British Airways and Unite meet at Acas to head off new strike

The Unite trade union and British Airways have held discussions at Acas, the conciliation service, that could lead to resolution of a long-running dispute with the airline's cabin crew. It is understood that preparations for a new strike ballot are well under way at Unite but sources close to the dispute said "substantive progress" had been made in talks last week. Acas hosted discussions between Willie Walsh, BA chief executive, and Tony Woodley, Unite's joint general secretary, on Friday. Unite has been preparing to hold a ballot over disciplinary action taken against more than 100 cabin crew and the withdrawal of travel perks from an estimated 6,700 staff who took part in 22 days of walkouts earlier this year. However, the union has put new peace proposals to BA and Woodley is expected to discuss progress on talks with senior shop stewards this week. BA has said the disciplinary cases, which include 14 sackings, follow guidelines agreed with Unite. The airline has offered to reinstate the travel concessions but without the seniority status that allows employees to board a flight ahead of junior colleagues. Unite and its main cabin crew branch, Bassa, argue that the staff travel move is tantamount to punishment for exercising the right to strike. Walsh, in turn, has stated that the travel concessions are for "those who show loyalty to the company". Walsh has pledged to operate 100% of BA's long-haul services from Heathrow in the event of further strikes, alongside a full complement of services at Gatwick and City airports. If talks fail and a ballot goes ahead next month, walkouts could take place over Christmas, but BA is adamant that any disruption will be restricted to its Heathrow short-haul network. In a message to Unite's BA members last month, Woodley alleged that the airline was attempting to "eliminate" Unite from the cabin crew workforce and undermine its representatives across the rest of the company. Walsh, a former shop steward himself, has dismissed the union-breaking claims as "nonsense" and pointed to a recent deal with Unite-affiliated customer services staff as proof that other sections of the organisation are willing to co-operate in cost-cutting plans. The dispute erupted a year ago after the airline unilaterally reduced crew numbers on flights, but Unite has now accepted the changes by dropping them from negotiations.