Unions warn of more BA disruption

The Transport & General Workers' Union has warned of further disruption to British Airways flights unless the 670 sacked Gate Gourmet workers are reinstated.

Speaking to the BBC's Today programme, general secretary Tony Woodley said BA could be "severely, severely affected" unless it helped to resolve the situation.

Woodley urged BA to step in and help the sacked workers get their jobs back at Heathrow Airport.

Gate Gourmet has said administration was now a "real possibility" for the company. HR director Andy Cook told BBC Breakfast that going into administration could prove inevitable for the ailing UK operation.

“At the moment, Gate Gourmet is not a viable commercial organisation and so administration has to be a real probability,” he said.

The company is hoping to secure an improved contract from BA – its biggest UK client – and has set the airline a deadline of 5pm on Tuesday.

Yesterday, the High Court ruled that pickets outside Gate Gourmet's Heathrow plant could continue, but made the T&G legally responsible.

Woodley and TUC general secretary Brendan Barber are to address a meeting of the sacked workers in Southall today, saying the dispute is “a focus for the trade union movement”.