British Airways cabin crew to strike next week as talks with union reach no agreement

British Airways customers face severe disruption to their travel plans next week after talks between management and a union representing cabin crew failed to resolve their dispute Thursday.

Photo: British Airways cabin crew to strike next week as talks with union reach no agreement

British Airways cabin crew to strike next week as talks with union reach no agreement

Each side said it had made proposals to settle disputes on pay and sick leave policy, and each blamed the other for the failure to reach agreement.

The Transport and General Workers Union has set walkouts for Jan. 30 and 31; Feb. 5-7 and Feb. 12-14.

The union, which represents about 11,000 of the airline's 14,000 cabin crew, said it had reduced its strike plans for next week from three days to two as a goodwill gesture.

"The company has failed to hear the voice of common sense. This is a sad day for passengers and cabin crew alike," said Jack Dromey, deputy secretary-general of the union.

BA's chief executive, Willie Walsh, said the union didn't respond positively to management's proposals, reports AP.

"We have accepted the T&G's proposal to improve the application of the absence management policy. We have put forward a solution on pay as part of our upcoming wage round. The T&G has rejected our position out of hand," Walsh said.

He added that next week's strike would "wreck the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of customers."