Unite announces dates for ballot of BA cabin crew
7th November 2009
The ballot of BA’s 14,000 cabin crew will open on Monday,
November 16th, Unite the union has announced.
Unite says that BA’s continued failure to consult properly on
2,000 notified redundancies and the company’s determination to
impose fundamental changes to working practices, work organisation
and terms and conditions of employment leave it no other option but
to ballot the cabin crew workforce.
Unite has called the ballot in response to the company’s
determination to force through a package of measures including
contractual changes without agreement of the cabin crew and their
union.
BA's changes will be imposed from November 16th, the day the
ballot opens, on all existing cabin crew, reducing crew numbers on
all flights by between one and three and forcing through new
working schedules.
The union says that the company’s imposed reduction to crew
numbers is unfair and unworkable leaving fewer people doing more
work but for less money - and that this will hit the service to
passengers. Given the safety-critical role that cabin crew have
onboard, Unite fears that fewer crew will only lead to a worsening
service to loyal BA customers paying premium prices as crew are
forced to prioritise essential tasks.
BA cabin crew have repeatedly told management that, while they
accept cost savings need to be made given current circumstances,
these must be by agreement and not undermine frontline
services. Earlier this year, the cabin crew offered to take a
pay cut as part of comprehensive proposals aimed at retaining
in-flight staffing levels and thus ensuring that customers would
not lose out. The company dismissed these proposals out of hand,
although Unite believes the proposals would have delivered the
company tens of millions of pounds in savings year on year.
The ballot will close on Monday, December 14th, 2009.
ENDS
Email to a friend
