Union loses battle to prevent BA imposing cost-cutting plans
Union loses battle to prevent BA imposing cost-cutting plans
Friday 19th February 2010
British Airways cabin crew have lost a high court bid to prevent the airline from imposing a series of cost-cutting plans, including a pay freeze and cutting crew numbers on long-haul flights.The union Unite claims BA had not consulted properly over the changes and attempted to organise strike action over the Christmas break in protest but was prevented for doing so by a separate high court ruling.
BA claims its changes to cabin crew numbers on Worldwide and Eurofleet flights, from 15 and 14, were acceptable as they were not part of individual crew members' contracts.
Unite refuted the claim though stating the cost-cutting measures did breach existing contracts.
In court today, judge Sir Christopher Holland ruled in British Airways' favour.
The airline responded with a statement declaring: "We are extremely pleased with today's high court ruling that the modest changes we made to onboard crew numbers on flights from Heathrow were reasonable, did not breach crew contracts and can remain in place.
"Unite's central demand over the last three months has been that we reverse these changes, despite the severe financial impact this would have on the company at a time when we are facing a second year of record annual losses."
Unite has claimed it will continue to press for future strike action with an ongoing ballot set to end on February 22nd.
British Airways announced earlier this month it made a £50 million pre-tax loss in the three months to December 2009.
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