BA – festive season strike delays?

THE Unite Union which represents the majority of British Airways cabin crew, has announced it is going to ballot its 14 000 members about industrial action. "BA management's determination to impose unacceptable contractual changes on cabin crew leaves us no alternative,” said Derek Simpson, joint general secretary of Unite. "We will strongly support our members if they vote for industrial action, while of course remaining ready to negotiate with the company. Negotiation, not imposition, is the only proper way to conduct industrial relations." According to media reports, should the ballot be successful, the strike would most certainly be in the second half of December. Meanwhile, the airline has reportedly said that it was not planning for a strike and that it was continuing to run full operations. It will also go ahead with implementing ‘unpopular changes’ such as a pay freeze for two years and to cut almost one in eight cabin crew posts from November 16. The airline said in a statement: “We have put together a package of changes which, despite the unprecedented financial circumstances facing the company, not only protects current cabin crew but also offers many new benefits. "We have made it clear that there will be no change to the individual terms and conditions of our current crew. They will not take a pay cut . Our current cabin crew remain the best paid in the country by some way." Jeanette Phillips (jeanettep@nowmedia.co.za)