British Airways (BA) could face nearly three weeks of strikes by cabin crew staff, as Unite union is expected to announce its next phase of industrial action.
Unite officials have formally recommended that the union’s leaders call for five-day strikes, broken up by three 24-hour “breather” days – amounting to 23 days of disruption.
But it is unclear if Unite chiefs will back the long-stoppages, the Financial Times has reported.
The stoppages, which have been sparked in a row over job cuts and working conditions, could start as soon as next week, as the union has to give BA seven days’ notice.
The strikes come as BA cabin crew rejected an offer by the airline, following pressure from Unite.
Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance
Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday
Hinting at the possibility of further legal action, BA wrote to Unite last week asking if the union was preparing to strike over travel and disciplinary issues, or the staff cuts that were the basis of the February ballot.
In December, the airline succeeded in preventing a strike over the Christmas period by securing a High Court injunction – forcing Unite union to re-ballot its members.
