Interesting article on FT.com
Cabin crew union halts ballot over BA offer
Hopes of resolving British Airways’ bitter year-long dispute with cabin crew were dealt a severe blow on Thursday when their trade union suspended a planned ballot on the company’s latest offer.
Unite’s main cabin crew branch, Bassa, will now press the union for a fresh ballot on strikes, although it is unlikely that these could happen until early next year. Time is running out to organise industrial action for the Christmas period.
The union’s leadership still appears cautious about renewed strikes. BA has been hinting that if there is more industrial action, the company could have legal grounds to dismiss the strikers – a potentially explosive move.
The union had been due to ask its 11,000 cabin crew members to vote on whether they wanted to accept the proposed deal, but Bassa decided earlier this week it could not support recommending the offer.
Tony Woodley, Unite’s joint general secretary, said any sense that the offer was being presented to cabin crew over the heads of “unwilling representatives” would be damaging to the union.
“Under these circumstances I have suspended the ballot on the offer and will meet with all our cabin crew representatives as a matter of urgency to consider the next steps,” he said.
Unite and BA had reached a tentative agreement on the new offer last month, raising hopes of ending the dispute which has so far caused 22 days of strikes, costing the airline £150m.
It began more than a year ago, initially over cost savings, but became embroiled in rows over disciplinary action and the stripping of travel concessions from strikers.
The offer provided for Acas, the conciliation service, to arbitrate in disciplinary cases arising from the dispute. Discounted tickets for staff would be restored immediately, but free seats staff can get after longer service with the company would not be restored until April 2013.
Bassa objected to clauses in the deal, including one requiring the union to drop all outstanding legal claims arising from the dispute.
The cabin crew branch will now press for another strike ballot, but Unite officials fear there could be legal problems if it went ahead with this without first putting BA’s offer to members.
One option is to put the offer to members without recommendation in a consultative ballot, and if it is rejected then hold a strike ballot.
BA said: “We believe that British Airways cabin crew deserve the opportunity to vote on these proposals, which address all their concerns and represent a fair resolution of this dispute. The way forward is for all sections of Unite to put aside their internal divisions and allow crew to have a direct say on their own future.”