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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| BA staff reject cost-cutting plan | BA staff reject cost-cutting plan |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| A mass meeting of more than 2,000 British Airways cabin crew workers has rejected the airline's plans to reduce costs by cutting jobs and freezing pay. | A mass meeting of more than 2,000 British Airways cabin crew workers has rejected the airline's plans to reduce costs by cutting jobs and freezing pay. |
| Staff said they were not prepared to accept an "assault" on their pay, terms and conditions. | Staff said they were not prepared to accept an "assault" on their pay, terms and conditions. |
| Conciliation service Acas will chair a meeting between BA and unions on Wednesday to try to reach an agreement. | Conciliation service Acas will chair a meeting between BA and unions on Wednesday to try to reach an agreement. |
| BA has been striving to cut costs in the recession. In May, the airline reported a record annual loss of £401m. | BA has been striving to cut costs in the recession. In May, the airline reported a record annual loss of £401m. |
| The company had set a deadline of 30 June to reach a deal on about 3,500 job cuts, a pay freeze and other changes, but no agreement was made. | The company had set a deadline of 30 June to reach a deal on about 3,500 job cuts, a pay freeze and other changes, but no agreement was made. |
| At the meeting, workers rejected BA's proposals and instead backed a union plan, which officials said could save between £100m and £130m. | At the meeting, workers rejected BA's proposals and instead backed a union plan, which officials said could save between £100m and £130m. |
| Cutting costs | Cutting costs |
| The union Unite said it was prepared to consider a two-year freeze on pay. | The union Unite said it was prepared to consider a two-year freeze on pay. |
| Unite claimed BA wanted to introduce a new "starter rate" of £11,000, but said this would lead to a two-tier workforce. | Unite claimed BA wanted to introduce a new "starter rate" of £11,000, but said this would lead to a two-tier workforce. |
| Last month, BA said 800 workers had volunteered to work for nothing for up to a month. | Last month, BA said 800 workers had volunteered to work for nothing for up to a month. |
| The airline had written to its 40,000 staff in the UK, asking for volunteers to work for nothing to help make savings. | The airline had written to its 40,000 staff in the UK, asking for volunteers to work for nothing to help make savings. |
| BA chief Willie Walsh has already agreed to work unpaid in July, forgoing his month's salary of £61,000. | BA chief Willie Walsh has already agreed to work unpaid in July, forgoing his month's salary of £61,000. |
| Strikes ahead? | Strikes ahead? |
| A Unite spokesman said: "Our members have shown that feelings are running very high. They have sent a very clear message that they don't want us to make any further concessions that would lead to an assault on their terms and conditions." | A Unite spokesman said: "Our members have shown that feelings are running very high. They have sent a very clear message that they don't want us to make any further concessions that would lead to an assault on their terms and conditions." |
| Unite said it was not threatening industrial action ahead of Wednesday's talks. | Unite said it was not threatening industrial action ahead of Wednesday's talks. |
| However, if those talks break down, unions could ballot their members on industrial action. | However, if those talks break down, unions could ballot their members on industrial action. |
| BA workers went on strike in 2003 over terms and conditions, and again in 2005 in a row over catering staff. | BA workers went on strike in 2003 over terms and conditions, and again in 2005 in a row over catering staff. |
| The former BA executive Derek Jewson told the BBC there would be no immediate industrial action. | The former BA executive Derek Jewson told the BBC there would be no immediate industrial action. |
| "It won't happen over the next few weeks or months. Acas are involved, and they will try to delay that," he said. | "It won't happen over the next few weeks or months. Acas are involved, and they will try to delay that," he said. |
| "I would say those who've booked their summer holidays - my view is they're okay. If they can't get it through, the likely date would be early autumn." | "I would say those who've booked their summer holidays - my view is they're okay. If they can't get it through, the likely date would be early autumn." |