BA cabin crew lose legal battle to overturn changes to pay and working conditions
By APFriday, February 19, 2010
Union loses legal battle with BA
LONDON — British Airways cabin crew have lost a legal battle to overturn changes to pay and working conditions that sparked an acrimonious dispute.
The High Court on Friday declined to grant a permanent injunction that would have scrapped the cost-cutting changes that were imposed in November.
BA argues that the changes — including a pay freeze this year, a switch to part-time working for some staff and a reduction in cabin crew numbers from 15 to 14 on long-haul flights — are necessary to counter falling demand because of the global financial crisis.
The Unite union has claimed it was not consulted. Unite had planned a Christmas strike over the issue, but was stopped by a separate High Court action. A new strike ballot on a walkout closes on Monday.
