Has Willie Walsh won the battle with the Unite union?
While the ongoing battle between British Airways and the Unite union continues there are many who believe that Willie Walsh is now in the driving seat and looking to crush the union in the short to medium term. But is the union movement really about to roll over and give in?
History shows that the union movement is at its most dangerous when the chips are down and the odds seem to be stacked against it. It is easy to forget that British Airways is rumoured to have lost around £100 million so far due to the strike action - although this figure is vigorously disputed by British Airways - and there is no doubt that its reputation has been damaged due to the inability to maintain a full-service during the strike period.
It will be interesting to see where the Unite union goes from here because while rumours persist that the union is keen to get back around the negotiating table, British Airways will be as keen if not keener to also bring this dispute to an end. We are now in the realms of a high risk game of poker with both parties unwilling to blink first and even more unwilling to show their hand.
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