from bloomberg:
By Alan Jones
January 21 (Press Association) -- British Airways was
facing the threat of a fresh wave of strikes by its cabin crew
tonight after they voted heavily in favour of more walkouts in
their bitter dispute with the airline.
Unite said its members voted by 5,751 to 1,579 to take
further industrial action following 22 days of strikes last
year which cost the airline more than £150 million.
The union pulled back from naming strike dates and will
have to give seven days' notice of any action.
Unite's new leader, Len McCluskey, said: "For the fourth
time in 13 months, British Airways cabin crew have voted
overwhelmingly in support of their union and expressed their
dissatisfaction with management behaviour. Indeed, the turnout
and the majority on this occasion are much greater than in the
last ballot.
"Surely BA management must now wake up and listen to the
voice of their skilled and dedicated employees.
"This dispute will be resolved by negotiation, not
litigation or confrontation, and it is to negotiation that BA management should now apply itself. We are ready."
News of the voting figures was revealed as the company
completed its merger with Spanish carrier Iberia to create a
new holding company, International Consolidated Airlines Group
(IAG).
The bitter dispute started more than a year ago over cost-
cutting but now centres on the removal of travel concessions
from workers who went on strike, and disciplinary action taken
against Unite members.
-0- Jan/21/2011 16:17 GMT