BA staff walkout hits thousands of flights. :: 24/05/2010 :: Airport Parking News
Five-day strike at BA halts many international and domestic services at Heathrow.
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BA staff walkout hits thousands of flights.
Monday, 24th May 2010
The first of three five-day strikes by staff at British Airways has begun. The walkout is hitting flights by British Airways from Heathrow, Europe’s busiest airport.
Up to 50 per cent of BA’s domestic flights and 40 per cent of its long-haul services are affected. As many as 25,000 people will face severe disruption.
The industrial action by Unite union members was supposed to begin last week but was delayed after a court challenge by BA. British Airways won a court injunction stopping the planned strike because technical errors with Unite’s ballot of members. The Court of Appeal, however, overturned the previous ruling, letting the strikes go ahead.
Two further actions are due to commence on 30 May and 7 June, respectively. British Airways plans to provide cover for most scheduled flights. On long-haul routes, the airline will try to carry as much as 70 per cent of people who bought tickets. Around half of short-haul services should still be available.
The dispute between the Unite union and British Airways has been running for months. Earlier industrial action in March over pay and working conditions already cost BA £43 million. The latest action could add pile on another £100 million of pain. British Airways recently declared the first full-year loss it has suffered since it issued public shares in 1987.
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