BA cabin crew to attend emergency meeting

An emergency meeting of British Airways cabin crew has been called to decide whether to fight plans to cut jobs, freeze pay and introduce worse wages and conditions for new staff, it was revealed today.

Thousands of workers are expected to attend the meeting, at Sandown Racecourse in Surrey, on November 2, two weeks before the cuts come into effect.

The Unite union has already urged BA not to impose the changes and has warned of industrial action.

Two former sections of the Transport and General Workers Union – Bassa and Cabin Crew 89 – have joined forces for the first time in over 20 years to hold the joint meeting.

BA chief executive Willie Walsh met with Unite leaders earlier this month after which the airline issued a statement which said: “The discussion, about cabin crew pay and productivity issues, was open and frank.”

Unite have complained that the changes being introduced next month constituted a “fundamental attack” on the jobs, wages and career prospects of all 14,000 cabin crew members of the union.