The Militant (logo)  

Vol. 74/No. 23      June 14, 2010

 
Cabin crew workers
walk out at British Airways
 
BY ÓLÖF ANDRA PROPPÉ
AND ALEX XEZONAKIS  
LONDON—The second in a series of five-day walkouts by cabin crews at British Airways began here May 30. This follows a strike in March in response to company moves to cut crew numbers from 15 to 14 on long-haul flights and other attacks on working conditions. The workers are members of the UNITE union.

Spirited picket lines are up at four locations around Heathrow Airport. At Hatton Cross roundabout, recently visited by Militant correspondents, picketers were waving flags and chanting slogans along with music. Many passing drivers beeped their horns in a sign of solidarity. Chants included, “I would rather be a picket than a scab” and “I would rather lose my travel than my pride,” referring to flight concessions that BA has withdrawn from those taking strike action.

The walkout had been condemned by the previous Labour Party administration before the recent election and also by the new Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government. Since the dispute began BA has suspended 55 cabin crew members for alleged disciplinary offenses.

In December the airline bosses through the courts averted a 12-day strike by cabin crews. At the time UNITE joint general secretary Derek Simpson told GMTV that the union negotiating team’s proposed strike was “unusual” and “probably over the top.” BA won a court injunction against this latest strike action, but it was overturned in an appeal a few days later.

Visiting the picket line on her day off between flights last week was Carol Ng, a Hong Kong-based BA cabin crew member and chair of the BA Hong Kong International Cabin Crew Association. She said she was happy to be joining colleagues in London on their picket “demanding dignity and respect.” She described the ongoing fight over the past several years against attempts by BA to sack Hong Kong-based cabin crew workers who are more than 45 years old.

BA claims that 70 percent of long-haul flights and 55 percent of European routes are flying despite the strike. This was contested by picketers, who told the Militant that BA is using pilots and managers with some crew members to keep planes flying.

The last of the three five-day walkouts is due to begin June 5, after which the union may be forced by law to conduct a new ballot for further strike action. UNITE has said it may do so.
 
 
Related articles:
Strikers win wage increase at Honda factory in China
On the Picket Line  
 
 
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home