BA looks to avoid strike negotiations
Airline re-opens talks with Unite
02 August 2010
British Airways (BA) is looking to avoid strike negotiations
with Unite after re-opening talks with the union.
The airline has confirmed its final pay offer, which was
rejected last month by Unite, would still form the basis of any
deal.
Should the union reject a new offer, Unite are likely to hold a
strike ballot for further industrial action in September.
Willie Walsh, chief executive of BA, claimed the firm is
currently training volunteer cabin crew members as part of its
contingency plan.
He said: "I want to reach a resolution but we are preparing for
further industrial action. I am confident we will operate 100 per
cent of our long-haul services and we are looking at the short-haul
programme."
Since March, cabin crew have been on strike for 22 days as
employees seek improved remuneration packages and the
re-instatement of travel perks.
The industrial action, coupled with the flight disruption caused
by the volcanic ash cloud, led to BA reporting a pre-tax loss of
£164 million for the second quarter of the 2010.