Willie Walsh in no mood to compromise

Both sides of the dispute between British Airways and its cabin crew have ramped up the rhetoric following  news that a second strike ballot will be held next week.

Unite, which represents the vast majority of British Airways cabin crew, said that its members are “as determined as ever to fight for what they regard to be justice”.

The union’s comments came as it emerged that British Airways CEO Willie Walsh has written to all employees asking for volunteers to step in during any strike.

The deterioration of relations is the surest sign yet that the narrowly averted walkout over Christmas will be followed by a new wave of industrial action this Easter.

Spokesman Steve Turner spoke to the BBC after Unite confirmed that it will re-ballot members next week, paving the way for industrial action to begin as soon as March.

“Our members are very, very angry,” he commented. “They’re not just angry about the way in which they’ve been treated by the company in imposing changes on them, but they’re very angry at the way in which the company have treated them during the course of this dispute as well.”

He directly accused British Airways management of manipulating public opinion by “leaking information” and “discrediting the professionalism of the cabin crew community”.

But Unite’s sabre-rattling was matched by BA boss Mr Walsh, who today emailed the airline’s entire employee base asking them to serve as cabin crew if strikes go ahead.

“I am asking for volunteers to work alongside cabin crew who choose not to support a strike, so we are ready to keep our customers flying as much as we possibly can if this strike goes ahead,” he wrote.

Mr Walsh’s email, sent to about 40,000 employees, asked them to “sign up to train to become volunteer cabin crew”. It explained: “We will be advertising the scheme across the airline, but will focus initially on people who are available in the key period, and who meet the relevant criteria.”

Newly recruited cabin crew at British Airways take approximately six weeks to train, leaving the flag carrier with just enough time to train back-up staff before the strike can legally begin.

The volunteer programme would allow BA to minimise disruption to air passengers, as well as restricting lost revenue which would otherwise run into the tens of millions of pounds.

© Cheapflights Ltd (Image: British Airways / oneworld)

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