Unite announces fresh ballot of cabin crew members
18th January 2010
Unite, the leading union in civil aviation, is to begin a new
industrial action ballot of cabin crew employed by British Airways,
it has advised the company today (Monday).
This move follows the failure to yet secure an agreement between
the two sides on the crucial issues of imposed changes to the
workload and working conditions of the airline's 13,000 cabin crew
in talks which have been taking place over the last two
weeks.
Cabin crew voted overwhelmingly in a ballot last December to take
strike action, which was subsequently ruled unlawful by the High
Court.
Len McCluskey, assistant general secretary of Unite, who has led
the talks for Unite this year said: "We have been engaged in
intensive discussions with the company over the last few days, but
unfortunately we have not been able to secure an agreement
yet.
“We therefore have to honour our commitment to give our members the
voice they were denied by the courts before Christmas, and hold a
fresh ballot for industrial action. In notifying the company of
this, I have reiterated that we want talks to continue, and that
the union is prepared to meet any place, any time, to try and reach
an agreement which addresses the real concerns of BA’s skilled,
loyal and professional employees while giving the company the
savings it needs to stay airborne.
"We have told management all along that this dispute, and the
damage it does to BA’s prospects, can only finally be resolved
through negotiation. That remains our position, and I hope the
company will make the best use of the time available before the
ballot closes.”
The ballot will commence in one week’s time. Further information
about the ballot schedule will be issued as soon as possible.
ENDS
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