Next steps?
Shortly before holding the talks, Simpson said Unite was preparing to ballot on the withdrawal of staff travel perks from an estimated 4,000 flight attendants who joined a wave of strikes in March, and on disciplinary action taken against 60 crew members for alleged misdemeanours during that dispute.
"We will be holding another ballot on staff travel and the disciplinaries," said Simpson. Woodley added that Unite was duty bound to hold another poll because a window of protection for striking crew, mandated by trade union legislation, expires on 10 June and exposes any staff who walk out to the threat of dismissal if they are not protected by a ballot.
"We have got no choice. We have got to give our people legal protection. We cannot take the chance that this gaffer will be sacking people," said Woodley. Unite, buoyed by the 81% and 92% majorities for recent cabin crew strike ballots, believes a new poll will meet with similar success. It is threatening a further ballot because it regards the withdrawal of staff travel and the disciplinary cases as a fundamental breakdown in industrial relations.
Source the Guardian