British Airways is facing the prospect of crippling strikes by its cabin crew as union bosses meet today to decide their next move after talks aimed at resolving a bitter row over cost-cutting broke down.
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.
Hopes of a breakthrough in the long running dispute collapsed last night when marathon talks ended without agreement.
Officials from Unite will meet today to discuss their next move, and are set to announce strike dates.
The union ruled out striking over Easter, but a walkout could come as early as March 18th.
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.
“(Yesterday’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.
“Unite representatives will be meeting [today] to discuss the consequences of this breakdown. Should BA wish to make an improved offer, they have time to do so.”
BA said it remained available for further negotiations but hopes of resurrecting talks were slim.
Earlier, Unite put forward a 10-page document it said contained possible savings of almost £63 million, including a one year pay freeze, followed by a pay cut of 2.6 per cent.
BA said its package would save £62.5 million a year and would not reduce the pay of existing crew.
The airline said the union’s proposals fell “significantly short” of this level of savings and would lead to pay cuts of between £1,000 and £2,700 for crew, figures the union disputed.
Reuters