Union Says BA Has Left It With "No Other Choice"

The ballot of BA's 14,000 cabin crew will open on Monday 16th November, Unite the union announced Monday.

Unite says that BA's continued failure to consult properly on 2000 notified redundancies and the company's determination to impose fundamental changes to working practices, work organization and terms and conditions of employment leave it no other option but to ballot the cabin crew workforce.

The union says that the company's imposed reduction to crew numbers is unfair and unworkable leaving fewer people doing more work but for less money - and that this will hit the service to passengers. Given the safety critical role that cabin crew have onboard, Unite fears that fewer crew will only lead to a worsening service to loyal BA customers paying premium prices as they are forced to prioritize essential tasks.

Unite has called the ballot in response to the company's determination to force through a package of measures including contractual changes without agreement of the cabin crew and their union. BA's changes will be imposed from November 16th, the day the ballot opens, on all existing cabin crew, reducing crew numbers on all flights by between one and three and forcing through new working schedules.

BA cabin crew have repeatedly told the management that, while they accept cost savings need to be made given current circumstances, these must be by agreement and not undermine frontline services. Earlier this year, the cabin crew offered to take a pay cut as part of comprehensive proposals aimed at retaining in-flight staffing levels and thus ensuring that customers would not lose out. The company dismissed these proposals out of hand, although Unite believes the proposals would have delivered the company tens of millions of pounds in savings year on year.

The ballot will close on Monday, December 14th, 2009.

FMI: www.unitetheunion.com