Cabin crew ballot opens as BA imposes contractual changes
16th November 2009
Unite the union has today (Monday) issued ballot papers to its
more than 12,000-strong cabin crew membership within British
Airways.
The ballot papers are being issued on the same day that BA
begins to impose far-reaching changes to in-flight crew complements
and working practices, changes which Unite believes are not only
unworkable but are also contractual and so must be negotiated, not
imposed.
Unite is concerned that the changes will place crew under
additional stress during flight, with fewer crew required to absorb
the work of colleagues who have been removed by the company, that
this will have a negative impact on health and safety, and that the
service crew can provide to passengers will suffer.
Such are Unite’s concerns about the changes that it has lodged a
collective letter of objection on behalf of its cabin crew members
with BA, and asked a firm of leading employment solicitors to
establish an e-helpline to allow crew to feedback on the impact on
both working practices and customer service.
Speaking as the ballot papers were sent out, Brian Boyd, Unite
national officer for aviation, said: “The way to deliver change is
through negotiation, not imposition. Of course the cabin crew are
angry; they care passionately about this business but feel they are
not being listened to on serious matters of service delivery. This
business is all about its customers and the crew do not want them
to suffer as a result of these changes.
“We ask British Airways to signal that it is willing to abandon
its plans to impose change and work with us on a way forward, one
which delivers for passengers, shareholders and the workforce. Then
we could begin to tackle the roots of this damaging dispute and
find a way forward.”
Steve Turner, national officer for aviation, added: “We have
lodged a formal letter with BA on behalf of our 12,000-plus cabin
crew members who strongly oppose the company’s plans to force
through cuts. Crews being forced to work under protest retain their
legal rights to pursue a reversal of the imposition, as well as
significant compensation, and Unite continues to fight their case
in the High Court. In the meantime our ballot for industrial action
continues and will close as planned on December 14th.
“Unite is so concerned about the impact of these cuts on both
crew and paying customers, that we have instructed employment
specialists to establish an independent system to monitor their
impact over the coming period.”
The collective letter of objection to the company makes it clear
that Unite’s members, numbering more than 12,000 within the entire
14,000 crew workforce, do not accept the imposed changes. The
letter is sent as Unite continues to gather evidence that the
changes BA is forcing through are contractual and should have
therefore been negotiated. A High Court trial has been set to
consider Unite’s case further on 1st February 2010.
The ballot for industrial action will close on Monday, December
14th, the same day as the next mass meeting of the cabin crew.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
Cabin crew who are forced to work from November 16th with either
one, two or three crew members fewer are being asked to email their
feedback to O H Parsons, a firm of employment solicitors.
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