The threat of further strike action by British Airways cabin crew is in prospect as the result of the latest ballot by Unite union members is released today (Friday).
Reports have suggested that walk-outs could hit the February school half-term and Easter period, although Unite leadership has suggested Easter is not being contemplated.
The result of the ballot of 10,500 members of the British Airlines Stewards and Stewardesses Association at BA is due to be declared later today.
Twenty two days of strikes cost the airline an estimated £150 million last year as hundreds of flights were cancelled, with many passengers being put on other carriers at BA’s expense.
BA, defending its handling of the dispute, said: “We have put forward very fair proposals that enable our existing Heathrow crew to remain the best rewarded in the UK airline industry.
“We are encouraging our cabin crew to use their vote in the ballot to say no to strike action and end this dispute. Should any industrial action take place, we are confident that our well-established contingency plans will allow us to operate normal timetables at Gatwick and London City airports.
“At Heathrow, we will aim to run a substantial proportion of our short-haul programme and 100% of our long haul operation.”
The original dispute, which prompted the first round of strikes, is understood to be close to settlement with both sides moving towards a deal on the need to change working practices.
But the strikes provoked a fresh set of grievances, which are the subject of the fresh ballot. These include the restoration of staff travel to those who went on strike last year, the handling of a number of disciplinary cases, the provision of trade union facilities and the introduction of new staff on lower pay without Unite’s agreement.
Unite said: “Central to the dispute are the key issues of union-busting at the airline and the imposition without negotiation of a new workforce tier on poorer terms and conditions.”