British Airways plans for strikes
Dec 15, 2009
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Shares in British Airways drifted lower as the embattled airline said it is mulling "all options" to cope with the planned 12-day strike by cabin crew over the Christmas period.
BA is reportedly trying to rework flight schedules and is considering a possible injunction to stop the walkout that could leave 1m passengers stranded over the holiday period.
BA is insisting it will not climb down on its decision to reduce cabin crew numbers, which is at the heart of the dispute.
Staff yesterday voted 9 to 1 in favour of strike action for 12 days from 22 December. Over 12,500 cabin crew were issued with ballot papers a month ago by unions furious at new working practices introduced by the UK carrier.
BA brought in smaller crews for all flights last month, meaning senior staff must carry out more menial tasks.
The airline has already flagged plans to axe 1,700 jobs, freeze pay for staff and lower wages for new joiners in a bid to save £140m a year.
Observers suggest the strike call could cost the airline £40-£50m in lost profits. Analysts at UBS think it's unlikely that the strike will be averted as BA is not expected to back down given that cabin crew receive remuneration higher than competitors. Its view is also that the longer term savings from the new working practices will eventually far outweigh that cost.
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