BA's 12 days of Christmas strikes
Updated on 14 December 2009
After balloting their members, British Airways cabin staff unions have called a shock 12-day strike right across the Christmas period, threatening the travel plans of a million people worldwide. Is it a suicide note from the unions or a bungled management attempt at reform?
"With a heavy heart", British Airways cabin crews have decided to go on strike for 12 days over Christmas and the New Year.
The strike will start next Tuesday and ensure travel chaos for an estimated one million passengers.
BA, which is already losing £1.5m a day, described the decision as "cynical".
British Airways boss Willie Walsh admits the strike will damage the airline, but says BA will and could damage the whole business for years to come.
Earlier, Jon Snow spoke with Mr Walsh, who said he was not shocked by the mandate for industrial action but admitted he thought the extent of the action being taken by Unite was a "gross over-reaction to what are minor changes introduced by British Airways to secure our future.
"Leave it to the courts to determine that on 1 February," Mr Walsh said, "and stand back from destroying the holidays... Not only is this going to be damaging for British Airways at the worst time for the airline industry but it is clearly very damaging to people over the Christmas period when family and friends are trying to get together."
Brian Boyd, the national officer with Unite, the union behind the strike ballot, spoke with Jon Snow in the studio.
Mr Boyd said: "What we are concerned about is the fact that British Airways is imposing these changes rather than negotiating them, and that is at the core of this issue."
And he continued: "The union is aware of the fact this dispute could be damaging... but we have not chosen this battleground, the company quite clearly set out its position back in October when it said it was going to impose [changes]."
"It's unfortunate, but it's necessary," he added.
BA customer Gemma Evans told Channel 4 News: "I think if they did need to do strike action doing it over Christmas was going to have maximum impact on their customers and it's not really fair on customers like me who just want to have a break over Christmas."
