London, March 13: British Airways (BA) cabin crew are staging strikes later this month in a bitter dispute over cost-cutting, the Unite union announced, prompting the airline to offer ticket refunds.
Unite said its members at the airline would walk out for three days on March 20 and for four days on March 27.
The decision followed the collapse of talks aimed at resolving a long-running dispute over jobs, pay and working conditions.
The union said its members would not strike during the Easter vacation period and that the strikes would be called off if a deal was made with BA.
It also warned that further industrial action would be held after April 14 if the dispute remained unresolved.
The strike will likely disrupt the travel plans for thousands of customers.
However, BA won a quick public relations victory by unexpectedly offering customers who were set to travel between March 19 and 31 the option of a full refund or the ability to make alternative travel arrangements.
Not all flights were to be affected.
Customers were advised to visit the BA website to get detailed information on how the strikes may affect their plans.
Len McCluskey, Unite’s assistant general secretary, said the airline turned down a remarkable proposal from the union which offered the airline everything it was looking for.
“This offer gives the lie to the smears that these skilled and professional employees are mindless militants indifferent to BA’s difficulties or are defending a privileged position,” he said.
“The company contests our calculations, but quibbles over the precise costing of our concessions pale into insignificance compared to the losses BA will sustain in the event of an industrial dispute.”
He said the airline put forward its own counteroffer Thursday, which Unite said fell short of its members’ needs.
A statement from BA expressed strong discontent with the move by Unite to strike.
“British Airways is extremely disappointed that Unite has announced plans for massive disruption for hundreds of thousands of our customers in the run-up to the Easter holidays,” it said.
“Unite’s action has no shred of justification. British Airways’ crew are rightly renowned for their professionalism and skills. Our entire package for crew recognizes that and is reasonable and fair.
“British Airways is facing two years of record financial losses. Unlike other businesses, we have avoided compulsory redundancies and made changes designed to secure a long-term future for our company and our staff.
Cabin crew face no pay cut or reduction in terms and conditions – and remain the best rewarded in the UK airline industry.”
The latest blow came after a new front opened up in BA’s industrial relations battle, with Sky News sources warning of a potential dispute with ground staff over proposed changes to working practices.
Talks between BA and its 4,500 baggage handlers and ground staff about the cost-saving measures were long-running.
—Agencies