Mon, Jan 22, 2007
Cabin Crews Demand Changes To Pay, Pensions And Staffing
British Airways says a
strike by its cabin crews would affect up to 77,000 customers for
each day it goes on. For that reason, and because the strike would
likely cost a great deal of money, the airline has called on the UK
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) to help with
negotiations between management and workers.
If it goes through, next week's strike would be the first for
BA's cabin crews since 1997. That work action cost BA an estimated
$250 million over three days. The threat of another huge
expenditure, added to costs associated with its pension program
(part of workers' dissatisfaction), a terrorist scare last summer
and foggy weather over the holidays, is prompting quick action from
the airline.
An ANN reported, the union is
upset by airline plans to cut sick leave and the number of flight
attendants on flights to save the airline $450 million by March of
next year.
Additionally, the union seeks to combine separate pay scales
created in 1997 for employees hired before and after. BA says a
unified scale would mean increases of as much as 18 percent and
cost it nearly $100 million a year.
"Our members are fed up with being bullied into coming to work
when sick and with division caused by poverty levels," said Jack
Dromey, the union's deputy general secretary, in a statement
yesterday. He added the union resents "the airline's reputation
being damaged by bungling management."
A union spokesman said it would welcome ACAS help in resolving
the dispute, but "...it should be possible for British Airways to
resolve this themselves within 48 to 72 hours."
ACAS is an independent organization
made up of employers and trade union representatives. Both parties
will have to agree ahead of time on the rules of engagement
involving ACAS before entering mediation.
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