Exclusive: 9 March deadline for BA talks
Updated on 05 March 2010
Channel 4 News has learned that BA management and the Unite union representing cabin crew have agreed a 9 March deadline for an agreement on cutting operating costs. John Sparks reports.
BA wants to make £60m of savings from costs associated with its cabin crew.
Last November BA reduced the number to crew by one, to three members, on all of its flights as a way to getting to that £60m target. The union claimed it was not consulted on this move.
Channel 4 News understands that BA is willing to scrap those cuts in personnel if the union presents an alternative plan to make those savings, and we understand that Unite has offered BA a pay cut in excess of 3 per cent followed by a two year pay freeze in exchange for such a move.
However, these are just two of the options on the table - some of the elements "in the mix" we understand.
More difficult to solve is the issue of BA's "new fleet" - or the introduction of new cabin crew members on inferior pay and conditions to those enjoyed by cabin crew presently.
This is a major sticking point in the talks as both side try to agree on how and when the "new fleet" are brought into the firm.
