British Airways (BA) and UNITE union have failed to come to an agreement over cabin crew job cuts and changes to working practices following a meeting yesterday.
BA chief executive Willie Walsh met UNITE joint general secretary Derek Simpson and assistant general secretary Len McCluskey to discuss cabin crew pay and productivity issues. In a statement, the airline said the meeting was “open and frank”, and Walsh is waiting for a written response from Simpson.
A spokesman for UNITE said views were exchanged but no agreement had been made.
BA wants save £140 million from its cabin crew costs by changing working practices and reducing the number of cabin crew on board each long-haul flight from Heathrow.
About 1,000 members of cabin crew will take voluntary redundancy, with a further 3,000 likely to switch to part-time working.
BA has insisted the changes will not damage customer service and were necessary to ensure the airline’s “long-term survival”.