BA chief meets with union leaders

Chief executive of British Airways, Rod Eddington, is to have talks today with union leaders in the hope of resolving the ongoing dispute over the introduction of clocking-on swipe cards at Heathrow.

He will meet with Kevin Curran, general secretary of the GMB, Paul Talbot, assistant general secretary of Amicus, and Sir Bill Morris, general secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union.

Talks between lower level BA management and the unions at conciliation and arbitration service Acas failed last week.

Leaders of the three unions will meet Brendan Barber, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress tomorrow, in a move aimed at presenting a unified negotiating stance to British Airways.

Last week's walkout of 250 of the airline's check-in staff caused the cancellation of more than 500 BA flights and disrupted more than 100,000 travellers.

Sector analysts reckon the walkout cost the airline some stg£30-50m (€42.5-€70.8m).

British Airways reports first quarter to June 30 results on Thursday.