BA faces strike chaos over Bank Holiday

British Airways (BA) could be hit with strikes on one of four days during the August Bank Holiday if pay negotiations between unions and management continue without agreement.

The GMB said today that 24-hour strikes effecting mainly Heathrow and Gatwick could begin at 4.30am on either August 27, 28, 29, or 30.

GMB affiliated staff members voted by a majority of 53% - on a 48% turnout of its 2,600 member - for strike action.

BA, which employs approximately 40,000 people in the UK, has urged unions to continue negotiations, adding that its offer is fair and reasonable in the current climate.

The airline has offered a pay deal worth 8.5% over three years on pensionable pay, or 10.5% over three years on non-pensionable pay.

However, the GMB's National Officer Allan Black accused BA of dragging its heels and warned that the union was preparing for war but hoping for peace.

"The effect of strikes on the company and regretfully on the travelling public will be devastating. We have no interest in closing down British Airways and do not want to see the public inconvenienced. We are doing everything we possibly can to resolve this dispute," he said.

Mr Black said that he would contact the other unions involved tomorrow to put to them a proposal to settle pay for 2004 "which we hope will take the matter forward".

The TGWU, which is currently balloting its 8,325 BA staff members, is expected to reveal the results of its strike vote on Wednesday.

TGWU members are involved in ground services, plus check-in, sales and admin at Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh airports.

Brendan Gold, the union's national secretary for civil aviation, claimed today that official figures show that the cost of settling the dispute would amount to only £10 million a year over three years.

The union said it believes BA will have already lost this sum through lost bookings.

"Profits are up, employee costs are down and will continue to fall as our people accept and adapt to new situations. Their contribution must be recognised," he said.

"In the last few days of the ballot, the board should put some new money on table. They can afford it. Our members know it and now the travelling public know it."

Last week, Mike Street, BA's director of customer service and operations, called on unions not to inflict disruption and inconvenience to customers - adding that he remained hopeful of a resolution.

"We continue to talk to our unions and we urge them to accept our offer of independent arbitration – they should have nothing to fear about the outcome," he said.

“We believe our offer is fair and reasonable given the challenges facing our company. We already have the highest employment costs of any airline in Europe and must act responsibly to protect the jobs and futures of all our staff.”

(gmcg)