British Airways Cabin Crew Strike Ballot Kicks Off

The British Airways cabin crew are now starting to vote on whether or not to strike due to a dispute over pay, jobs and working conditions. The new ballot will close as of February 22^nd and raises fears of industrial action for March 1^st. Of course, the union has ruled out a strike over Easter holiday.

Unite did warn that the move by the airline to recruit other staff to take the place of the striking cabin crew could put passengers at risk. The union has cited the example of a passenger on a British Airways long haul fight, who they claims could have died were it not for the intervention of the crew.

Experienced crews have three months of training, but Unite said that British Airways was planning a three week training program for strike breakers. The union criticized British Airways’ increasingly aggressive recruitment operation as an attempt to intimidate cabin crew out of taking industrial action.

Tony Woodley, the joint general secretary for the union, said it is not acceptable for trade unionists to act as strike breakers in a legitimate industrial dispute. Nor for pilots to use their privileged positions to undermine much lower paid trade union colleagues.

Balpa general secretary, Jim McAuslan, said that Balpa and the vast majority of its members have a very different analysis of the situation in British Airways. He said that they recognize the frustration that must have prompted so many cabin crew members to vote for strike action last year. However, Balpa members were stunned by the threat of a 12 day strike over Christmas.