Strikebreakers let BA schedule more flights, prompt union security concerns

British Airways yesterday said it was increasing its March 20-22 schedule as "the number of cabin crew offering to work as normal has increased significantly," while Unite called on the UK government to "investigate standards" on flights featuring "strike-busting" crew.

On Monday, BA said it planned to serve 60% of its scheduled passengers during the three-day flight attendants strike thanks in part to wet-leased aircraft and employees from throughout the company volunteering to fill in (ATWOnline, March 16). Yesterday it said more flight attendants are offering to work and the number "is expected to grow further," while the number of airlines willing to partner with it has increased from 50 to 60 in just a few days. The number of passengers per day during the strike now is expected to increase to around 49,000 from 45,000.

CEO Willie Walsh said cabin staff have "express[ed] their disillusion with Unite's position." BA said, "These developments have enabled the airline to reinstate some previously cancelled flights and provide extra capacity for both long-haul and short-haul destinations."

Unite responded by questioning the safety of those flights operated by strikebreakers and asking Secretary of State for Transport Andrew Adonis to "take all steps to ensure that the reputation of UK aviation is not damaged by BA's determination to deploy under-trained novices as cabin crew."

The union demanded that BA prove workers have cleared national security checks, which it claimed normally take three months, and that they comply with security requirements in destination countries as well. "Irrespective of the views ministers may hold on the nature of this dispute, we know that your first concern is to ensure that the traveling public does not suffer," Unite wrote. Adonis has called the strike "totally unjustified." Unite also claimed that "volunteer crews" place passengers "at serious risk should an incident occur."

Yesterday the International Transport Workers' Federation, which includes 264 aviation trade unions, warned that members "will continue to mobilize to support the [BA] strikers, using the kind of lawful expressions of solidarity that are most appropriate to them."