Union to seek injunction over BA plans

Unite is to launch a legal challenge against British Airways’ plans to impose new pay and conditions on 14,000 cabin crew, the union said today.

The union said it will apply for a High Court injunction “against the imposition of new contracts” for the cabin crew, which it says are due to be brought in on November 16.

The action is separate to a ballot for industrial action which is also planned, a spokeswoman said.

A BA spokesman said: ``We understand that Unite's lawyers have been to the High Court this morning and issued proceedings for an injunction application.

“The union has not yet served us with the papers.

“We have announced changes to onboard cabin crew numbers to enable us to accept more than 1,000 requests from crew for voluntary redundancy and more than 3,000 requests for part-time working.

“Our announcement followed more than nine months of negotiation and consultation with Unite.

“The changes do not alter contractual terms and conditions for individual crew members. British Airways is facing very difficult economic conditions and is heading for a second consecutive year of financial losses for the first time in our history.

“Everyone within the company knows we must reduce our costs to move back toward profitability.”