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BA Strike – Impacts Limited Outside UK

  • March 23rd, 2010
  • Posted by EUEditor

british-airways.jpegBack to the flavour of the 1970s in England with strike action in a major industry, at British Airways, as the country heads into a national elections season.

 

 With British Airways following its cut-price competitors, using a cost cutting plan, cabin crews went out over three days this week (20-23.3.10) against a squeeze on pay and conditions.

The turn-out was strong enough that one-third of flights were cut, (short-haul more than long-distance ones), the airline declaring it had lost seven-million pounds a day (A$ 11.5-million; dcerates.com, 23.3.10).

Qantas was able to reassure travellers that it had found alternative seats for customers who’d  been booked under coach deals on BA flights.

Plans have been mooted for more industrial action on Saturday, though union leaders are also appealing for talks with management.

There is pressure for strike action next week over similar grievances among staff on the German airline Lufthansa; (see also EUAustralia, “Airline strikes freeze winter traffic”, 24.2.10).