REUTERS/Toby Melville/Files
Although weekend talks between the airline and union Unite appeared to be making significant progress, no absolute resolution could be reached and BA cabin crew began a five-day strike Monday.
Hundreds of flights have been canceled in and out of Heathrow but British Airways, aiming to fly around 60% of services, said operations were off “to a good start,” accusing union leaders of not taking up the further offer of talks. Unite’s joint general secretary Tony Woodley said the strike would have been called off if travel perks had been reinstated. For its part, BA said it had agreed to that demand once its deal was fully accepted.
Prime Minister David Cameron’s office published a statement calling for talks to bring an end to the long-running dispute over jobs, pay and working conditions.