Union warns conflict 'looming' because of BA plans
Fresh moves to resolve a row over plans by British Airways to axe thousands of jobs, freeze pay and make other savings will be made tomorrow as a union warned that conflict was “looming”.
The airline said it wanted to reach a deal by June 30 on around 3,700 job cuts, a pay freeze of up to two years and other changes, but the deadline passed without agreement.
The conciliation service Acas will convene a meeting between BA and unions tomorrow in a bid to break the deadlock and get talks back on track.
Mick Rix, national officer of the GMB said ahead of the crucial meeting: “There is every sign that a conflict is looming if this last throw of the dice does not succeed.
“BA needs to seriously shift its stance in the negotiations and develop the ability to reach a compromise.”
A mass meeting of more than 2,000 employees, including cabin crew, sent a “strong message” yesterday that they were not prepared to accept an “assault” on their pay, terms and conditions.
The workers voiced concern that they could face the sack if they resisted the cuts by measures including industrial action, leading union officials to offer legal advice on dismissals.
Unite said it was prepared to consider a freeze on pay, as well as reviewing the job of the purser among cabin crews, which it maintained could save millions of pounds.
The union claimed BA wanted to introduce a new “starter rate” of just £11,000 (€12,700), warning this would lead to a two-tier workforce at the airline.
Officials added that a number of staff would be prepared to take voluntary redundancy, but unions were strongly opposed to any threat of compulsory job losses.
A Unite spokesman said: “Our members have shown that feelings are running very high. They have sent a very clear message that they don’t want us to make any further concessions that would lead to an assault on their terms and conditions.”
One union source close to the negotiations told the Press Association: “We believe BA is going through the motions with Acas and have a pre-arranged strategy for conflict.
“They are looking at compulsory redundancies as part of 2,500 job losses among cabin crew. They are also looking to resurrect the hated zero-hours contracts for customer service staff which led to the disastrous breakdown a few years ago.”
BA was hit by an unofficial strike in 2003 over terms and conditions, and suffered another bout of action in 2005 in a separate row over catering staff.
Pay cuts were agreed with leaders of BA pilots last month, but talks continued for the past few weeks with unions representing other groups, including cabin crew, baggage handlers and check-in staff.
If the talks break down without agreement, any dispute could lead to a ballot for industrial action which would threaten disruption during the busy summer period.
Union leaders were angered last month when BA announced that almost 7,000 staff had applied for voluntary pay cuts, including 800 who said they would work unpaid for up to a month.
Of the 40,000-strong workforce, 6,940 employees had volunteered for unpaid leave, part-time working or unpaid work by June 24, which the company said will save up to £10m (€11.5m).
Chief executive Willie Walsh, who has already announced that he will work unpaid for the month of July, said it was a “fantastic” response, adding: “I want to thank everyone who has volunteered to help us pull through this difficult period.”
Unions accused the airline’s managers of bullying staff into signing up, a charge denied by BA.
Officials said staff were pressured by email to accept one of the options or face a meeting with a British Airways manager.
BA made losses of £401m (€463m) last year and is reportedly losing up to £3m (€3.46m) a day.
