After the collapse of last-minute negotiations with the Unite union it has been revealed that seven days of strikes have been planned for March. The first of the strikes by the company’s 13,500 cabin crews will take place on 20 March, lasting three days, with a second strike on 27 March lasting four days. There are also plans to introduce more strikes in April if talks between the union and the British Airways management are unfruitful.

Earlier this week there were high hopes that the company and the union could hammer out a last-minute agreement but British Airways management is reported to have walked away unconvinced of the potential £60 million cost savings it seeks. At a time when British Airways is struggling financially in a very difficult market, seven days of strike action, with the potential for further stoppages, is the last thing it needs.

For some reason the British Airways management and Unite union are unable to come to an agreement despite the fact that both parties know that any further pressure on company finances could have a serious impact in the medium to longer term. Even though the union came back with a new proposal earlier this week it seems that it did not go far enough to satisfy British Airways management.

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