Brown Intervenes in British Airways Dispute to Avert Cabin Crew Walkout

Strategic Insights -

Gordon Brown, the prime minister, has become personally involved in the British Airways dispute in an attempt to avert a walkout by 12,000 cabin crew next weekend. The intervention comes as relations between the airline and the Unite trade union, which represents the cabin crew, have deteriorated. The dispute is rooted in BA's attempts to cut its cabin crew budget, which Unite has called "antagonistic" and damaging to service standards.

Key Takeaways:

  • Brown has called Unite's joint general secretary, Tony Woodley, to discuss potential solutions to the looming three-day walkout.
  • The transport secretary, Lord Adonis, has launched a broadside at Unite for threatening a "totally unjustified" series of strikes.
  • Unite has reserved the right to strike from 14 April onwards, in the middle of an election battle, if there is still no agreement in a row over staffing cuts on flights.
  • BA has withdrawn a formal peace offer due to Unite's decision to set strike dates.
  • Unite has accused Adonis of being "badly informed" and says BA has lost an opportunity to end the dispute.
  • A reference is to be made to a potential legal dispute over the placement of picket lines at Heathrow airport.
  • The dispute is rooted in BA's attempts to cut its cabin crew budget, which has resulted in 81% of cabin crew voting in favor of a strike.
  • BA has achieved savings of £62.5m by unilaterally reducing cabin crew numbers on flights through a voluntary redundancy programme and offering staff part-time contracts.

Statistics:

  • 12,000 cabin crew are set to walk out next weekend.
  • BA will announce a revised schedule for flights during the strike later today.
  • BA hopes to overcome the absence of staff with 1,000 volunteer flight attendants drawn from non-cabin crew members.
  • 23 aircraft are being leased from other operators, which come complete with crew.
  • The temporary workforce will have to pass picket lines at Heathrow airport organised by Unite.
  • UK airports handled 218 million passengers during 2009, a fall of 17 million on 2008.
  • Passenger numbers are back to the level they were six years ago.

Sources:

  • Sources close to the dispute.
  • British Airways.
  • Unite trade union.
  • Downing Street.
  • BBC1's Andrew Marr Show.
  • The Civil Aviation Authority.