LONDON – British Airways cabin crew staff went on strike early today after hopes of a last-ditch deal collapsed.
The five-day walk-out began as planned, despite attempts to reach an agreement over the weekend.
In the hours leading up to the midnight deadline, the joint leader of Unite, Tony Woodley, offered to suspend the industrial action if the airline gave back travel concessions it stripped members of following the last strike.
But the war of words between the two sides continued throughout the day, with BA saying it was disappointed Mr Woodley took to negotiation via the media rather than through an industrial relations mediation service.
Yesterday BA pointed the finger of blame at the union for failing to continue with talks yesterday. In a statement, the company said it had agreed to a request from the mediation service to meet during the afternoon and was “surprised” that Unite did not do likewise.
It added: “We have already offered to reinstate travel concessions to cabin crew once all elements of our offer have been implemented. Of more concern to us is Tony Woodley’s comment to the media that he wants to revisit certain proposals in our offer, when previously he had indicated that these were agreed.”
BA also attacked Unite’s joint leader Derek Simpson for giving a “running commentary” on his Twitter account of the supposedly confidential talks.
Chief executive Willie Walsh said he was “shocked and angry” at Mr Simpson’s behaviour. Union sources said the talks on Saturday had reached a “crucial” point when they were suddenly brought to a chaotic halt as scores of members of the Socialist Workers Party invaded the talks and surrounded Mr Woodley and Mr Walsh, who hurriedly left the building through a rear exit yesterday evening.
Mr Woodley said the incident had been “catastrophic” for the talks . – (PA)