British Airways offer 'probably best available', says union

From The Guardian

Cabin crew to vote on British Airways' latest offer with further strike action the only alternative to accepting the deal

Union representatives have told British Airways cabin crew that a peace offer that could end a long-running dispute is "probably the best" deal available, with further walkouts the only option if it is rejected.

About 10,000 crew affiliated with the Unite trade union are preparing to vote on an offer that could finish a year-long row with the airline. Unite's largest cabin crew branch, Bassa, said in an email to members that the only alternative to the deal was strike action. The BA offer sets out a framework for restoring staff travel to the estimated 6,700 crew who took part in 22 days of strike action this year, as well as allowing the Acas conciliation service to mediate disciplinary cases.

The Bassa email states: "This is probably the best that negotiation could produce at the current time. The only other alternative would then be taking industrial action, the outcome of which of course is always unknown." However, the message also raises concerns from members that the offer is similar to one rejected in June.

"Many members could not understand why it has not already been rejected by your reps. The answer is simple: rejection is for you alone to decide," said Bassa.

BA has asked that Unite recommend the offer as a precondition for tabling it. Willie Walsh, BA chief executive, has said that he is "hopeful" that the union will back it. Walsh told the Guardian last week that the communications accompanying the ballot would be keenly watched by the airline. "It will be the communications that they issue in relation to the ballot that will be the test. I am quite pleased with the position that we have negotiated with Unite. It genuinely represents an opportunity to get a fair resolution. It is an opportunity for people to demonstrate that it is time to bring this to an end."

The consultative ballot has not yet opened because Unite is still working through the implications of BA's demand that all legal action related to the dispute must be halted. If the offer is rejected, Unite must hold a further ballot before it can call industrial action.