British Airways Plc said the Unite union formally notified the company of plans to hold a strike vote for cabin crew, which could lead to the first walkout in more than a decade. Voting will be held from Nov. 16 to Dec. 14.... The ballot is in response to BA’s 'determination to force through a package of measures,' including contractual changes without agreement of the union, the group said in an e-mailed statement. British Airways last month bypassed Unite, which represents 96 percent of its 14,000 flight attendants, to agree on the equivalent of 1,700 job cuts.
Like almost all large airlines, British Airlines is caught in a catch-22: if it sheds jobs and salaries it'll face an employee backlash that will prevent it from operating and profiting, but if it doesn't shed those jobs and salaries it won't make a profit anyway. That's not propaganda from the front office either. The airline just posted its first ever summer loss, which isn't going to do much for anyone's corporate image.
Well, except for Ryanair. Their image is going to be all shiny, glittery, and insufferable. Industry watchers are in for a long, long week.
[Photo: Arpingstone / Wiki Commons]
Related Stories:
· British Airways Cabin Crew Plan to Hold Strike Vote (Update2) [Bloomberg]
· British Airways Coverage [Jaunted]
· Airline News Coverage [Jaunted]
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