Last-ditch bid to avert BA strike

British Airways and Unite will hold talks at the conciliation service Acas, while both sides will also meet separately with new Transport Secretary Philip Hammond, just hours before thousands of staff are due to walk out.

The airline is also taking legal action in the High Court today to try to have the strike called off.

The move came as UK airspace faced continuing disruption caused by the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud.

Despite the flurry of activity, time was running out on preventing the first strike, which Unite predicted will be solidly supported by thousands of cabin crew.

The leader of the cabin crew accused the airline of being "vindictive" as he claimed the cost-cutting row which sparked strikes had now been settled.

Tony Woodley, joint leader of Unite, said an agreement had been reached in principle on a deal which would resolve the original dispute over pay, jobs and working practices, including staffing levels on flights.

The dispute was being prolonged because BA was refusing to fully restore travel concessions to staff who went on strike in March, and over the suspension and sacking of over 50 cabin crew, said Mr Woodley.

"BA has said this was a battle for the long term future of the company, to have the right cost base and restructuring in place.

"All of these requirements have now been agreed, at least in principle, with Unite. Customers, shareholders and the BA board should now be asking why this strike is still going on."

BA said it had endured two years of record annual losses and "must" reduce costs to ensure long-term survival, as many staff had accepted.

"We have made a very fair offer to Unite, which meets the concerns raised over 15 months of negotiations and ensures existing BA crew remain the best rewarded in the UK airline industry.

"British Airways has not been intransigent or refused to negotiate," the airline said in a statement.

BA said that during talks it had offered the partial reversal of crew complements, despite a High Court ruling in its favour, agreed to future promotions and transfers on current contracts for current crew, given a written assurance about the fair share of routes and aircraft between fleets, changed its position on pay to guarantee RPI inflation rises for two years on top of increments, given assurances to protect the pay, terms and conditions for current crew and offered to allow crew who went on strike a return of staff travel.

"British Airways has not suspended anyone for going on strike. To date, of 27 individuals investigated after allegations (mainly of bullying and intimidation), 20 have returned to work - five without any action taken against them and 15 after written warnings.

"Seven have been dismissed for serious cases of misconduct. As part of the union-agreed disciplinary process, they have a right of appeal."

BA also denied attempting to "break the union" and said it recognised the importance of "constructive relationships with our unions".

Mr Woodley said BA chief executive Willie Walsh was pursuing "vindictive" action against those who went on strike by taking away the travel concessions they had built up over years of service, and by suspending and sacking union members.

"This is not about restructuring any more - it is about taking out activists at the expense of the travelling public.

"Settling this dispute now would not cost BA a single penny. But it cannot be settled if the threats, intimidation and petty vindictive action continues."

Mr Woodley said the union will monitor the renewed restrictions on air travel because of the Icelandic volcanic ash, but the strikes remained on and would be well supported.

The Transport Secretary, whose Runnymede and Weybridge constituency is close to Heathrow airport, said the strike would be "self-defeating".

A Department for Transport spokesman said Mr Hammond would urge BA and Unite to get back around the negotiating table and reach a settlement.

Mr Hammond said: "I understand how difficult it can be when people's jobs have to change, but a prolonged series of strikes will weaken the company and put those jobs at risk.

"Aviation is a challenging market and BA must remain competitive, so this strike will ultimately be self-defeating."

BA said it was launching legal action after arguing Unite had not "properly complied" with the requirement to "send everyone eligible to vote details of the exact breakdown of the ballot result".

The airline urged its staff to volunteer to work during the strikes - set to disrupt flights for over 20 days.

Members of Unite are due to walk out from May 18-22 inclusive, then from May 24-28, May 30-June 3 and June 5-9, the last strike ending just days before the start of the football World Cup in South Africa.

Mr Woodley said the union will "vigorously defend" its ballot.

BA, which took legal action that halted a planned 12-day strike over Christmas, plans to run more than 60% of long-haul flights and over half of short-haul flights from Heathrow during the first strikes from Tuesday.

Unite held seven days of action in March and recently ran an online ballot of its members which resulted in rejection of an offer by BA aimed at resolving the dispute.