Say Airline Forced Them To Work When Sick

With an almost unprecedented majority for such a dispute, 96% of British Airways' (BA) cabin crews voted to strike earlier today citing disputes over sick pay and pensions.

Jack Dromey, deputy director of the UK's Trade and General Workers Union, the body representing the airline's cabin crews, told Bloomberg, "BA cabin crew have voted to say the airline has gone too far."

The union says workers feel the airline is taking them for granted and managing by imposition rather than agreement. Further, it says the relationship between management and labor has broken down.

A meeting is set for tomorrow between the two sides to discuss the company's policies on sick leave, pay, staffing and pensions.

The dispute over the airline's pension plan is ongoing. Earlier this month the airline reached accord with negotiators representing its four unions to shore up a $4.1 billion deficit in its pension fund with a one-time contribution of nearly $1.5 billion, and annual payments of $550 million. Part of the money for the annual payments will come from reductions in other benefits. Although union negotiators have agreed in principal to the changes, union members must still ratify them via a vote. Some see this latest threat to strike as a further bargaining chip for the unions to force the company into further concessions.

An airline spokesman told Bloomberg, "We are very disappointed by the T&G threat of what would be completely unnecessary industrial action. We very much hope they will enter into meaningful discussion with us on the issues the union has raised."

The British carrier denies union claims of forcing employees to work while sick. It says it has not been trying to achieve new ways of working by imposition, but by negotiation. It accuses the unions of needlessly worrying customers and staff.

FMI: www.britishairways.com