The travel plans of over one million British Airways (BA) passengers are to continue on schedule as a High Court has issued an emergency injunction to stop a 12-day strike by the airline’s cabin crew staff over Christmas.
Over 90 per cent of BA cabin crew staff voted on Monday December 14 to walk off the job in a bitter dispute over pay and working conditions, with a plan to commence strike on December 22 until January 2.
But the airline’s lawyers took its workers to court the next day, seeking an order to prevent the strike.
According to a BBC report, a statement form the British Airways read: “There was never any need for a strike and we hope that Unite will take this opportunity to reflect before deciding its next steps.”
Although over 90 per cent of the union’s membership took part in the ballot, the court said the number was not enough. Unite, the cabin crew’s union, called it “a disgraceful day for democracy.” They also plan to hold a fresh ballot of cabin crew if the row with BA went unresolved.
British Airways is the United Kingdom’s largest airline, with over 38,000 employees. The company operates a fleet of 291 aircraft to 157 destinations in 76 countries.