It seems Unite aren’t happy with the progress with British Airways Mixed Fleet Crew pay row, and are going to take their crews out for a second wave on industrial action
British Airways A320 on taxi at Heathrow – Image, Economy Class and Beyond
The second wave of strike action will run from 19th January 2017 for 72 hours (affecting services Thursday, Friday and Saturday. This follows the previous strike this week that had up to 50 cancellations listed.
Unite are not happy and call on what it describes “British Airways to drop its confrontational stance” against Mixed Fleet Crew, and engage with them over concerns over pay
Unite’s national officer Oliver Richardson states
“British Airways should be under no illusion about our members’ determination to secure a settlement that addresses their concerns over poverty pay.
“They work tirelessly to serve and keep passengers safe, while contributing massively to the success of British Airways and the billions of pounds in profits it makes.
“Yet rather than pay them a decent wage for playing a key part in this success, British Airways refuses to talk meaningfully about their legitimate concerns over poverty pay.“Seeking to squeeze ever more from cabin crew and making passengers pay for services which were once complementary is a sad state of affairs for an airline which once described itself as the ‘world’s favourite’.
“We would urge British Airways to avoid the inconvenience and disruption of industrial action by meaningfully addressing levels of poverty pay which are causing financial worry and distress to ‘mixed fleet’ cabin crew.”
Unite claim membership of over 2,900 members of BA Mixed Fleet crew.
For passengers, it’s much a case of here we go again (you can enter an expletive in there – I would).
Expect British Airways to rattle out something resembling defiance and moving passengers around onto different services to get them to their destination at different times to the times booked. I’d also expect changes around some of the short-haul flying programme. The long haul programme should remain intact… for now.
We’ll have to see as British Airways draft their changes and timetables to suit.
Expect this to rumble on.
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