British Airways cabin crew will not target the Royal Wedding at the end of April for a strike or the Easter weekend a week earlier, according to union leader Len McCluskey.
Unite general secretary McCluskey told the BBC: “There is no likelihood of a strike at the Royal Wedding by BA cabin crew.”
A ballot among crew is due to end on January 21, with action to follow within four weeks if the vote is in favour – unless there is a deal with BA.
Asked whether Unite would target Easter, McCluskey said: “We would not pick Easter at all. We’ll wait for the outcome of the ballot. We are still hoping BA management will try to reach a settlement. If not, we’ll consider what action we can take.”
The union wants BA to drop disciplinary action against crew who took part in strikes last year and to restore travel concessions to strikers.
BA has promised to operate a full long-haul service from Heathrow through any further strike, as well as full services from Gatwick and London City. The airline has so far refused to improve the terms of a proposed settlement and instead condemned the union for holding a fresh ballot.
McCluskey took over from former joint union leader Tony Woodley at the end of December, as first revealed by Travel Weekly, and has previously said he would have no problem leading a strike over a holiday period.
He was Unite’s chief negotiator with BA at the start of the 18-month dispute with the airline, but was supplanted by Woodley after threatening a strike over Christmas 2009 – a threat withdrawn when BA won a court injunction.