May 12, 2010 - British Airways cabin crew are to hold a further 20 days of strike action following their overwhelming rejection of the company’s offer in a ballot last week, Unite the union announced Monday.

British Airways Cabin Crew union, Unite has reported BA management failed to offer any new proposals to settle the dispute over the weekend, so crew are to take strike action on the following days:  May 18-22 inclusive, May 24-28 inclusive, May 30-June 3 inclusive and June 5-9 inclusive.

Unite’s joint general secretaries Derek Simpson and Tony Woodley said: “Passengers and investors alike will be dismayed that British Airways' management rejected an approach by the union over the weekend, after their offer had been comprehensively turned down by their own employees.

“At Heathrow we plan to operate a substantial part of our long haul schedule and there will be a number of daily flights to every destination across our short haul network. We are speaking to a number of carriers about leasing in extra aircraft to support our short haul schedule and also obtaining thousands of seats from other airlines to help our customers rebook if their original flight is cancelled. We will give more details four or five days before the strike is due to begin when we will announce the exact details of our revised Heathrow schedule.

Commenting on the decision by Unite to announce further strike action by British Airways cabin crew, Jim McAuslan, General Secretary of the pilots' union BALPA (British Airline Pilots' Association) said:

"Today's announcement of further strikes in BA is disappointing given the continuing uncertainty in our industry caused by volcanic ash and an economy emerging from recession. Even at this late stage we call on both sides to work together to find a solution and BALPA stands ready to offer any help it can to achieve that.

"Pilots are not in dispute with the company, having already agreed an annual savings plan of £25 million per year and seen this overwhelmingly endorsed in a membership ballot. BA pilots, like other groups in the airline, have made a sacrifice to help BA through economic difficulties which have been made worse, of course, by the additional problems of volcanic ash. We feel it is for all groups within BA to make a contribution.

"Pilots will be working normally throughout any strike and will ensure that a professional service is maintained. Pilot representatives will be meeting later this week to review this worsening position which has the potential to sour working relations between BA and its cabin crew for years to come."  (see British Airways Cabin Crew Vote To Strike)