BA strike is 'deplorable' says Brown
Updated on 15 March 2010
The prime minister has rounded on BA cabin crew and union officials by describing planned strike action as "unjustified" and "deplorable".
With BA cabin crew planning seven days of strike action later this month, Gordon Brown said today: "It is the wrong time, it is unjustified, it is deplorable, we shouldn't have a strike.
"It is not in the company's interest, it is not in the workers' interest and it is certainly not in the national interest. I hope that this strike will be called off."
Today's comments will put Brown at loggerheads with one of the Labour party’s biggest donors, the Unite union, which is at the heart of the negotiations between BA and cabin crew.
The government had been criticised for keeping a low profile in regard to the BA strike, amid accusations it was remaining silent because of its strong links with Unite.
Charlie Whelan, a close ally of Brown, is the political director of Unite. The union has given Labour £11m in recent years.
Transport Secretary Lord Adonis said yesterday the planned seven days of industrial action could put the future of the airline at risk, calling the walk-outs "totally unjustified".
The comments from Lord Adonis brought a stinging reaction from Unite, who were said to be "livid" at Adonis’ "blundering" intervention.
A Unite spokesman said: "Lord Adonis appears badly informed. We all want to avoid strike action and Unite is always ready to negotiate. Unite was preparing to put BA's offer to our members. Had they accepted it, there would be no strikes.
"However, the company withdrew that offer on Friday without explanation. Lord Adonis should publicly urge management to put that offer back on the table. Should they do so, there is still a possibility of peace.
"If Lord Adonis is not prepared to speak out, he risks being seen as taking the part of a bullying and intransigent management."
It remains to be seen what the union will make of Brown's remarks today.
The dispute between BA and its cabin crew began last autumn after BA revealed plans to freeze pay and cut around 1,700 cabin crew jobs, reducing staff on jumbo jets from 15 to 14.
The airline has 1,000 non-cabin crew staff ready to fly, and hopes to train up to 6,000 staff members so it can cope with the industrial action.
Willie Walsh, the chief executive of BA, has accused the union of trying to "destroy" the airline.
While Len McCluskey, Unite's assistant general secretary, said BA had turned down a "remarkable" offer from the union which he maintains would have given the airline everything it wanted.
