British Airways cabin crew are to
be balloted again over possible new strike action in their long-running dispute
with the airline.
The Unite union is complaining
about BA’s refusal to reinstate travel perks in full to crew members who have
taken part in previous strikes.
Joint general secretary Tony
Woodley called the airline’s approach “needless and vindictive”.
But BA said Unite was now creating
“fresh uncertainty for customers”.
“Tony Woodley shook hands with
us on an agreement in October, and said he would let cabin crew vote on the
deal with a recommendation for acceptance,” said the airline.
They also said the latest
development would damage the interests of his union members within BA.
But Mr Woodley said members had
been “victimised and harassed” by the firm.
He added that members were being
disciplined for matters that he said in any other firm would not “even go
to the area managers’ office”.
The balloting process is expected
to begin in seven days’ time. If a majority of the 11,000 members vote for
industrial action, this could begin in the New Year.
But the airline reacted by calling
the union “dysfunctional”.
“In recent days, Unite has
changed its position yet again, calling for fresh talks then announcing a
strike ballot before such talks take place,” a spokesman said.
Mr Woodley said he could not put a
precise date on when ballot papers would be sent out as the union would need to
make sure that all addresses of current members were up to date.
He said it was “not a delay,
or some sort of tactic” merely that he did want to see the union embroiled
in another court battle.
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