Unite and BA Open Talks Chaired by TUC

British Airways will hold peace talks with Unite tomorrow in a bid to avert crippling strike action by cabin crew.
Unite is close to serving BA notice that it will hold a strike ballot over staffing cuts, leaving open the prospect of a walkout as soon as next month.
However, the union's joint general secretaries, Tony Woodley and Derek Simpson, said they were "delighted" to be holding talks that will be hosted by the TUC.
The talks will be chaired by the TUC General Secretary, Brendan Barber.
"We have said all along that this dispute could only be resolved through negotiation, rather than imposition or litigation, so we are delighted to be joining BA management in talks at the TUC," said Unite.
It is understood that shortly before Christmas the BA chief executive, Willie Walsh, sent a letter to Woodley and Simpson seeking talks in the wake of securing a high court injunction that blocked a 12-day walkout by cabin crew.
A meeting between Walsh, Woodley and Simpson on Monday appears to have convinced the Unite leadership that BA is willing to negotiate.
BA said: "We are pleased that this new round of talks will now proceed under the auspices of the TUC."

A statement by Bassa, a cabin crew branch of Unite, said that Walsh had offered concessions to the trade union. Bassa said on its website that the staff reductions had to be reversed but admitted that it would consider the new BA proposals. It said: "We shall remain open to consider the company's proposals. At the time of writing, the company has offered some concessionary ideas, which are under consideration."
BA's proposal centres on the role of the cabin service director, the highest-ranking cabin crew member on a flight. Staff cuts had forced CSDs to join general flight duties but it is understood that Walsh has offered to make the post a fully supervisory role again.
Under changes imposed in November, BA reduced the number of cabin crew on long-haul flights from between 15 and 16 positions to 14.

Cabin crew have claimed that the changes have lowered service standards, but their biggest concern is the fact that BA imposed the changes unilaterally. A high court hearing scheduled for 1 February will determine whether the staff cuts can be repealed.