BA talks break down
Talks aimed at resolving the long-running British Airways cabin crew dispute have ended without agreement, it was announced today.
The conciliation service Acas said it had held separate talks with the airline and the Unite union after tabling proposals for a “potential way forward” in a bid to break the deadlocked row.
Acas said in a statement: “Regrettably, the parties were unable to move closer to an agreement.
“At present there are no further meetings planned, but Acas will monitor developments and our services remain available.”
Cabin crew have held 22 days of strikes since March, costing BA well over £150m (€180m), and have threatened further industrial action if the row remained unresolved.
An agreement has been reached in principle over the original cause of the dispute – cost-cutting – but the two sides are in dispute over the removal of travel concessions from those who have been on strike.
Unite has pledged to hold a fresh ballot for industrial action if no deal is reached soon, raising the threat of disruption to flights over the busy summer months.
A Unite spokesman said: “Unite remains committed to finding a settlement which addresses its members’ concerns. We remain in touch with Acas and with British Airways to that end.”
