KidsToLondon

News reports today indicate that talks between BA and the union representing the company's ground workers are not going well. There is a possibility of "industrial action"--AKA strikes--although when, where, and how long, and how widespread are all unknowns.

It would not be almost summer in the UK without the threat of labor unrest :-0

Kayb95

Oh, no! We're flying BA to London in 21 days! Not good news!

KidsToLondon

Well, it is not a forgone conclusion. On report on Tuesday said:

"British Airways and unions have dismissed reports that air passengers could be facing a summer of walkouts over a pay dispute.

The Transport and General Workers Union said it was "nowhere near" strike action in its continuing talks with the airline."

Singletail

I suggest you keep getting your accurate "news" from a source such as CNN.

P_M

Say it isn't so!! You said there could be walk outs over the summer. Do you think this will still be a problem in August?!?!

NO, NOOOO!!!!

jame

I saw an article on the BBC news website that mentioned a possible strike, but it didn't involve British Airways. Here's the link to the article.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3759429.stm

greytop13

Kayb95--If they're still flying, we'll be right behind you. We're flying out of SFO June 22nd. I'm sure it will all work out. Keep your PA (positive attitude).

suze

I was on the phone with friends in London yesterday, who coincidentally travel alot themselves. Neither of them had heard mention of a summer BA strike.

KidsToLondon

Have you ever noticed that, when someone says "I'm not one to say 'I told you so'" they actually ARE?

Well, here's the latest on the possible strike by BA ground workers (and yes, in May of this year, I TOLD YOU SO):

----------------------------

Friday July 16, 12:55 PM

Strike fears as BA talks collapse

LONDON (Reuters) - Pay talks between British Airways and its airport ground support staff have broken down as unions refuse to rule out a repeat of last summer's disruptive strike action.

The Transport and General Workers Union, the largest trade union at BA, said talks to resolve a pay dispute for 8,000 ground staff and baggage handlers had collapsed.

"We are looking at the options open to us, but we are still hopeful of a negotiated settlement," TGWU National Secretary Brendan Gold said on Friday. He said a third party may be called in to broker further talks.

The union said the staff affected worked in all British airports where BA operates.

A wildcat strike by BA check-in staff at London's Heathrow Airport a year ago forced the airline to scrap about 500 flights, causing travel chaos for more than 100,000 people and costing BA up to 40 million pounds.

The latest pay dispute follows a deal last week which avoided strike action by baggage handlers at airport ground-handling firm Aviance.

ggnga

Great, I have waxed and waned for 2 months about a flight from CDG to LHR. What airline, Eurostar etc. I finally booked with BA just BEFORE I read this. At least the fares weren't but $117 each so if we had to scrap it and do somehing else we could. Not as easy when you are flying tranatlantic.
Maybe my luck will hold out. One year I flew from London to Tours, trained to Paris and flew back to London. There was a strke on the railroad and air traffic. I missed them both by a day. The air traffic occurred to the day after I arrived in Tours, the rail strike was going on while I was there and resolved the very day I left by train for Paris. Whew!!

P_M

Thanks for the update, please continue to keep us posted. I am flying w/BA in August so I will be anxious to hear the outcome.

suze

Ouch~ me too (trip in August).

P_M

That's right, Suze, you're leaving the same day as me, Aug. 11!! Let's keep our fingers crossed until then.

KidsToLondon

ggnga, P_M and suze:

I might be remembering incorrectly, but during the 2003 "wildcat" strike by BA ground staff, the flights leaving the UK were impacted more than those arriving.

So, maybe you'll get stranded in London--with some bonus days on your visit ;-)

P_M

I'm actually going on to Geneva, so if I get stranded in Geneva or London on the way home, that's OK. But on the outbound, if I get to London and can't continue on to Geneva, I'll be very sad. Let's hope the strike, if it occurs, will be closer to August 25. (when I am to come home)

KidsToLondon

The latest media report I've seen indicates the BA strike (if one happens) may be in late August. But no specifics.

P_M

Thanks for the update, late August suits my schedule a lot better than early August.

May I ask your source, I'd like to read more about this.

KidsToLondon

My source was a report listed here:

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/tra...p?story=541878

Various other reports were more brief and did not include speculation on timing.

artlover

This is interesting 'cause I just received an e-mail from British Air annoucing a 3 day sale for Fall and Winter fares from the East Coast. Hope the strike doesn't happen!