BA strike to go ahead as talks collapse

Link to the article: Channel 4 News

The prime minister condemns the "unacceptable inconvenience" of a British Airways cabin crew strike as talks to prevent the midnight walk-out collapse.

Officials from the Unite union have been locked in talks with the airline's chief executive, Willie Walsh, this week in a bid to find a breakthrough in a bitter row over cost-cutting.

Following the collapse of the talks Unite's joint leader, Tony Woodley, said he was "extremely disappointed" that the efforts to head off the strike had failed while accusing BA of wanting a "war" with the union.

BA chief executive Willie Walsh said he "deeply regretted" the breakdown of talks, adding that a new offer tabled by the airline will be withdrawn once the strike starts. He called the strikes "unjustified".

Mr Woodley emerged from five hours of talks with Mr Walsh at the TUC headquarters in London today to say that "hawks" on the BA board had won the day.

He said BA had tabled a worse offer than one withdrawn last week after the union announced this weekend's strike, and another four- day walkout from March 27.