20-day BA strike announced

Monday, 10 May 2010 12:00 AM

By politics.co.uk staff

BA cabin crew has announced it will strike for 20 days in May and June.

The crew's union Unite has said they will walk out in four five day periods on 18th to 22nd May, 24th to 28th May, 30th May to 3rd June and 5th to 9th of June.

Strikes will cover the late May bank holiday and school holidays.

Unite's joint general secretaries Derek Simpson and Tony Woodley said: "Passengers and investors alike will be dismayed that British Airways management rejected an approach by the union over the weekend, after their offer had been comprehensively turned down by their own employees.

"Cabin crew are left with no choice but to take further strike action. There can be no industrial peace without meaningful negotiations and while management victimises trade unionists and uses disciplinary procedures in a witch-hunt."

The union also said it would ballot its cabin crew members over further industrial action because of the way BA management has acted during negotiations.

Staff are striking because BA is looking to reduce costs caused by losses of £1 billion over two years.

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