British Airways cabin crew begin their latest ballot for industrial action today with a ‘yes’ vote likely to lead to action in April.
About 10,000 members of BA’s 13,000 crew are eligible to vote in what will be the fifth ballot organised by trade union Unite in a dispute that has dragged on since 2009 and led to 22 days of strikes last year.
However, BA has operated full services at Gatwick and London City throughout the previous strikes and insists it will maintain a full long-haul schedule from Heathrow next time. It has admitted it prepared for “a long, drawn out affair”.
The carrier has 500 new ‘mixed fleet’ crew, recruited last year, working on new contracts out of Heathrow and continues to maintain a volunteer strike-breaking crew it numbers at 1,000.
This may lead the union to opt for a work to rule rather than strikes.
BA plans to expand the mixed-fleet crew to 10% of its cabin staff this year. The crew work across short and long-haul services on multiple types of aircraft, but do not mix with other crew on flights. They are promoted on performance rather than seniority and are on different pay and conditions to other staff.
A BA spokeswoman confirmed: “About 500 mixed-fleet crew are working from Heathrow. Recruitment is continuing. We plan to have 1,000 in the first phase, but all those joining BA in the future will be on mixed-fleet terms.”
She added: “BA will maintain its volunteer cabin crew who have worked during strikes days.”
The last Unite ballot in January resulted in a 78% vote for action. However, plans to strike were withdrawn after BA pointed out alleged irregularities to ballot overseer Electoral Reform Services.
Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said: “BA management needs to understand that it will never break the spirit of cabin crew.” Earlier, he accused BA of showing “no interest” in settling the dispute.
BA confirmed last week that former chief executive Willie Walsh – now head of parent company International Airlines Group – remains in charge of negotiations with Unite. It is understood the union would prefer to deal with new BA boss Keith Williams.