« Volcanic Ash Heads to Sea; Next Stop Unknown | Main | Strike Dates Set for British Airways »

British Airways Faces Another Strike

Travelers to Europe could be hit with even more flight disruptions by mid May, but this time it’s due to human nature rather than Mother Nature.  A third strike by the airline's Unite Union members is almost certain, with the year-long dispute over wages and working conditions turning into a squabble over travel perks and disciplinary actions.

When things get personal, as these negotiations have, they tend to get nasty. The union, which must provide seven-days notice before any strike, is now talking about a 20-day walkout.

This follows British Airways’ recent firing of the union’s branch secretary, Duncan Holley, saying he had taken unauthorized vacation to complete union business.  In a BBC report, Holley calls his firing “politically motivated.”  

According to the TimesOnline, the union is also angry the airline won’t return full travel “perks” and that it hasn’t reinstated 55 suspended employees. While the airline appears to be meeting most of the union’s original demands, it now faces a slew of new concerns and union members don’t seem to be budging.

In a prepared statement, airline representatives wrote "British Airways is disappointed but not surprised that Unite has clearly orchestrated a rejection of a very fair offer that addresses all the concerns raised during 14 months of talks.”

Union representatives are expected to meet Monday to discuss next moves. The Guardian reports representatives are seriously considering a series of four five-day strikes, separated by 24-hours of work.

As for the airline, it’s reportedly considering legal action to stop any strike plans. Travelers will want to stay tuned and watch for any strike announcements.

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.overheardbin.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-t.cgi/471

Post a comment

(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)