22nd February 2010
British Airways cabin crew may threaten to ruin the Easter
holiday plans of thousands of families when the results of a ballot
on industrial action are revealed later today.
The Unite trade union is expecting a yes vote from over 12,000
BA cabin crew in its ballot over whether industrial action should
be taken in a row over working conditions and job cuts.
4,000 members of the British Airlines Stewards and Stewardesses
Association (BASSA) have already voted in an online poll on whether
they would support a strike or not.
Two-thirds of respondents in the poll indicated that they would
back a strike of at least 10 days, with one staff member posting on
the BASSA website: "Let's send a clear message - strike over Easter
and a lengthy one at that. Sometimes you have to play dirty."
The result of the BASSA poll is important as officials will
consult members when setting their strike conditions later this
week.
Action over Easter would contradict the official promises of
BASSA's parent union, Unite, who assured that the busy holiday
period would not be affected.
However, staff have indicated that striking is a last resort and
are willing to negotiate with their bosses. BASSA spokesperson Ken
Ablard said: "All we want is for BA to negotiate and not
impose."
Last year, cabin crew voted for 12 days of strike action over
Christmas but the walkout was narrowly averted when it emerged the
ballot had been carried out illegally.
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