British Airways Cabin Crews Say They Will Strike
Union representatives said Friday, March 12, that their members will undertake two strikes during the month of March. The seven-day strike may affect thousands of travelers.
The dispute between union members and British Airways centers on a pay freeze and changes in working conditions. Crew members would have extended working hours with fewer crew assigned to a shift. Despite its disapproval, Unite, the union representing 13,000 crewmembers, planned to put BA’s latest offer to its members for a vote. Unfortunately, the offer was withdrawn and talks between Unite and BA broke down shortly afterward.
The first strike begins on March 20 and will last three days. The second strike begins March 27 according to the secretary of the Unite union, Len McCluskey. Although the strike will not affect the Easter holiday, it may disrupt travel plans for thousands of BA customers.
BA insists that planes will leave as scheduled. The company has cross-trained pilots, engineers, and baggage handlers in cabin crew duties in order to keep flight running smoothly. Unite counters that cross training put passengers at risk, particularly during emergencies. Cabin crew offers a great deal more expertise than serving food; they are train to handle any number of emergencies from disruptive passengers to plane crash situations.
Hopefully BA and Unite will work together and find a resolution that will avert the scheduled strikes. If not, plan on another strike in April.
