BA chief accused of union-busting as second round of strikes set to begin

Second round of British Airways strikes to begin

LONDON — British Airways is bracing for a second round of strikes, to last four days starting at midnight, as its chief executive is accused of trying to break the union.

Cabin crews are striking over pay and changes to working conditions.

Earlier this week, the airline withdrew valuable travel perks from crew members who walked off the job, saying they were non-contractual. The Unite union says any deal would have to include the restoration of those privileges.

In a letter to the Guardian newspaper, 95 British academics say that CEO Willie Walsh’s actions “notwithstanding his protestations to the contrary, are explicable only by the desire to break the union which represents the cabin crew.”