British Airways strikers face terminal five ban

British Airways cabin crew will be barred from picketing the airline's main Heathrow base if a strike goes ahead. Terminal Five, which processes the vast majority of BA's Heathrow passengers, will be the main location for a strike-breaking workforce of about 1,000 volunteer staff. It is understood that under a "picketing protocol" drawn up by BAA, Heathrow's owner, striking airline staff are not allowed to picket the T5 site which is on privately owned land. There are about seven sites at Heathrow where pickets can stand, including Hatton Cross tube station and the Heathrow airport police station. The closest picketing spot to T5 is at a roundabout off the A3044. A BAA spokesman said the airport would remain open even if its largest user, accounting for about 40% of flights, is disrupted by a walkout. "Whether there is strike action or not, Heathrow will remain open for business and we advise passengers to follow the advice given to them by BA." Representatives of Unite's cabin crew branch Bassa, met police today to discuss picketing arrangements – the first picket lines operated by Bassa since a BA walkout nearly 13 years ago.