More BA misery as cabin staff plot strike

BRITISH Airways passengers face even more turmoil with cabin crew set to stage another four-day strike.

Unite announced that its members will walk out from June 16 after the airline’s bosses failed to resolve a long-running pay row with the union.

It comes only a week after hundreds of thousands of passengers had their travel plans wrecked as BA cancelled or delayed more than 1,000 flights over the Bank Holiday weekend – due to an apparent IT crash.

The strike, which will start on the Friday and continue over the weekend, threatens the holiday plans of families.

The latest action involves 2,900 members of BA’s mixed fleet division – predominantly younger and lower-paid cabin crew who have joined since 2010. It comes after an offer aimed at resolving

‘Put pay proposals to union members’

the dispute was narrowly rejected last week.

Basic pay starts at £12,192, though BA says all earn at least £21,000 a year with hourly flying pay and bonuses added. Unite claims the average pay is £16,000, including allowances. It has described this as ‘poverty pay’.

Unite last night accused BA of ‘punishing’ workers for striking by stripping them of valuable travel perks. Spokesman Howard Beckett said: ‘Punishing staff for using legitimate means to reach a wage deal is a culture Unite cannot accept.’

BA will try to minimise the latest impact by leasing planes and drafting in crew from rivals.

A spokesman said: ‘We will fly all our customers to their destinations. We had reached a deal on pay, which Unite’s national officers agreed was acceptable. We urge Unite to put the pay proposals to their members.’