.

"We are sorry the court judgment cannot undo the disruption already suffered by some customers who were due to travel during the early days of the union’s industrial action.

"As Unite knew, we had to announce last Thursday the re-arrangement of our Heathrow schedule to give customers as much notice as possible about changes to their travel plans necessitated by the strike call.

"Ash disruption permitting, we will aim to restore a full flying programme at Heathrow by the weekend. We will also offer a full programme at Gatwick and London City, as planned.

"We hope all sections of Unite, including the leaders of the cabin crew branch Bassa, will take this opportunity to pause and focus on achieving the early and peaceful end to this dispute which the travelling public and all our employees want. "

by Phil Davies