Airline Wants Two Year Wage Freeze, Other Changes

Unite, the union which represents most of the 14,000 British Airways cabin crew workers, says negotiations with the airline have stalled, and that it is mulling the possibility of a strike.

The union leadership met Monday at Sandown Park Racecourse in Surrey to discuss a possible labor action.

Air Travel, Travel Management reports that Unite's joint general secretary Derek Simpson, said: "BA management's determination to impose unacceptable contractual changes on cabin crew leaves us no alternative."

Unite also said it plans legal action against the airline over the imposition of new contracts and changes in crew levels for aircraft.

The airline posted a $653 million loss for last year. It has been in negotiations with Unite and another union, GMB, proposing to make some 1,700 staff positions redundant. The airline wants a two year wage freeze, and a cut in long-haul cabin crew from 15 to 14. The airline said about 1,000 flight attendants chose to leave the company voluntarily, and another 3,000 chose to work part time.

BA 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. In fact some 75% of crew will receive a pay scale increase worth between two and seven per cent this year and again next year."

Unite said the changes would involve significant contractual changes for remaining employees and introduce "a second tier workforce on poorer pay and conditions".  BA says it's proposed wages and benefits for new hires is above the market rate.

The High Court hearing on the lawsuit is set for Thursday, November 5th. No official strike ballot has been opened by the Union.

FMI: www.britishairways.com