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BA pilots to stage protest march BA pilots march in airline row
(about 3 hours later)
British Airways pilots are planning to march on BA's Heathrow headquarters, in protest at plans to use non-BA pilots in a new subsidiary. British Airways pilots have begun a protest march on BA's Heathrow headquarters over plans to use non-BA pilots in a new subsidiary.
BA's "OpenSkies" service is due to fly from non-UK European capitals to the USA following an EU-US agreement. BA's "OpenSkies" service is due to fly from non-UK European capitals to the USA, following an EU-US agreement.
Pilots had voted for industrial action, but BA applied for a legal injunction to prevent it going ahead.Pilots had voted for industrial action, but BA applied for a legal injunction to prevent it going ahead.
British Airways says the new airline would not be viable if all its pilots were employed under existing terms.British Airways says the new airline would not be viable if all its pilots were employed under existing terms.
"This march and rally comes a week after a BA threat to serve an injunction on our Association. Our message is clear - we will not be bullied, we will not be brushed off, we will persevere", Jim McAuslan, General Secretary of the British Airline Pilots Association said. Referring to the 1,000 union members who turned out for the protest, Captain Dave Smith of the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) said: "This shows that we are determined that our jobs and our security and our family lives will be defended."
BALPA says protesters will wear caps and T-shirts bearing the slogan 'BA planes - BA pilots'. A plane will fly a banner over London during the demonstration. Balpa General Secrtary Jim McAuslan said: "This march and rally comes a week after a BA threat to serve an injunction on our association. Our message is clear - we will not be bullied, we will not be brushed off, we will persevere."
The march is scheduled to begin at 1pm and proceed down the A4, which will be partially closed by the police, to BA's headquarters. Protestors wore caps and T-shirts bearing the slogan 'BA planes - BA pilots' and a small plane carrying a banner is scheduled to fly over London as part of the demonstration.
As the march progresses, an aircraft is due to fly over London with a banner proclaiming "BA planes - BA pilots".
Strike ballotStrike ballot
When BALPA balloted its members for strike action earlier this year, 86% voted in favour. When Balpa balloted its members for strike action earlier this year, 86% voted in favour.
"Because BA is seeking to use Article 43 in the Treaty of Rome to prevent strike action - in our view entirely wrongly - pilot unions and other unions around the world realise that if BA was to be successful in the courts that would have massive ramifications for every union. BA has said it will use Article 43 of the Treaty of Rome to defend its OpenSkies plan. The article allows companies in the EU freedom to establish business anywhere.
"We have asked the High Court to pronounce on BA's attempt to use this law in an industrial dispute", Mr McAuslan said. "Pilot unions and other unions around the world realise that if BA was to be successful in the courts that would have massive ramifications for every union," Mr McAuslan said.
British Airways has said it does not want conflict with its pilots, and believes the opportunity remains to reach a peaceful resolution and lift the threat of strikes. "We have asked the High Court to pronounce on BA's attempt to use this law in an industrial dispute," Mr McAuslan said.
The airline said it was disappointed that BALPA has "chosen to walk away" from talks at the conciliation service, ACAS. British Airways said it does not want conflict with its pilots, and believes the opportunity remains to reach a peaceful resolution and lift the threat of strikes.
The airline said in a statement it was disappointed that BALPA has "chosen to walk away" from talks at a conciliation service.
[BALPA's demands] would generate cost and complexity that the new carrier could not sustain British Airways[BALPA's demands] would generate cost and complexity that the new carrier could not sustain British Airways
"We have offered binding assurances that OpenSkies will pose no threat to the terms, conditions and job security of British Airways pilots. "We have offered binding assurances that OpenSkies will pose no threat to the terms, conditions and job security of British Airways pilots," the company said, adding that it has offered BA pilots 50% of flight crew vacancies for the six planes planned for the new airline.
"Our offer also included making available to BA pilots 50 per cent of flight crew vacancies for the six aircraft currently planned to go into the new airline, while protecting job security and career progression in BA", the statement said. "It remains our view that the issues between us can be resolved without the need for a strike, which would be a wholly disproportionate response to our creation of a European business that will have no adverse impact on BA pilots."
"BALPA says that terms and conditions for OpenSkies pilots must match those at BA as soon as the airline becomes profitable. This would generate cost and complexity that the new carrier could not sustain. OpenSkies would not be viable."