Latest BA strike coming to an end

The latest BA strike is coming to an end
12 April 2012

British Airways cabin crew will take their 22nd and final day of strike action on Wednesday, with further walkouts threatened for the summer unless their deadlocked dispute with the airline is resolved.

The Unite union said the action will have cost the carrier around £154 million by the end of Wednesday, claiming the strikes had caused "huge disruption" to flights. BA maintained it ran services during the current five-day walkout, saying more crew had turned up for work.

A number of striking cabin crew told MPs that there was a "climate of fear" at the airline, as they explained their side of the row.

The strikers wore red-coloured gags to highlight their claim that people were being sacked or disciplined for criticising BA's management style.

Unite said about 60 crew members had now been suspended and eight sacked in recent weeks, mainly for "trivial reasons", and has accused the airline of a "crackdown" on union members. BA has strongly denied the charge, maintaining it was duty-bound to follow its disciplinary code.

Unite said trust in management was now at an "all-time low", repeating that the removal of travel concessions from strikers was preventing any progress on a deal.

BA has been aiming to operate around 80% of long-haul flights from Heathrow despite the strikes, up from 70% and 60% in the past two strike periods, and 60% of short-haul flights, up from 55% and 50%.

The conciliation service Acas has said it expects a date to be set shortly for peace talks to resume.

Meanwhile, British Airways said it was slashing Club World business class fares by up to £900 and selected first class fares by more than £1,500 in its premium leisure sale starting on Thursday.

Chief executive Willie Walsh said: "Customers can take advantage of these great discounts with confidence. We recognise that some may be concerned about the possibility of future disruption but it is our intention to keep flying 100% of our long haul operation throughout the coming months. We will keep the flag flying."

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