UK airport staff, British Airways cabin crew to strike on Christmas
British Airways cabin crew and thousands of staff at 18 UK airports have confirmed they would hold industrial action on Christmas Day in a dispute over pay and working conditions.
The flag carrier said Friday that it was "appalled" by the decision by trade union Unite. It said in a statement that the action was “calculated and heartless” and “completely unnecessary.”
The airline said it would ensure that customers could travel "so that their Christmas arrangements are not ruined."
BA said that all long haul flights would proceed as normal.
Unite had said in a statement on Wednesday that thousands of British Airways cabin crew had voted in favor of the strike.
The strike was approved by 1,200 members of Unite who rejected an offer for a 2-percent pay raise, the airline said.
Unite said salaries were supposed to be between £21,000 and £25,000 annually but, in reality, they started at just over £12,000 plus £3 an hour flying pay.
BA, the largest airline in the UK, suffered two years of industrial action between 2009 and 2011 as it was trying to cut 1,700 cabin crew jobs and freeze pay.
In addition, check-in staff, baggage handlers and cargo crew employed by Swissport and other Unite members will strike for 48 hours beginning from December 23.
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