BA talks resume as time runs out to avert strike

Talks to avert a damaging strike by British Airways cabin crew will resume today as time runs out on efforts to break a deadlocked row over cost-cutting.

The airline’s chief executive, Willie Walsh, and the Unite union’s joint leader, Tony Woodley, spent yesterday locked in delicate discussions at the TUC headquarters in London.

They broke up just after midnight and both sides will get back together this morning. Thousands of BA cabin crew are due to walk out tomorrow, causing chaos for thousands of passengers.

As he left the talks, Mr Walsh declined to say how fruitful they had been, saying only that they would resume.

Mr Woodley stressed that while discussions were continuing, there was some hope as he again appealed to the airline to put back on the table an offer it withdrew last week.

But his union was planning to hold a mass meeting of cabin crew at Sandown Park racecourse in Surrey, England today to rally the workers ahead of the strike.

BA cabin crew are planning to stage a three-day walkout from tomorrow, followed by a four-day stoppage from March 27.

Even if a last minute deal is agreed, it will be too late to reinstate the flights already cancelled by BA.

The airline is believed to have already lost more than £25m (€27.8m) in cancelled tickets and contingency plans.

Last night, UK Business Secretary Peter Mandelson urged both sides to reach a solution that would avoid strike action, which he described as “needless” and “quite disproportionate” to the issues under dispute.

He dismissed opposition claims that Unite was able to dictate government policy because of its £11m (€12.3m) of donations to Labour and the close links of its political director Charlie Whelan – a former spokesman for Gordon Brown – with the party.

“I think that, given the government’s very clear position on this dispute, anyone would be able to judge that Unite or anyone working for this union is not dictating our policy,” he said.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber has been trying to broker a deal for the last few weeks.

The surprise last-minute talks offered a glimmer of hope that the three-day strike could still be averted.

The talks came as international support for the strike increased, possibly jeopardising management plans to fly 60% of customers regardless of the action.

Unions representing ground crews in the US and Germany pledged solidarity, raising the prospect of BA flights being disrupted at overseas destinations.

Six trade unions in France were also reportedly organising their own action in support of BA workers.

But BA said it aims to fly thousands more passengers during the strike than it had initially planned after more staff volunteered to work.

The union accused BA of “bluffing” and claimed only 350 volunteers were prepared to stand in for strikers this weekend, as opposed to the 1,000 announced by the airline.

British Airways placed a full page advert in national newspapers today, in which Mr Walsh says his door “remains open” to Unite.

But he also hits out at the union’s planned strike, saying it “will be a blow not only to our customers and to British Airways but also to Britain”.

“I believe that Unite has made the wrong decision and misjudged the mood of our times,” he writes.

The BA boss adds: “During Unite’s forthcoming strike, the majority of people who work for British Airways will be doing their utmost to minimise disruption to our customers.

“We have a significant number of cabin crew who don’t believe in the strike and will continue to work. They will be supported by countless volunteers from across our airline.”