British Airways takes on the unions
British Airways has successfully taken on the unions after the High Court dismissed a union demand for an injunction to stop the ongoing cost-cutting programme at the company. The issue revolves around the British Airways cabin crew who have been forced to accept a reduction in cabin crew numbers from 15 to 14 on long haul flights, something which is perfectly legal and in line with current regulations.
While British Airways has certainly won the short-term battle there will be further issues in the New Year and further court activity around the ongoing friction between the management and unions. As we have mentioned on numerous occasions, British Airways has built up a significant debt over the last few years due in the main to rising costs and reduced business levels. As a consequence a massive cost-cutting programme has been underway for the last 12 months with various areas of the business under attack.
The unions have gone to the High Court on numerous occasions to try and halt the ongoing programme with very little success in the short term. However, it seems almost inevitable that strike action will follow amongst the British Airways cabin crew and could spread to other areas of the business in due course.
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