Union offers BA new cabin crew deal

Mar 10 2010

Union leaders have tabled a fresh offer aimed at averting strikes by British Airways cabin crew - believed to include possible savings of almost £63 million.

Marathon talks between Unite officials and airline managers continued after a deadline was extended, with the two sides swapping documents on how to break a deadlocked row over cost savings.

Unite is understood to have put forward a 10-page document which details a series of savings on pay, crew numbers, natural wastage, hotel costs and meal allowances.

A union source said he believed the offer was "fair, far-reaching and generous" and met BA's financial demands, while giving safeguards on pay and conditions to existing crew.

It is believed that under Unite's proposal, BA would reinstate a 15th crew member on long haul flights, something the airline has been strongly resisting.

Unite is understood to be offering a one year pay freeze, followed by a 2.6% pay cut, then an increase in line with RPI inflation or 2.6%, whichever is higher. A lump sum bonus worth around £7 million would be paid at the end of year three.

The union is also pressing to work with the company to rebuild the trust damaged by the current bitter dispute.

The document is understood to say that cabin crew numbers will revert to those in place before changes were made last November, with a number of exceptions, including changes to the position of Purser on Worldwide flights from Heathrow.

BA reduced the number of cabin crew on flights under cost-saving measures and chief executive Willie Walsh made it clear that the changes would not be reversed.

The union has until next Monday, March 15, to announce industrial action which would threaten travel chaos for passengers. BA maintains it has 1,000 volunteer staff ready to work as cabin crew in the coming weeks if a strike goes ahead.