Honourable agreement ends BA cabin crew dispute
June 2011
The long-running dispute between around 10,000 British Airways
cabin crew and their employer is now over, Unite, their union,
announced today.
Crew voted in a postal ballot by 6,509 (92 per cent) to 579 (8
per cent) to accept an agreement hammered out between the union and
BA in April, following a recommendation by Unite to accept. The
turnout was 72 per cent.
The deal will see staff travel concessions returned to the BA
crew who had the facility removed when they took strike action in
2010; agreements on safeguarding routes and working arrangements as
BA introduces a new fleet of crew; and a pay deal. There will also
be a third party binding arbitration process established to
consider the cases of crew disciplined by the airline during the
dispute.
Len McCluskey, Unite general secretary, who had worked with BA's
chief executive Keith Williams to negotiate the deal, said: "Unite
always firmly believed that this dispute would be solved not
through conflict but through negotiation.
"Thankfully we have reached an honourable agreement with BA. The
overwhelming acceptance of this deal by cabin crew means that both
parties can now move forward together on securing a bright future
for the airline.
"I want to pay personal tribute to the cabin crew for the
principled stand they took. In these difficult times it takes
courage to stand up for what you believe in, and thousands of crew
did so, at great personal expense and emotional cost. Their
strength and sacrifice is to be admired and I hope it sends a
message to employers everywhere that working with your workforce is
the only way to secure productive change."
Just under 10,000 cabin crew, members of Unite, were balloted.
Acceptance of the deal concludes a dispute which began in October
2009.
ENDS
Notes to news editors:
For further information please contact Pauline Doyle on 077976
832861 and/or Ciaran Naidoo on 07768 931315
Number balloted was 9,888; turnout was 72 per cent
- For acceptance 6,509 (92 per cent)
- Against acceptance 579 (8 per cent)
- Spoilt papers 9
