BA cabin crew to go on strike as talks fail

19th Mar 2010 14:27

Britain is facing a spring of discontent amid walkouts by British Airways cabin crew and rail signal workers.A three-day strike by British Airways cabin crew will now go ahead after last-ditch talks between the airline and the Unite union collapsed.Cabin crew will walk out for three days starting from midnight on Friday and for another four days from 27 March.Face-to-face talks between the airline's chief executive Willie Walsh and Unite union joint leader Tony Woodley at the TUC headquarters in London broke down at 2 pm today.Woodley said he was "extremely disappointed" that the strikes will go ahead, while Walsh said the walkouts are "deeply regrettable."Travelling by train doesn't seem to be a good alternative after rail signal members of the Rail Maritime and Transport union (RMT) today voted 54% to come out on strike with 77% supporting industrial action short of a strike.The RMT executive will meet again next Thursday, 25 March, to announce the dates of strikes and in the intervening period it may seek to negotiate to a settlement.Network Rail wants to change working practices on the railways to allow more weekend maintenance work. Maintenance worker members of the RMT have already voted to go on strike over the changes as they face 1,500 job cuts.