New vote looming for strike at BA

Cabin crew at British Airways voted in favour earlier this month on a 12-day walkout over job cuts and conditions. However, the airline managed to get a High Court injunction against the strike, which was due to take place over Christmas, because it was not conducted within the rules as some who had voted no longer worked for the company or were already leaving. The ruling brought smiles to many people who had booked flights with the troubled airlines, but union bosses said they are preparing another ballot of its 12,500 members that should take place before the end of January.

The High Court hearing that lasted just two days was told of the irregular voting by staff who did not work for the airline anymore or had taken the option of voluntary redundancy and were no longer eligible to vote in such cases. In the High Court it was passed that the industrial action was illegal if it went ahead said Mrs Justice Cox, adding that the strike could have had irreparable damage to the airline, as well as causing travel misery to one million passengers.

The dispute between BA and the unions has been running for almost a year now after the carrier said that they needed to cut 3,000 people form its workforce, introduce a pay freeze for two years and cut cabin crew on long-haul flight from 15 to 14. This was the biggest move that upset the union as it was what they see a change in working conditions, which were never discussed. Both sides have said they are available for talks again, but no date has yet been set.