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Joe Higgins
Letter of support for BA workers Irish Socialist Party MEP Joe Higgins
The following letter was sent to the BASSA national office in support of the prospective cabin crew strike against the attacks of British Airways management.
Joe Higgins MEP
150 Pearse Street
Dublin 2
Ireland
16 December 2009
Dear Friends,
I am writing to express my solidarity, as well as the solidarity of my party and our sister party in England and Wales, the Socialist Party, for your campaign to defend your pay and conditions of employment in British Airways.
Management's proposal to axe 1,700 jobs, impose a 2 year wage freeze and to bring in a 2nd tier of 'yellow pack' jobs must be robustly opposed. It is clearly an attempt to impose Ryanair style pay and conditions on the staff of BA.
I also condemn the extremely confrontational approach from BA management in this dispute. Willie Walsh, fresh from savaging the pay and conditions of Aer Lingus workers in his previous job clearly wants to repeat the same again in BA.
It is important for all workers in aviation that a stand is taken. I commend your decision to vote for strike action over the Christmas period. Such a decision is an important stand against the 'race to the bottom' in pay and conditions for workers in the aviation industry.
I also condemn the vicious campaign in the media against you over the last number of days. The millionaire owned press, who themselves wish to attack the conditions of their own workers cannot be trusted to be impartial when it comes to workers' struggles.
If I or the Socialist Party can be of any practical or political assistance during your struggle please don't hesitate to get in contact.
In solidarity,
Joe Higgins MEP
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