The UK employment conciliation service Acas has confirmed that both British Airways and the Unite union have agreed to attend last-ditch talks today aimed at reaching some resolution over proposed strike action this Christmas.

 

As reported, Unite estimates that cabin crew employed on mixed fleet contracts have threatened to walk out later this week after 1,200 union members voted for action. This cabin crew group at BA has already rejected a 2% pay offer.

 

Commenting on the newly proposed talks yesterday [Sunday 18 December-Ed], Unite General Secretary Len McCluskey said: “I am delighted that British Airways has heeded our calls for talks. It is only by getting round the table that we can find a solution to my members’ concerns.

 

“Given the huge profits BA’s parent company made last year, the mixed fleet’s calls for a living wage and for equal treatment at work and in their pay packets must be heard.” [BA has yet to comment-Ed].

 

As reported, more than 2,500 BA cabin crew union members originally voted to take strike action from 21 December over what it describes as ‘poverty pay and broken promises’.

 

MORE INDUSTRIAL ACTION

Meanwhile, officials from Unite are also focusing efforts on another potentially damaging action threatened by check-in staff, baggage handlers and cargo crew who are employed by Swissport at multiple UK airports.

 

This 48-hour strike is [currently] due to start on Friday December 23 unless similar last ditch talks produce some form of a new agreement between both sides. If this goes ahead, then it could involve between 1500 to 2,000 workers and impact on airlines that work with Swissport at several UK airports.

 

These airports include Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heathrow, Leeds/Bradford, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Stansted and others.

 

Some airlines say they will try to mitigate the worst effects by asking their passengers to travel with hand luggage only.