Union Says BA Ballot Goes Ahead - and Cabin Crew Do Not Accept New Contracts Willingly

LONDON - Unite the union wishes to make absolutely clear that BA’s 14,000 cabin crew have not accepted wholesale changes being imposed on the crew contracts from November 16th.

While today’s High Court decision to send Unite’s legal challenge to BA to a full trial means there will be a period of some weeks when crew are forced to work under the new rostering regime,the union stresses that this must be in no way seen as an acceptance of that new regime or that crew levels should be slashed.

Unite says it will continue to challenge the imposed contractual changes through both the forthcoming legal proceedings and by balloting its members for industrial action.

The union alleges that the crew will be forced to work with reduced staffing levels on flights, in some cases up to three crew down, until the full trial can consider Unite’s assertion that the company is breaching its members’ contracts.

In the meantime, a ballot for industrial action to impose the changes will get underway this month.

The full High Court trial is set for February 1st, 2010.

For further information, please contact Pauline Doyle on +44(0)7976-832-861

Source: Unite the Union

For further information, please contact Pauline Doyle on +44(0)7976-832-861