BA counters strike threat with staff retraining

Up to one thousand staff at British Airways are undertaking a crash-course in cabin crew training as the airline makes continuation plans to cope with next week’s threatened strike. The announcement comes as repeated attempts to reconcile the ongoing crew number and wage-cut disputes continue to stall, prompting the walk-out warning from the cabin crew union.

In addition to the temporary in-house replacements, BA has also announced that it will be chartering some 23 planes and crew from competitors to maintain its heavy Heathrow flight schedule.

The troubled airline has stated that long-haul departures from Gatwick Airport will remain unaffected but that up to 50 percent of all short-haul journeys will be suspended. The London City Airport, which hosts 50 daily BA flights, will also remain unaffected according to Chief Executive Willie Walsh.

An impassioned Walsh, in a staff address, stated that any potential strike could result in further  budgetary constraints as the embattled carrier seeks to recover from a disastrous 18 months. Walsh also reiterated that the planned move to reduce cabin crew numbers announced last November would not be repealed. The return of staffing levels to the pre-November levels is the key demand from the Unite union. Unite’s Len McCluskey called Walsh’s remarks confrontational and inflammatory.

No definitive date has been set as yet for any strike action but most members have expressed their support for the decision. One week’s notice must be provided by Unite and Easter walk-outs have been ruled out.