According to reports, the union that represents the British Airways cabin crew is unlikely to opt for industrial action during the royal wedding if the ballot mandate swings in the favour of a strike.
The prospect of the royal wedding getting disrupted seemed real when previously Len McCluskey, Unite’s general secretary, refused to rule out the royal wedding as a possible strike period. However, now it is believed that Unite wants to steer clear of any controversies during a major public event.
BA and its cabin crew have been engaged in an ongoing feud for more than one year now. The feud has resulted in 22 strikes and a loss of nearly £150 million to the renowned national airline. The strikes had also proved to be a pain in the neck for the travellers who had to negotiate grounded flights as well as chaotic airport scenes.
Unite is yet to take a strike ballot that will decide the course of the action for the union. The union’s earlier ballot that voted in favour of a strike was termed ‘illegal’ by British Airways and was scrapped by the union after the airline warned of dismissals for those taking part.
In an interview given to the BBC this month, McCluskey indicated that the crew members are hesitant to go on a strike during the royal wedding that is slated for the 29th of April. "It is a bank holiday. I doubt whether many of our members will want to take strike action," McCluskey was quoted. "But, if they do, then it is because they have reached a particular point in their positions at work where they feel they have got no alternative." When asked if he would lend support to the strike action on the royal wedding weekend, he replied: "Absolutely".
However, it has to be said that Mr. McCluskey is not likely to give a go ahead for a strike during the royal wedding. The period during Easter and the wedding offers ample time for people to plan out their holidays. Many have even booked tickets on flights to take advantage of the elongated weekends. Many flights are running booked and tickets on cheap flights surely would not be easily available for those who prefer last minute travel plans and ticket hunt.
Meanwhile, BA has urged the union to consider the peace deals that was negotiated last year but was rejected by the union’s branches. "There have been enough ballots. It is time for Unite to return to the deal we negotiated, which leaves our existing Heathrow crew the best rewarded in the UK industry, and to put this dispute behind us," A BA spokesman was quoted as stating by different online sources.
The prospect of the royal wedding getting disrupted seemed real when previously Len McCluskey, Unite’s general secretary, refused to rule out the royal wedding as a possible strike period. However, now it is believed that Unite wants to steer clear of any controversies during a major public event.
BA and its cabin crew have been engaged in an ongoing feud for more than one year now. The feud has resulted in 22 strikes and a loss of nearly £150 million to the renowned national airline. The strikes had also proved to be a pain in the neck for the travellers who had to negotiate grounded flights as well as chaotic airport scenes.
Unite is yet to take a strike ballot that will decide the course of the action for the union. The union’s earlier ballot that voted in favour of a strike was termed ‘illegal’ by British Airways and was scrapped by the union after the airline warned of dismissals for those taking part.
In an interview given to the BBC this month, McCluskey indicated that the crew members are hesitant to go on a strike during the royal wedding that is slated for the 29th of April. "It is a bank holiday. I doubt whether many of our members will want to take strike action," McCluskey was quoted. "But, if they do, then it is because they have reached a particular point in their positions at work where they feel they have got no alternative." When asked if he would lend support to the strike action on the royal wedding weekend, he replied: "Absolutely".
However, it has to be said that Mr. McCluskey is not likely to give a go ahead for a strike during the royal wedding. The period during Easter and the wedding offers ample time for people to plan out their holidays. Many have even booked tickets on flights to take advantage of the elongated weekends. Many flights are running booked and tickets on cheap flights surely would not be easily available for those who prefer last minute travel plans and ticket hunt.
Meanwhile, BA has urged the union to consider the peace deals that was negotiated last year but was rejected by the union’s branches. "There have been enough ballots. It is time for Unite to return to the deal we negotiated, which leaves our existing Heathrow crew the best rewarded in the UK industry, and to put this dispute behind us," A BA spokesman was quoted as stating by different online sources.
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