British Airways resumes talks to avert strike disaster

British Airways (www.ba.com) will resume talks with its cabin crew over the next few days to try to resolve the differences that nearly led to a catastrophic strike over the Christmas period.

A High Court judge blocked the 12-day walk-out in December and January and the cabin crew union Unite has since agreed to go back to the negotiating table with BA management.

Representatives of both sides are due to meet over the next few days, but in the meantime Unite is re-balloting its members for industrial action.

The two sides have been at loggerheads over BA's plans to introduce changes to working practices. After nine months of talks, BA cut the number of cabin crew on long-haul flights from London's Heathrow Airport to 14 from 15, which led to cabin crew voting to strike.

Unite joint general secretaries Derek Simpson and Tony Woodley issued a statement saying: We have said all along that this dispute could only be resolved through negotiation rather than imposition or litigation, so we are delighted to be joining BA management in talks at the TUC.

"We will be approaching those talks in a constructive spirit, seeking to find a settlement that meets the real concerns of BA's skilled, loyal and professional cabin crew, while keeping the airline flying."

If the talks fail, Unite is adamant its members will take industrial action but cabin crew are likely to reconsider following the public's outrage at the planned strike in December, which threatened to ruin Christmas for thousands.

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