Unite BA Pilots Union to Respect Trade Union Principles

LONDON, January 23 - Unite the Union today warned the British Airlines Pilots Association
(BALPA) that it was not acceptable for it to take a "neutral" stance over its
members being used as possible strike-breakers in the dispute between British
Airways and its cabin crew.

And the two major unions at BA - Unite and the GMB - have issued a joint
statement warning all BA employees that if they take up the company's offer
to become strike-breakers in the event of renewed industrial action between
cabin crew and the airlines, they will be putting their permanent jobs at
risk.

The warning to BALPA follows a statement by the pilots union that it
would take a neutral position on any of its members volunteering to work as
strike breakers in the event of strike action being taken in the dispute over
the imposition of changes to cabin crew numbers and working conditions. Unite
is balloting over 12,000 cabin crew members on industrial action, with the
result expected on February 22nd.

Unite Joint General Secretary Tony Woodley said today: "It is not
acceptable for trade unionists to act as strike-breakers in a legitimate
industrial dispute, nor for pilots to use their privileged position to
undermine much lower-paid trade union colleagues.

"Still less is it acceptable for their union - BALPA - to declare
themselves neutral over strike-breaking. This is a clear breach of basic
trade union principles, and I will be raising this matter urgently with the
leadership of BALPA and with the TUC."

The joint statement by Unite and the GMB, sent to all BA employees in the
two unions, warns them that if they volunteer to act as strike-breakers, they
will be sending a message to management that the airline can operate without
them doing their regular job.

Len McCluskey, the lead Unite negotiator with British Airways, said
today: "Anyone volunteering to do the work of striking cabin crew members has
to ask themselves - when the next round of job cuts come, have I flagged up
my post as superfluous?

"Of course, management will make all sorts of promises, but can a
management that imposes changes to contractual conditions and spends much of
its time thinking up ways to denigrate professional and loyal employees
really be trusted?"

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