There are new setbacks in the attempts to end the long-running British Airways industrial dispute as two union branches rejected a peace deal.Both of the cabin crew branches of the Unite union have refused to recommend a management offer intended to solve the long-running industrial dispute.One of the branches, Bassa issued a statement describing parts of the deal as "a step too far."The offer includes uses of the Acas conciliation service for 16 union members who have been dismissed during the year-long dispute. However, some parts of the offer including a management demand that all union legal action on the dispute be dropped, are rejected by shop stewards.Bassa?s statement said: "There are some good parts within BA's offer, in particular their acceptance of binding independent Acas arbitration, but there are many other clauses which we simply, as a trade union, cannot recommend."Bassa, which represents about 10,000 crew members, added that it still intended to go ahead with a consultative ballot on the offer. Its sister branch, Cabin Crew 89, also rejected the offer.If the deal is rejected in a consultative ballot, both branches are expected to push for a strike vote.BA management has pledged to operate all of its long-haul services during any industrial action.Earlier this month BA crew lost their appeal against the cost-cutting proposals that triggered the dispute last year. The court of appeal agreed with BA's argument that a unilateral reduction in staffing numbers on long-haul routes did not breach contracts.Three judges said an agreement between crew and the airline, which outlined higher staffing levels, was intended to be binding only in "honour" although it did include the threat of industrial action if it was breached.
10 November 2010
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