Union to discuss BA strike moves (From Echo)

Union to discuss BA strike moves

4:44am Thursday 11th March 2010 in

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British Airways is facing the prospect of crippling strikes by its cabin crew as union bosses meet to decide their next move after talks aimed at resolving a bitter row over cost-cutting broke down.

Hopes of a breakthrough in the long running dispute collapsed on Wednesday night when marathon talks ended without agreement.

Officials from Unite will meet on Thursday to discuss their next move, and are set to announce strike dates.

The union's 12,500 cabin crew members voted twice hugely in favour of industrial action, but a planned walkout over Christmas was halted after a successful legal challenge from BA. The union ruled out striking over Easter, but a walkout could come as early as March 18.

Unite will have to give BA seven days' notice, but the scene is now set for a bitter confrontation.

The two sides were embroiled in negotiations under the chairmanship of TUC general secretary Brendan Barber, which broke up without agreement.

Mr Barber said: "Despite a prolonged period of negotiations it has not been possible to reach agreement between BA and Unite. Both parties will be reflecting on the position and the TUC will be keeping in touch but at this stage no further negotiations are planned."

Unite said: "Talks with British Airways concluded without agreement being reached. Management's offer went nowhere near addressing our members' concerns over crew numbers and service levels.

"(Wednesday's) talks were further impeded by gratuitously provocative statements by senior BA managers not involved in the negotiations, once more calling into question the company's interest in reaching an agreement."

BA said it remained available for further negotiations but hopes of resurrecting talks were slim.