British Airways has welcomed the decision by the cabin crew branch of the Transport and General Workers` Union to call off the strikes scheduled for 30th and 31st of January and for two…
British Airways has welcomed the decision by the cabin crew branch of the Transport and General Workers` Union to call off the strikes scheduled for 30th and 31st of January and for two 72-hour periods next month.
Willie Walsh, the airline`s chief executive, said: “We are pleased that our negotiations with the T&G have resulted in an agreement that removes the threat of strikes. We have always said that our cabin crew do an excellent job and we believe this agreement lays a firm foundation to enable us to provide even higher standards of onboard service for customers in the future.”
“Unfortunately, the decision has come too late to prevent disruption to the travel plans of tens of thousands of our customers tomorrow and Wednesday. We will endeavour to reinstate as many flights as we can for those days. We will give more details later today.”
During the weekend British Airways and the Transport and General Workers` Union had several talks to define the situation.
Key points of the settlement
British Airways has released details of the key points of the settlement reached with the T&G trade union to avert a series of cabin crew strikes.
The key points relate to pay, absence, the number of pursers on Boeing 747-400 aircraft and strengthening of the airline`s relationship with the T&G`s cabin crew branch.
The detail in relation to these points is as follows:
Pay:
A new two-year pay deal for all cabin crew. This is worth inflation (4.4 per cent) plus 0.2 per cent in year one (from February 1, 2007) and inflation in year two (from February 1, 2008).
In addition, four new non-pensionable increments will be added at the top of scale for new entrant cabin crew. The increments will lift basic non-pensionable salary (excluding allowances) at top-of-scale for cabin crew who joined the airline after 1997 to £18,600.
Absence:
Changes to the application of the absence management policy to recognise genuine concerns of cabin crew. The company and the unions will work jointly to support the agreement on attendance management.
It will be normal practice for the following conditions to be discounted: colds and flu resulting in blocked ears, diarrhoea & vomiting, one-off life events (for example, surgery or broken limb) and down-route sickness. Good attendance will be taken into account and it will be normal practice to discount the first period of sickness in a 21-month period.
However, the line crew manager will endeavour to look at all the circumstances when making these decisions.
747 Pursers:
It was agreed to remove one purser onboard Boeing 747-400s and replace with a main cabin crew member from September 2007.
Relationship:
Both parties recognise that a fresh start is needed to the relationship and work will begin on developing a constructive and professional relationship.
British Airways` chief executive and the T&G`s general secretary will review this work on a regular basis.
Reinstatement of flying schedule
British Airways is expecting to operate a full flying programme on Tuesday, January 30 and Wednesday, January 31 following the calling-off of the threatened cabin crew strike.
According to the carrier, if customers still wish to travel on any reinstated British Airways service on Tuesday January 30 or Wednesday, January 31 they must contact British Airways or their respective travel agent as soon as possible to have their travel arrangements confirmed.
Customers who do not have a confirmed booking or who have not been rebooked are advised not to come to the airport without first calling British Airways or their respective travel agent.
Customers holding bookings on BA Connect or one of British Airways` franchise partners (GB Airways, BMED, Loganair, SunAir and Comair) can fly as normal as their flights were not part of the threatened action.
Some services at Heathrow may not have a full catering service onboard during Tuesday due to the late reinstatement of the flight schedule. Any affected customers on those flights which do not have full catering will be offered vouchers to spend in the airport.
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