BA says union plans 48-hour strike as talks fail

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

LONDON, Jan 25 (Reuters) Thousands of British Airways cabin crew plan to stage a two-day strike at the end of the month after talks between the carrier and its largest union broke down overnight, BA said today.

Europe's third-largest airline, however, called on the Transport and General Workers' Union (T&G) to reverse its decision and seek a peaceful deal to address BA's pension deficit and approve new working conditions.

''We are bitterly disappointed that the T&G has refused to respond positively to the serious proposals we have made on the union's two crucial issues,'' BA Chief Executive Willie Walsh said in a statement.

''It has chosen instead to confirm a 48-hour stoppage for next week that will wreck the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of customers.'' A union spokesman was not immediately available for comment.

The decision came after more than 24 hours of talks.

Yesterday, the T&G called off the first day of what had been billed as a 72-hour walkout.

A BA spokeswoman said 11,000 of the carrier's 15,000 cabin crew staff were members of the union.

The company plans to announce its timetable for the two days affected by the walkout -- January 30 and 31 -- later.

REUTERS PB KP0917

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