The Unite union has suspended the ballot aimed at ending the long-running cabin crew dispute, following BASSA’s rejection of BA’s latest offer.
Media reports state that the forthcoming ballot - which Unite had previously stated that representatives agreed was “the best that can be achieved through negotiation in the current climate” – has now been suspended.
Unite's joint leader Tony Woodley is quoted as saying that any sense that the offer was being presented to cabin crew over the heads of "unwilling representatives" would be damaging to the union.
The British Airlines Stewards and Stewardesses Association (BASSA), a branch of the Unite union, rejected BA’s latest offer earlier this week, saying that conditions contained within the appendix of the offer were “a step too far”.
Business Traveller has so far been unable to contact Unite for official confirmation of the move, and no statement has been published on its website. BA has released the following comment:
“Unite said three weeks ago that it would hold a ballot of its cabin crew members to let them decide whether to accept the proposals it had negotiated with us, with the assistance of the TUC and ACAS.
“Unite described the proposals as the best available through negotiation.
“We believe that British Airways cabin crew deserve the opportunity to vote on these proposals, which address all their concerns and represent a fair resolution of this dispute.
“The way forward is for all sections of Unite to put aside their internal divisions and allow crew to have a direct say on their own future.”
For more information visit ba.com, unitetheunion.org.
