British Airways Holiday Season Strike

Christmas travelers are going to see their holiday plans ruined, at least those who have planned a trip through British Airways, unless there is a compromise in the strike or passengers shift their plans to another airline. The cabin crew of British Airways have voted to strike for nearly 2 weeks, which will cover all of Christmas and New Year. This is to protest the cost cutting measures that have been adopted by British Airways to cover huge losses it has experienced of late, due to the global economic recession. The airline's plan to cut jobs, freeze salaries for 2 years, reduce the number of cabin crew members on long-haul flights, and recruit staff at lower wages, has irked the employees to a great extent. Nearly 2,000 jobs were lost this summer, and 3,000 more jobs are expected to go by March 2010.

United Deputy General Secretary Len McCluskey said, "More than 12,500 BA employees, balloted by trade union Unite in November, voted by a 92.5 percent majority to walk out from December 22 for 12 days. The strike would inflict "catastrophic damage" to the airline if it went ahead and urged British Airways bosses to return to the negotiating table. The union members have been pushed into a corner by BA Chief Executive Willie Walsh. We've been saying to Mr. Walsh this seems crazy at a time when British Airways is suffering badly through an economic downturn that he should force us into a dispute that would have catastrophic effects on the economy of the company. That's why we're hoping that even at this late hour the strength of feeling of our members will get through to the company. We are available 24 hours a day to meet the company. If they are up for getting an agreement I'm confident we can get one. Passengers, upset at having their holiday plans disrupted, should take their anger out on the airline."

But Walsh went on to say that the strike was completely unjustified and that the union was turning a blind eye to the recession issues, and that the measures taken by the airline was for its very own survival. He continued, "My admiration for the professionalism and skills of British Airways cabin crew is second to none. They are an absolutely vital part of our airline, and a great asset. But they have been disgracefully misled by Unite as to how our company-wide cost reduction program would affect them."

BA claims that they have lost more than $485 million for the half year April to September. And by these cost cutting measures they have introduced, they expect to save around $665 million. The airline said they would re-work on their flight schedule and inform all passengers about the changes, either through email or text.