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By Mike Mitchell |
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March 22, 2010 -
The US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA), representing the pilots of US
Airways, announced support for British Airways’ cabin crews’ planned
three-day strike that commence over the weekend. The British Airways
crews, represented by Unite, the largest union in British Airways has proposed to significantly change cabin crews’ contractual terms and conditions, cut jobs, implement a two-year wage freeze and introduce a second-tier workforce with lower pay and working conditions. In response, Len McCluskey, Unite’s assistant general secretary, stated that, “… BA cabin crew has not been blind to the economic realities of the airline’s position. They offered the company a package of savings which would have more than met their requirements - an extraordinary £60m worth of concessions.” British Airways has rejected this offer. |
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In its Workplace Reporter newsletter, Unite said, “the new contractual
changes are an attempt to force staff to pay the price for management
failings with the company wringing more and more out of fewer and fewer
staff who will be paid less. Working hours will be extended, crew levels
will be slashed, career opportunities will disappear and new starters
will be brought in on bargain basement wages.”
“
According to British newspaper The Guardian, British Airways is training
inexperienced staff to act as cabin crew within three weeks and has
stated that this “temporary crew will give passengers a ’simple’
in-flight experience.”
“Clearly, if by BA’s own admission passengers will receive sub-standard
service, it means the strike breakers they are rushing through training
are not receiving the rigorous training the traveling public expects
professional cabin crews to receive,” added Cleary. |
The Teamsters have
also leant their support to the British Airways cabin crews. In a
statement, Teamsters officials stated, “We stand in solidarity with our
brothers and sisters at Unite who are fighting for a fair contract at
British Airways. The Teamsters are an active member of the International
Transport Workers Federation. ITF affiliates around the world are
mobilizing to support British Airways workers in their fight for
passenger safety and worker respect.”
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