Union may ballot BA ground staff
11.03.10
British Airways is facing the threat of a second strike, with the Unite union considering a ballot of ground staff over proposed changes to working practices, Sky reports. The union is expected to announce strike dates by BA cabin crew today after talks aimed at resolving a longrunning row over cost-cutting broke down.
Commenting on the new stike threat, Sky's business correspondent Joel Hills said: ‘My understanding is that BA has been in talks with its 4,500 baggage handlers and ground staff about cost-saving changes for some time. Unite is unhappy with some of the changes because they say it will erradicate overtime and lead to redundancies.’
He reports that on March 5, Ken Petrie, the general manager of BA's Heathrow Ramp and Baggage Service wrote to ground staff. The letter asked ground staff to complete a 'preference form' to indicate which area of the department they wished to work in. Staff are warned that if they do not return a form, the company will assume they do not have an area preference.
Mr HIlls said: ‘Unite sees the letter as a provocative attempt to bypass negotiations and impose change rather than negotiate. It has told BA that unless it withdraws the letter immediately, it intends to ballot its members.’
To book heathrow airport hotel or heathrow airport car park at the lowest price, click on these links to two great heathrow airport car parking and heathrow airport hotel price comparison page
