May 11: British Airways cabin crew have decided to go on a series of 5-day strikes, totalling 20 days, in May and June over the airline’s cost-cutting plan.
The crew will go on strike from May 18 to 22, May 24 to 28, May 30 to June 3, and June 5 to 9, according to Unite, the union which is representing the British Airways crew.
A ballot on the offer made by BA management last week had been rejected by the cabin crew.
The strikes will cover a busy travel period in the UK, which includes the May half-term holidays.
The Union called the airline to start “meaningful negotiations” in order to prevent the strikes. The offer of new round of talks was rejected by the airline.
“We have made a very fair offer, which meets the concerns the union raised during 14 months of negotiations and also ensures that our crew remain the best rewarded in the UK airline industry. That offer remains available,” British Airways said.
“This decision has no semblance of justification. Unite’s officials continue to operate in their own world, showing callous disregard for our customers and their own members in all parts of our airline,” British Airways added.
The airline too took a hard line against the union. It said “all flights to and from Gatwick will continue to operate as normal and flights at London City will also be unaffected.”