Unions fear more strike action at BA
Hundreds of passengers were stranded at Heathrow Airport for a third day on Monday despite assurances from strike-ridden British Airways that flights would be back to normal after the weekend of impromptu wildcat strikes.
The unofficial strikes stranded 80,000 passengers over the weekend after 360 flights were cancelled.
Disgruntled BA check-in-staff oppose the implementation of a new clocking system which they fear may result in layoffs during quiet periods. They refused to work as a result.
But a spokesman for the flag carrier insisted the dispute was the result of a “misunderstanding.”
Mervyn Walker, BA director for Heathrow, said: “This is a very simple change. It’s about replacing an old pen and paper system with a modern automated system.
“It has no effect on the way people are paid, or the way they work. We’re making that very clear to our staff.
“We feel that people have misunderstood what we’re trying to achieve.”
But GMB spokesman Ed Blissett voiced the lingering fears of his members.
“Our members are extremely angry within the terminals.
“I hope very sincerely though we can find a resolution this afternoon, which means that we don’t have to ballot our members for official industrial action.”
BA has offered £100 compensation to passengers forced to stay in hotels and promised full refunds to those who declined to travel.
Unions – the GMB, Amicus and the TGWU – held talks with BA representatives last night.
Those will resume on morning Tuesday after BA agreed to delay the introduction of the system until lunchtime so that talks can take place.
BA wants to get the issue resolved as soon as possible, not least because the dispute has cost it millions and there are warnings that an official ballot for strike action could be held if the flexitime system is introduced on Tuesday.
Patrick O’Keeffe, the national officer of the TGWU, said he was “very disappointed” at the lack of progress in last night’s talks.
Allan Black, the national official of the GMB, said: “We hope that the continued talks will be more productive. We urge our members to work normally to allow the negotiating process to proceed.”
