BA cabin crews vote for strike action

British Airways' cabin crew union Unite announced (22-Jan-2011) pilots and crew have "voted overwhelmingly" in favour of strike action. Unite stated it received 10,220 ballots and 78.5% of voters supported industrial action. No dates have yet been announced for the strike, but by law Unite is required to commenced any action within 28 days of the vote and give seven days notice. British Airways has stated it has created a workforce to takeover cabin crew roles and assured travellers they will operate all long-haul services. [more]

BA maintained the ballot result demonstrates Unite does not have the support of a majority of cabin crew for further strike action (Reuters, 22-Jan-2011). The airline stated that only 43% voted in favour of strike action, urging Unite to return to a deal in which pay rises were guaranteed or the next two years and secured terms and conditions for existing crew.

Unite: "For the fourth time in 13 months British Airways cabin crew have voted overwhelmingly in support of their union and expressed their dissatisfaction with management behaviour. Indeed, the turnout and the majority on this occasion are much greater than in the last ballot. Surely BA management must now wake up and listen to the voice of its skilled and dedicated employees. This dispute will be resolved by negotiation, not litigation or confrontation, and it is to negotiation that BA management should now apply itself. We are ready." Len McCluskey, general secretary-designate. Source: Unite, 21-Jan-2011.