Strike vote by BA cabin crew

Union members of British Airways cabin crew have voted overwhelmingly for strike action.

More than 98% of those polled – or 8,132 staff – backed industrial action after a “serious breakdown” in industrial relations, according to the Transport and General Workers Union.

The timing of any walk out has yet to be announced and further talks with the airline are due to take place tomorrow.

The union said the cabin crew’s concerns include issues over the implementation of sickness absence policies as well as pay grading and on board staffing and responsiblity levels.

T&G general secretary Jack Dromey said nine out of 10 backed the action.

“BA cabin crew have voted to say the airline has gone too far. BA must rebuild the trust of its cabin crew by negotiating rather than imposing change and by listening to its staff rathere than riding roughshod over their concerns,” he said.

“We will now meet with BA managers and say we believe a new settlement is needed which recognises the strength of feeling of our members but alos the strength of their concerns.

“This vote is nearly unanimous – the clarity of its message leaves no room for doubt – that is the best basis for reaching a good negotiated settlement in our discussions tomorrow with BA.”

BA said it was “very disappointed” at the threat of “completely unnecessary” industrial action.

A BA statement said: “We have arranged to meet T&G officials this week and we very much hope they will enter into meaningful discussion with us on the issues the union has raised.

“The union says that one of its key concerns is pensions – yet we have just concluded 16 months of talks by accepting a proposal put forward by the T&G and our other unions.

On that basis alone, we believe the T&G should pause to reflect before threatening the travel plans of our customers and their families.

“On all the other issues the union has raised, we have suggested ways of meeting the union’s concerns – but up to now it has either refused to discuss our proposals or rejected them out of hand.

“We have not been seeking to achieve new ways of working by imposition, but by negotiation – as in many other areas of our business.

“The leaders of the T&G cabin crew branch have created a worrying time for our customers and our staff. We hope they will grasp the opportunity to put aside threats of disruption and resolve their concerns through proper negotiation.”

Report by Phil Davies