Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/647/10633
From The Socialist newspaper, 17 November 2010
Ballot cancelled in BA dispute
In a dramatic twist to the long running saga of the British Airways cabin crew dispute Unite have cancelled the ballot on the latest offer from the company.
Neil Cafferky
This comes after the stewards committees of the two Unite cabin crew branches, BASSA (British Airlines Stewards & Stewardesses Association) and Amicus cabin crew voted to recommend a 'No' vote to their respective membership.
The national leadership of Unite and BASSA had originally agreed to recommend the deal. This was one of the company's conditions for presenting the deal.
However, according to a statement by the BASSA leadership on 9 November, once the full details of the deal, which included a promise from Unite to withdraw legal aid to members who wished to take legal proceedings against disciplinary action, became clear BASSA felt they could no longer recommend the deal.
Tony Woodley, joint general secretary of Unite stated: "Any sense that this offer is being presented to cabin crew over the heads of unwilling representatives would be deeply damaging to the union and its members above all."
If the deal had been rejected by the membership the union would serve notice of a strike ballot to the company.
This seems to be the most likely outcome although no announcement as to when a ballot will commence has been made yet. Strike action before Christmas cannot be entirely ruled out although the window for this to happen is rapidly closing.
- For more socialist news and analysis on BA go to the Socialist Party blog Air Strike at airstrikes.wordpress.com.
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In The Socialist 17 November 2010:
Socialist Party youth and students
Massive student demo shows anti-cuts anger
24 November - Strike against fees and cuts
10 November demonstration: Students fighting back
War and occupation
Afghanistan: Withdraw the troops now!
Socialist Party workplace news
Kirklees - fighting £400 million budget cut
Protests and meetings against the cuts
Ballot cancelled in BA dispute
National Shop Stewards Network: Anti-cuts conference
Socialist Party news and analysis
Universal Credit - a thinly veiled attack on the sick and unemployed
Coalition turns back the clock on justice
Tories promote fast food nation
Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition launches its campaign for the 2011 local elections
International socialist news and analysis
Ireland: 'Not simply a crisis but an absolute disaster'
Ireland: United Left Alliance to challenge at next general election
Support the Laura Ashley strikers
Socialist Party review
Britain's trillion pound horror story
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