June 28, 2010
The latest strike ballot by British Airways cabin crew could be postponed at the 11th hour as the union considers a fresh offer from the airline.
Staff were due to hold a vote on industrial action tomorrow, but British Airways introduced a new offer into the mix on Friday which included two years of guaranteed basic salary rises from February next year.
Unite confirmed yesterday that it would be “inexplicable” if it did not put British Airways’s final offer to members, resulting in a delay while members mulled over the deal.
Joint general secretary Tony Woodley said yesterday: “The company has made it clear that the offer on the table will be removed if the strike ballot starts on Tuesday.
“It would be therefore be inexplicable if we did not put this offer to our members, and I expect this course of action will be confirmed by our cabin crew representatives when they meet tomorrow.”
The union did not, however, go as far as recommending the offer to members, as it does not reinstate the travel arrangements that were taken from crew who participated in strike action in March and May. The dispute has now cost BA around £150m and resulted in 22 days of strike action since March. But Mr Woodley said it “could have been settled months ago”.
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