Fresh BA cabin crew strike takes off
AFP - Tuesday, May 25SendIM StoryPrint.LONDON (AFP) - – Thousands of air travellers faced renewed disruption on Monday as British Airways cabin crew began a five-day strike, grounding many flights to and from its main London hub.

BA said however its services were "off to a good start" despite the latest walkout in the long-running and increasingly hostile dispute between the airline and Unite, Britain's biggest trade union.

The strike, which began at midnight (2300 GMT) Sunday, affects BA's hub operations at London Heathrow, the world's busiest international passenger airport. BA flights from London's Gatwick and City airports were not disrupted.

Flights to and from Glasgow, Manchester, Amsterdam, Paris, Milan and Munich were among those most affected in a reduced timetable. Three of nine scheduled flights to New York were cancelled.

Striking workers mounted pickets outside Heathrow, many wearing badges reading "Brutish Airways" and chanting slogans attacking BA chief executive Willie Walsh.

While BA and Unite have reached broad agreement on pay, the spat is now focused on heavily discounted flights available to off-duty cabin crew -- key perks which have been taken away from striking workers.

"Our operations around the world have got off to a good start," BA said in a statement.

"The numbers of cabin crew reporting at Heathrow are currently at the levels we need to operate our published schedule.

"At Heathrow, our aim is to fly as many customers as we can during the strike period."

At 1700 GMT, BA said it had operated more than 60 percent of long-haul flights and 50 percent of short-haul flights.

It said it had leased up to eight staffed aircraft from other British or European airlines.

The airline said some of its aircraft were having a "keep the flag flying" slogan painted along their fuselages to highlight that they would continue operating throughout the strike.

Discussions broke down Saturday after dozens of leftwing protestors stormed the talks venue.

BA chief Walsh has faced accusations that he is trying to break the unions at the airline. Unite accuses the flag carrier of imposing changes on cabin crew and refusing to negotiate openly and fairly.

Walsh insists that the airline is struggling for its very existence.

The dispute soured further Monday as Tony Woodley, Unite's joint leader, accused Walsh of wanting "regime change" in the union's cabin crew branch.

Striking workers rallied near Heathrow in west London, waving flags from an open-top bus.

One 42-year-old cabin crew member from south London said: "It's personal now."

Speaking on condition of anonymity, he said: "I was happy that we were allowed to strike, but I'm devastated that we have to."

Britain's Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said the strike would not resolve the outstanding issues and urged a resumption of talks.

"The jobs of all BA staff depend on the airline's future competitiveness and the loyalty of all its customers and, in order to protect both, I now urge BA cabin crew to keep flying and keep talking," he said.

Prime Minister David Cameron "wants to see as little disruption to passengers as possible," his spokesman said.

"The best way to achieve this is for the two parties to resolve the situation as soon as possible," he told reporters.

The new strike comes after BA posted a record annual pre-tax loss of 531 million pounds on slumping sales.

The airline, which is slashing costs and merging with Spanish rival Iberia in a bid to return to profitability, has been hit hard by the global economic downturn which has decreased demand for air travel.

Unite plans two more five-day strikes, starting on May 30 and June 5.

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