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.

FMI: www.britishairways.com, www.acas.org.uk