BA and Unite disagree over scale of strike
Updated on 20 March 2010
British Airways says half its crews are working despite the strike, but Unite claims only a third of planes have taken off. John Sparks reports from Heathrow.
Thousands of passengers were unable to fly on the first day of the three-day strike, but the travel disruption was not as bad as some had feared.
The Unite union said 80 per cent of its members took part in today's strike - caused by a dispute over cost-cutting measures - and claimed only a third of BA flights managed to depart.
However, BA said that 50 per cent of its crews turned up for work and that 60 per cent of its planes had taken off.
The union also alleged BA planes are carrying an average of just 14 passengers each, but BA said that's not true and that 65 per cent of its passengers will fly this weekend.
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Picket lines were mounted at airports including Heathrow, the worst affected by the strike.
Channel 4 News reporter John Sparks was at the strike headquarters at Bedfont Football and Social Club, and described the mood as "upbeat" as BA staff were taken by bus to picket lines.
BA said it had put its biggest-ever contingency plan in place and aimed to fly as many customers as it could this weekend.
"At both Heathrow and Gatwick we have got off to a good start and London City is operating as normal," the airline said this morning.
"Cabin crew are reporting as normal at Gatwick and the numbers reporting at Heathrow are above the levels we need to operate our published schedule.
"This is the biggest contingency plan we have ever launched.
"Our main aim, since we published our schedule, has been to give our customers as much information as early as possible so that they take up the most convenient option."
Last-minute talks between BA chief executive Willie Walsh and Unite joint general-secretary Tony Woodley, aimed at avoiding the three-day strike, collapsed yesterday.
Unite staff are also set to hold a further four-day strike next weekend, starting on 27 March.
A Unite spokesman said earlier: "The support we are getting shows how strongly people feel about this and is in spite of the bullying by management.
"Willie Walsh's appeal for people to cross our picket lines has obviously not worked."
Conservative poster van
The Tories launched a new poster highlighting Labour's links with the Unite union. It reads, "Gordon's done sweet BA. Is it because he's taken £11mn of Unite's cash?"
Channel 4 News's cameras caught a poster van which had been vandalised by passers-by near strike HQ.
Conservative leader David Cameron said the strike threatened the very future of one of the UK's "greatest companies".
He accused Labour of being bankrolled by Unite at a speech this morning.
"This threatens the future of one of Britain's greatest companies along with thousands of jobs," he said.
"But will the Prime Minister come out in support of the people who cross a picket line and go to work to help the business?
"It is not a difficult decision to answer, the question I put to the prime minister four times on Wednesday - 'do you support people who want to go to work, who want to help their business, who want to keep their job, who want to keep this industry going?'
"It's not a difficult question but he couldn't answer it and wouldn't answer it. Why not?
"Because the Unite union is bankrolling the Labour Party and he didn't have the courage to give an answer to that question. "
So again, the vested interest triumphs and the people, including those cabin crew staff who don't want to go on strike, they are the ones who suffer along with all the passengers."
Lord Adonis: 'no one's interests'
Transport Secretary Lord Adonis said: "This strike is in no one's interests and will cause major inconvenience to passengers.
"Clearly passengers travelling in the next few days will need to check with BA on the status of their flights. I continue to urge both sides to find a negotiated settlement."
Yesterday BA boss Willie Walsh apologised to travellers in an online video.
