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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| BA seeks talks to avert walk-out | BA seeks talks to avert walk-out |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| British Airways has called in conciliation service Acas in a bid to avert a three-day strike called in row over sickness, pay and staff issues. | British Airways has called in conciliation service Acas in a bid to avert a three-day strike called in row over sickness, pay and staff issues. |
| The airline's cabin crew will stage a walk-out from the 29 to 31 January, the T&G union said on Sunday. | The airline's cabin crew will stage a walk-out from the 29 to 31 January, the T&G union said on Sunday. |
| It said agreement was still possible but warned of two further stoppages in February if no resolution emerged. | It said agreement was still possible but warned of two further stoppages in February if no resolution emerged. |
| BA said the strike was "totally unjustifiable" and it would affect hundreds of thousands of passengers. | BA said the strike was "totally unjustifiable" and it would affect hundreds of thousands of passengers. |
| Problems | Problems |
| The airline's chief executive Willie Walsh told the BBC that calling in Acas was a positive step. | The airline's chief executive Willie Walsh told the BBC that calling in Acas was a positive step. |
| "We want to resolve these issues through dialogue, he said. | "We want to resolve these issues through dialogue, he said. |
| BA STRIKES Strike announced for 29-31 JanuarySecond three-day strike possible for 5-7 FebruaryThird three-day strike possible for 12-14 FebruaryBA will let passengers booked on flights during 29 January -16 February change their dates of travel Q&A: How strike affects you | |
| "Threatening our customers is not the way forward. We have to avoid disruption." | "Threatening our customers is not the way forward. We have to avoid disruption." |
| The T&G said the next 48 to 72 hours would be crucial if there was to be any possibility of preventing the first strike. | The T&G said the next 48 to 72 hours would be crucial if there was to be any possibility of preventing the first strike. |
| The union's deputy general secretary Jack Dromey, who is leading its negotiating team, said there was a raft of problems to be settled. | The union's deputy general secretary Jack Dromey, who is leading its negotiating team, said there was a raft of problems to be settled. |
| Cabin crew have complained that a new regime on sick pay - introduced 18 months ago - means they are forced to work when they are ill. Another issue is starter pay rates for crew members. | Cabin crew have complained that a new regime on sick pay - introduced 18 months ago - means they are forced to work when they are ill. Another issue is starter pay rates for crew members. |
| Workers who are sick come to work because they fear the consequences and that cannot be right Jack DromeyT&G deputy general secretary | Workers who are sick come to work because they fear the consequences and that cannot be right Jack DromeyT&G deputy general secretary |
| BA insisted it was merely cutting high levels of sickness absence. The average of 22 days had been reduced to 12 but this was still above the UK average of seven a year per worker. | BA insisted it was merely cutting high levels of sickness absence. The average of 22 days had been reduced to 12 but this was still above the UK average of seven a year per worker. |
| The union held several meetings with BA bosses last week following a 96% vote for industrial action by the 11,000 cabin crew workers. | The union held several meetings with BA bosses last week following a 96% vote for industrial action by the 11,000 cabin crew workers. |
| 'Chaos' | 'Chaos' |
| Mr Dromey said British Airways management had "completely failed to engage" with the union, which said it was ready to resume talks at any time. | Mr Dromey said British Airways management had "completely failed to engage" with the union, which said it was ready to resume talks at any time. |
| "What you need in any modern employer in the 21st century is a joint approach towards sickness absence where you combine preventing abuse on the one hand and fairness on the other," Mr Dromey told the BBC. | "What you need in any modern employer in the 21st century is a joint approach towards sickness absence where you combine preventing abuse on the one hand and fairness on the other," Mr Dromey told the BBC. |
| "The simple reality in BA is that workers who are sick come to work because they fear the consequences and that cannot be right." | "The simple reality in BA is that workers who are sick come to work because they fear the consequences and that cannot be right." |
| BA said it had made "serious proposals" to change the way the sickness policy was applied. | BA said it had made "serious proposals" to change the way the sickness policy was applied. |
| It added said the union was now also demanding a "significant" pay rise, whereas it needed to remain competitive. | It added said the union was now also demanding a "significant" pay rise, whereas it needed to remain competitive. |
| Chief executive Willie Walsh said the strike would cause "chaos" for hundreds of thousands of customers. | Chief executive Willie Walsh said the strike would cause "chaos" for hundreds of thousands of customers. |
| It would also cause further damage to the airline, which has been hit in recent months by security and weather problems. | It would also cause further damage to the airline, which has been hit in recent months by security and weather problems. |
| The airline said it would let people booked to fly between 29 January and 16 February change the date of their trip. | The airline said it would let people booked to fly between 29 January and 16 February change the date of their trip. |
Are you a member of BA cabin crew? Tell us whether you feel a strike would be justified. | Are you a member of BA cabin crew? Tell us whether you feel a strike would be justified. |