British Airways crew to strike (From The Northern Echo)

British Airways crew to strike

11:52am Friday 12th March 2010 in

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BRITISH Airways cabin crew are to strike for three days from March 20 and for four days from March 27 in a long-running row over cost-cutting, Unite announced today.

Len McCluskey, Unite's assistant general secretary, said BA had turned down a remarkable offer from the union which he maintained would have given the airline everything it wanted.

"This offer gives the lie to the smears that these skilled and professional employees are mindless militants indifferent to BA's difficulties or are defending a privileged position.

"The company contests our calculations, but quibbles over the precise costing of our concessions pale into insignificance compared to the losses BA will sustain in the event of an industrial dispute."

Mr McCluskey said it was right that cabin crew should vote on the new offer although he said it fell short of what the union believed was needed to resolve the dispute.

Unite will make no recommendation on the offer and warned that further industrial action will be held after April 14 if the dispute remains unresolved.