BA and union at stand off

WITH British Airways’ cabin crew just starting their third five-day strike, chief executive officer, Willie Walsh (right), has made it clear this means war.

“I don’t think we’ve been brave enough in the past to stand up and say ‘No’.”

The main sticking point in negotiations is now over the withdrawn travel perks of staff that illegally went on strike earlier in the year.

Walsh denies this, however. “It’s not about travel, that’s not the issue at the heart of the dispute. This is about ensuring British Airways has a cost base that’s on an equal footing with its competitors. We are in an industry that needs to change. We cannot ignore the inefficiency we see.”

British Airways World Cargo says that the strikes’ disruptions to flights have been minimal, but the union maintains the effect has been heavy.