BA turns to psychologist to heal rift with union
Consultancy specialises in issues relating to 'fragility of trust'
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Dan Milmo
The Observer, Sunday 10 April 2011
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BA hopes engaging a 'relationship builder' will help the airline to resolve its conflict with cabin crew. Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA
British Airways has turned to a clinical psychologist in a bid to solve its long-running industrial dispute with cabin crew represented by the Unite trade union.
Mark Hamlin, whose company specialises in dealing with "fragility of trust", is understood to have met senior figures at BA and Unite in a bid to improve a fractious relationship. Sources close to the process said Hamlin is acting as a "long-term relationship builder" as BA and Unite continue to thrash out a basis for peace talks amid the looming threat of renewed strike action.
The clock is ticking on BA and Unite's attempts to head off another round of industrial action because the union must declare strike dates at the end of this week if it wants to stage walkouts. Last month, cabin crew affiliated with Unite voted for strike action for the fourth time in less than 18 months. Under trade union law, Unite has until next weekend to give BA seven days' notice of industrial action, which could expose BA to strikes over the Easter weekend. However, both sides are focused on reaching a settlement.
Sources close to the dispute believe there is a stronger chance of a breakthrough because two former protagonists have left the negotiating table. Willie Walsh, former chief executive of BA, has been replaced by his former finance director Keith Williams, while Tony Woodley, former general secretary of Unite, has been replaced by Len McCluskey.
Hamlin has been drafted in to foster a new relationship after 22 days of walkouts last year. The website for Hamlin's company, Organisation Resource, states that it deals with issues such as "complex interpersonal issues resting on simple human emotions".
Hamlin, a former drama teacher, said: "I am involved with helping British Airways, Unite and its cabin crew representatives to find ways to develop a better working relationship as part of wider discussions on finding a resolution to the current cabin crew dispute."
Hamlin adds on his website that his aim is to make business clients "better parents". A BA spokesman said: "To give those talks the best possible chance, we have appointed an independent facilitator. The focus of the facilitator will be the development of a better working relationship between BA and the local cabin crew representatives."
My wife is an expert in human behaviours (no really 
), and ever since I started reading Mr Holley's missives to her she has said she could easily bring about change. She would love to do Motivational Interviewing (MI) workshops with the cabin crew who are still dogmatically following the BASSA line despite the weight of evidence and fact surrounding this dispute.