British Airways union talks raise threat of further strike action

In a significant escalation, Tony Woodley, Unite’s joint general secretary, said all 30,000 of its members working for British Airways will be consulted over what he said was an attempt by management to “smash” the union.

Discussions will take place with officials representing groundstaff, including check-in workers and baggage handlers. If they walked out alongside cabin crew, British Airways would be crippled.

"This is no longer a matter for BA cabin crew alone,” Mr Woodley said.

“If trade unionism is smashed among cabin crew, then we can be sure these methods will be extended to other groups of unionised BA employees.”

The airline managed to keep flying during the 22 days of cabin crew strikes earlier in the year, thanks in part to volunteers from other parts of BA, even though hundreds of flights were still cancelled.

But the dispute has already cost British Airways an estimated £150 million, as well as denting the airline’s reputation badly among its customers.

The consultation is designed to help union leaders assess the strength of feeling among members over the tough line taken by Willie Walsh, BA’s chief executive during the dispute.

Unite is also hoping that the scarcely-veiled threat of a ballot on industrial action across the workforce as a whole will put pressure on BA to offer further concessions.

Agreement is close on the substantive issues which triggered the initial dispute, the need to cut operating costs,.

But both sides are deadlocked over the disciplinary action taken by the airline in the course of the dispute.

This has seen a wave of Unite members suspended and sacked, while cabin crew who took part in the strikes earlier this year had their free travel perk withdrawn.

In recent weeks BA has offered some concessions on these issues, but these have not been considered sufficient by Unite.

Mr Woodley accused British Airways of prolonging the dispute by insisting on what he described as the “collective punishment” of striking cabin crew and “draconian” disciplinary action.

“It is now clear that agreed procedures are being abused for purposes of trying to destroy trade unionism among cabin crew.

“It was my view from the start that this, not cost reductions, was BA’s real agenda and looking at the company’s recent actions unfortunately I have been proved right.”

A BA spokesman said: "We have been available for talks at every stage, and continue to remain in contact with Unite. We remain commited to working with the trade unions and have already agreed deals with Unite, on our pensions plan and with our engineers represented by the union."

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