British Airways heading for more disruption

The beleaguered British Airways is heading for more strike and disruption to its flight services throughout this summer with its cabin crew set to ballot for fresh industrial action.

Tony Woodley, joint leader of Unite, BA's major union, said a new ballot for strikes could be only a week or so away, as the five-day walkout by union members entered its third day today. The union said the series of strikes since March had now cost BA almost 100 million pounds, with eight further days of action planned.

BA, however, said it had operated more services than planned on Sunday and yesterday, including the re-introduction of all of its services from Heathrow to New York's JFK airport, adding that it would continue to add to its schedule where possible.

Meanwhile, Woodley claimed the union had paid out about 1 million pounds in strike pay, pledging that Unite would not allow the airline to "starve" staff back to work. He told Unite's annual conference in Manchester the "hard man" stance of BA chief executive Willie Walsh will plunge the airline into a prolonged and "totally needless" summer of disruption.

A fresh ballot will be needed because the 12-week protective legal period for taking industrial action ends in early this month.

Woodley said if crew were forced to seek a new mandate for industrial action the blame for this will lie "firmly" with Walsh and his "persistent refusal" to permit a peaceful settlement.

Unite said it believed a deal on cabin crew costs had already been agreed between both parties, adding that the airline could be restored to full operation in time for the peak summer season if the outstanding row over travel concessions was resolved.

Woodley told the 700 delegates that the dispute could be summed up in one word - bullying.

"Bullying that imposes radical changes on our members without agreement, that has seen other BA employees incited against cabin crew with, to their lasting shame, the collusion of scab pilots, that has meant more than 50 of our brothers and sisters suspended or sacked for the crime of sending a text or posting a remark on Facebook, that forbids them from talking about their own dispute in public and that victimises trade unionists by branding them second-class employees for life.

"Well, there is only one thing to do with bullies - that is stand up to them until they learn some manners.  We all know there is a deal to be struck, one that recognises the real commercial needs and problems of the company as well as our members' legitimate interests.

But we are not and never will be prepared to see our members and our union humiliated, victimised and reduced to ruins, as Willie walsh seems to say."