BA crew strike blocked, union to move court
The dispute between the British Airways and the union representing its cabin crew worsened on Tuesday after the high court ruled that they could not go on strike called because of long-standing row over salaries and staffing levels.
The high court on Monday evening granted a last-minute reprieve to British Airways, which was facing four five-day strikes from Tuesday morning. The BA staff had voted in favour of series of strikes on May 18-22, May 24-28, May 30-June 3 and June 5-9. The Unite union, which termed the judgment barring it from striking as an “absolute disgrace,” on Tuesday launched a legal challenge against the injunction.
“This judgment is an absolute disgrace and will rank alongside the Taff Vale judgment as a landmark attack on free trade unionism and the right to take industrial action. Its implication is that it is now all-but impossible to take legally-protected strike action against any employer who wishes to seek an injunction,” Unite joint general secretaries Tony Woodley and Derek Simpson said.
Calling the injunction an attack on freedom, the said: “Because of the far-reaching consequences of this injunction for all trade unions and indeed for our democracy, we are seeking leave to appeal immediately.”
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