British Airways Staff Vote in Favor of Strike Action

It now seems that the threat of a strike at British Airways seems more likely than ever. Apparently the British Airways cabin crew, which are represented by Unite union, have voted in favor of industrial action.

In the latest stages of the ongoing dispute over pay, jobs and working conditions, 81 percent of the Unite members voted in favor of a strike. This union represents about 15,000 members of British Airways cabin crew. The original turnout was thought to be around 80 percent, but more people voted for a strike than were expected.

Dates for the potential strike have still yet to be announced. However, Unite did say that it ruled out having industrial action over the Easter period. This idea came to the union after they were criticized by the public for planning to hold a strike over Christmas when people were trying to see their families. This caused much of the general public to side with British Airways over the union.

Unite union must give British Airways a seven day notice before taking any kind of strike action. Planned strikes over the Christmas season only failed, because British Airways took the case before the High Court. It was there that the court ruled that the strike action was unlawful, because people who no longer worked for British Airways voted in the strike.

The Unite general secretary, Len McCluskey, said that they can only hope that British Airways management will now recognize the only way to resolve this is through negotiations, not through litigation, and certainly not through intimidation. Now everyone just has to sit tight and find out when Unite is planning to hold the strike action, and how long it will last.