Striking BA crew face loss of perks
23.01.10
British Airways has threatened cabin crew who go on strike with the loss of their travel perks permanently. The airline says a strike would have serious financial implications and it would have to cut staff benefits. Staff can book flights for themselves and nominated friends or family at a 90% discount - though only on a standby basis. BA also says it would review the standard of hotels that crew are put up in overnight while they are away.
The move is the latest escalation in a bitter war between BA and the Unite union, and comes a few days after the union announced a fresh strike ballot, although it conceded that it would not strike over Easter. The union is unhappy about job cuts and changes to staff contracts, which they say they have not been consulted on. BA says that it must restructure and permanently reduce its costs in order to return to profit after record losses last year.
If staff benefits are cut, it could have serious implications for large numbers of BA French and Spanish cabin, who crew rely on the travel scheme to commute to the airline's Gatwick and Heathrow bases and would be left out of pocket by the move, 'trade union sources' told the Guardian. The Unite trade union described the news as ‘shocking’ and ‘another act of provocation’. BA also warned any staff that call in sick during the strike that they will assume the staff member has joined the strike.
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
