BA's CEO to intervene in "swipe card" tussle

Saturday, 26 July 2003 5:41 AM

In a bid to break the deadlock in the costly dispute with check-in-staff, British Airway's CEO will meet with union bosses next week.

Disgruntled check-in-staff have protested against plans to implement a new clock-in "swipe card" system, which can record when staff begin and end work.

Staff fear the new system will lead to job losses during quiet periods.

As a result, the flag carrier was hit by wildcat strikes, which began last Friday.

Tens of thousands of passengers were left with no plane to catch at Heathrow last weekend.

In total, 400 flights were cancelled with some 7,000 passengers deserted.

Talks broke down early yesterday morning at the conciliation service Acas.

There was much confusion between the three unions involved - the Transport and General Workers' Union, the GMB and Amicus.

The T&G was criticised by the other unions for working unilaterally with BA to produce a "draft" document.

According to the Guardian, the T&G will back the "mandatory" introduction of controversial smart cards from August 18.

In exchange for the T&G's support, BA pledged not to scrutinise the data.

Rod Eddington was forced to intervene in the dispute as BA cannot afford to upset services in the lucrative summer travel season.

He will hold talks with Sir Bill Morris, general secretary of the T&G, next Monday and Amicus co-leader, Roger Lyons, on Tuesday.

There are no plans to meet the GMB, which refuses to budge on the issue. It wants the swipe cards scheme scrapped altogether.

Kevin Curran, GMB General Secretary said: "The concerns of BA staff over changes to shift patterns and working practices are real and genuine. Our members are not traditionally militant workers. Many of them have family responsibilities and they are saying to us that they want to retain some balance between work and home lives. This is very much a dispute of the 21st century."

Speaking on Sky News, Mr Lyons of Amicus said his officials saw Thursday night's meeting as "a complete charade."

"Why on earth if it such a simple changeover have the company linked it to the 2003 pay negotiations, which have completely broken down, all because of this silly little swipe card.

"If it is not so important, then why is it being imposed as the height of the holiday season? It doesn't stack up. There is something that smells here, and I can understand why employees have said, 'Hey wait, why is it being tied to our pay agreement?'

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