British Airways and Unite to Negotiate New Acas Proposals
There has been a turn in the right direction for the British Airways cabin crew dispute, which has threatened millions of passengers’ travel plans with 22 days of strikes this year. This comes as the Acas, the conciliation service, revealed over the weekend that they have put fresh proposals on the table for the airline and Unite union to negotiate, but the details haven’t been unveiled.
It’s thought that the new negotiations are going to centre on travel perks, which were withdrawn from cabin crew that went on strike in March for 7 days. Acas chief conciliator Peter Harwood said that they want to end the dispute, which has been very damaging for everyone involved. He expects to meet with the carrier and union early this week, but when and where the meeting will be held will remain secret.
A spokesman for Unite said that any new proposals will have to end the ban on travel perks if they have any chance of finding a solution to the dispute. A British Airways spokeswoman would only confirm that the Acas has made new proposals, but said they wouldn’t comment on them right now.
The last strike by cabin crew ended just last Wednesday (June 9); however, Unite has threatened to ballot its members again for further industrial action next month. This will be bad news for British Airways, who has reported record losses for the financial year ending March 31, 2010, as well as lost a total £150 million from the 22 days of walkouts.
This isn’t holding the airline back, though. Chief executive Willie Walsh made a statement last week that they will continue to battle with strikers for as long as it takes. They won’t back down, he added.
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