British Airways cabin crew seems to be in no mood of giving up their fight as they vote overwhelmingly in favour of fresh strikes. This is the fourth time the cabin crew has voted for an industrial action in two years.
The dispute between BA and its staff brewed over pay and working conditions but currently the matter seem to be focussed on the decision of the airline to take away travel perks from staff members who participated in previous strikes. BA has witnessed and experienced a total of 22 days of strike last year in which the airline is reported to have lost an estimated £150m. Several flights were also cancelled or delayed creating scenes of chaos at different airports and troubling passengers who bought BA flight tickets.
Unite announced that over 80 percent of the airline’s cabin crew with valid voting papers voted in favour of the strike against the national flag carrier. The date of the strike is yet to be announced by the union but it is likely that the industrial action is going to be called on during the Easter holidays, denting travel plans of hundreds. Several travellers who were lucky enough to procure tickets on cheap flights are sure to be disappointed if the strike indeed ‘strikes’ during Easter holidays, which is a popular travel season and tickets on cheap flights are not easy to come by.
The general secretary of Unite, Len McCluskey was quoted by online sources as stating, "This vote shows that cabin crew remain determined to win justice. We urge BA's boardroom to see this as a clear message that they must think again about how to regain the trust and confidence of a significant part of their cabin crew operation." Len McCluskey further added, "We continue to be in discussions with the company to find a solution to this long-running dispute."
British Airways also seemed in favour of sorting things out peacefully. "We began talks with Unite earlier this month, and those talks are continuing. We hope they will bring an end to this dispute, which is what the overwhelming majority of our cabin crew want," BA was quoted some of the leading news portals.
Keith Williams, BA’s new chief executive, promised that the airline is prepared to face any adverse situation. Mr Williams was confident as he promised that British Airways is going to continue with its long-haul flights from Heathrow, as well as the scheduled services from Gatwick and London City in the event of a strike.
However, Mr McCluskey is surely not on a same page with Mr Williams on this one. Mr McCluskey shrewdly observed, "He (Keith Williams) has no way of knowing what weird and wondrous initiatives we might take should we engage in industrial action."
The dispute between BA and its staff brewed over pay and working conditions but currently the matter seem to be focussed on the decision of the airline to take away travel perks from staff members who participated in previous strikes. BA has witnessed and experienced a total of 22 days of strike last year in which the airline is reported to have lost an estimated £150m. Several flights were also cancelled or delayed creating scenes of chaos at different airports and troubling passengers who bought BA flight tickets.
Unite announced that over 80 percent of the airline’s cabin crew with valid voting papers voted in favour of the strike against the national flag carrier. The date of the strike is yet to be announced by the union but it is likely that the industrial action is going to be called on during the Easter holidays, denting travel plans of hundreds. Several travellers who were lucky enough to procure tickets on cheap flights are sure to be disappointed if the strike indeed ‘strikes’ during Easter holidays, which is a popular travel season and tickets on cheap flights are not easy to come by.
The general secretary of Unite, Len McCluskey was quoted by online sources as stating, "This vote shows that cabin crew remain determined to win justice. We urge BA's boardroom to see this as a clear message that they must think again about how to regain the trust and confidence of a significant part of their cabin crew operation." Len McCluskey further added, "We continue to be in discussions with the company to find a solution to this long-running dispute."
British Airways also seemed in favour of sorting things out peacefully. "We began talks with Unite earlier this month, and those talks are continuing. We hope they will bring an end to this dispute, which is what the overwhelming majority of our cabin crew want," BA was quoted some of the leading news portals.
Keith Williams, BA’s new chief executive, promised that the airline is prepared to face any adverse situation. Mr Williams was confident as he promised that British Airways is going to continue with its long-haul flights from Heathrow, as well as the scheduled services from Gatwick and London City in the event of a strike.
However, Mr McCluskey is surely not on a same page with Mr Williams on this one. Mr McCluskey shrewdly observed, "He (Keith Williams) has no way of knowing what weird and wondrous initiatives we might take should we engage in industrial action."
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