Unite meet US union on BA strike
17.03.10
Unite, the union leading the cabin crew dispute with BA that is set to cause misery this weekend, has been accused of seeking to 'internationalise' the dispute after it was reveralled that it is to meet its US counterpart Teamsters today to discuss its strike action. The BBC reports a Teamsters spokesman said it would ‘stand in solidarity’ with Unite, but it is unclear what part, if any, the US union would play in the strikes.
The first strike by BA cabin crew is due to begin on Saturday. The shadow transport secretary, Theresa Villiers, said Unite was ‘seeking to make things worse and internationalise the dispute’. She said:‘I gather the aim in talking to these other trade unions is to seek to block BA flights from landing during the period of the dispute.' It seems likely to fail to cause as much disruption in the UK as it had hoped.
Unite played down the meeting, saying that Unite would be meeting Teamsters officials to explain the background of the dispute. A spokesman said: ‘Unite has received a large number of inquiries from unions around the world offering their support to cabin crew.' BA said it was ‘sad’ to see Unite ‘seeking backing from trade unions overseas to support its unjustified strike against an iconic British brand’.
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