Tue, Nov 10, 2009
Union Says BA Has Left It With "No Other Choice"
The ballot of BA's 14,000 cabin
crew will open on Monday 16th November, Unite the union announced
Monday.
Unite says that BA's continued failure to consult properly on
2000 notified redundancies and the company's determination to
impose fundamental changes to working practices, work organization
and terms and conditions of employment leave it no other option but
to ballot the cabin crew workforce.
The union says that the company's imposed reduction to crew
numbers is unfair and unworkable leaving fewer people doing more
work but for less money - and that this will hit the service to
passengers. Given the safety critical role that cabin crew have
onboard, Unite fears that fewer crew will only lead to a worsening
service to loyal BA customers paying premium prices as they are
forced to prioritize essential tasks.
Unite has called the ballot in response to the company's
determination to force through a package of measures including
contractual changes without agreement of the cabin crew and their
union. BA's changes will be imposed from November 16th, the day the
ballot opens, on all existing cabin crew, reducing crew numbers on
all flights by between one and three and forcing through new
working schedules.
BA cabin crew have repeatedly told
the management that, while they accept cost savings need to be made
given current circumstances, these must be by agreement and not
undermine frontline services. Earlier this year, the cabin crew
offered to take a pay cut as part of comprehensive proposals aimed
at retaining in-flight staffing levels and thus ensuring that
customers would not lose out. The company dismissed these proposals
out of hand, although Unite believes the proposals would have
delivered the company tens of millions of pounds in savings year on
year.
The ballot will close on Monday, December 14th, 2009.
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