BA to hire new cabin crew

Amidst ongoing contract talks with Unite, BA has launched a hiring programme.

Travel Insurance News - 28/06/2010

<< Flight Centre tells Australian travellers: get enough cover | Travel News | Study finds 40% of Americans have not holidayed in two years >>

British Airways has announced it is intending to recruit new cabin crew, in a bid to cut its costs. The move, met with anger by the Unite union, is aimed at addressing what the airline says is a problematic disparity in the rates it pays cabin crew based at Heathrow versus those based at Gatwick.

BA insists it must continue to manage its costs if it is to survive. The carrier insists that its costs for Heathrow-based cabin crew are radically out of line with both industry rates and what it pays cabin crew based at Gatwick. BA is aiming to hire 1,250 new cabin crew in the first phase of recruitment. This represents roughly ten per cent of the airline’s existing workforce.

British Airways and the Unite union have been locked in bitter industrial action and difficult negotiations since the first wave of strikes began in March. The union claims the latest move by BA demonstrated why the union has been unable to reach an agreement with the airline. It said any agreement reached in these conditions would only signal the end of its membership. BA refuted allegations that its latest move threatens its workforce and insists that cabin crew can retain the existing terms and conditions of their employment.

<< Flight Centre tells Australian travellers: get enough cover | Travel News | Study finds 40% of Americans have not holidayed in two years >>