Neha Jain: http://canadianaviationnews.blogspot.com/ 28

1. UPDATE 1-BA cabin crew vote for fresh strike action
* 5,811 BA crew vote for strike action, 1,170 go against

* Unite says still in talks with BA to end dispute

(Adds detail)

LONDON, March 28 (Reuters) - British Airways cabin crew on Monday voted in favour of taking fresh strike action in a dispute that has so far cost the airline more than 150 million pounds ($240 million).

The Unite union, which represents 90 percent of IAG (ICAG.L)-owned BA's 12,000 cabin crew, said 83 percent of the 6,981 BA cabin crew who returned valid voting papers voted in favour of taking industrial action.

"We urge BA's boardroom to see this as a clear message that they must think again about how to regain the trust and confidence of a significant part of their cabin crew operation," Len McCluskey, Unite's general secretary said in a statement.

"We continue to be in discussions with the company to find a solution to this long-running dispute."

The dispute, which began in November 2009 when BA announced it was cutting crew pay and reducing staffing, now centres on issues including the removal of travel concessions from crew members who took part in earlier strikes.

Unite polled just under 10,000 BA crew, 5,811 voted in favour of strike action, while 1,170 voted against.

BA declined to comment when contacted by Reuters.

Unite now has 28 days within which to announce strike dates and must BA at least a week's notice before it does so.

Shares in IAG in London, formed by the meger of BA and Iberia, were 0.2 percent down at 228.45 pence by 1320 GMT.

2. Aer Lingus crew mark 75 years with vintage chic

Aer Lingus is marking 75 years in business by flying one of its new craft in one of its old liveries.

The airline has unveiled the latest addition to the fleet, an Airbus A320 EI-DVM, MSN 4634 series, above, in the Irish International colours dating to the 1960s.

The airline’s first flight was in 1936 from Baldonnell to Bristol in a de Havilland aircraft, An Iolar. Cabin crew modelled vintage uniforms from each decade, from 1945 through to the current Aer Lingus uniform by designer Louise Kennedy.

Chief executive Christoph Mueller (centre), is pictured with, from left, crew members Mark Tinney, Chaoilfhionn Ginnity, Fiona Scullion, Anna Cole, Aisling Rendall, Jane Curtain, Muriel Cooke, Paula Lawlor, Anna Moore, Donna Murray and Deborah McGuirk.

3. BA cabin crew could strike from April 4

BRITISH Airways could be facing fresh strikes as early as April 4, as the latest cabin crew ballot draws to an end.
More than 9,800 employees are being balloted out of 13,500 crew, with the results expected on Monday.
Bassa, Unite's main cabin crew branch, is expecting another overwhelming vote for strike action to follow up on the 22 days of strikes last year.
And if industrial action does go ahead, Unite and its members will be able to call on the support of the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF).
Last week ITF general secretary David Cockroft issued an action alert to its 275 member aviation unions worldwide asking them to support the BA cabin crew.
He said: "The ongoing British Airways dispute is entering a new stage and we are calling on ITF-affiliated aviation unions to be ready to support the Unite union should it embark on further industrial action from April onwards.
"If the vote is for further strike action - and it appears very likely that it will be - then such action could be taken from April 4 or 5.
"Agreement has been within reach several times during this dispute, but resolution appeared to founder on BA CEO Willie Walsh's intransigence.
"Unite believes that the new CEO is more committed to finding a negotiated solution.
Unite will be relying on support from other unions to persuade the airline back to the negotiating table and to show it that the current situation is unsustainable."
BA has reassured passengers that any industrial action would cause limited problems for the airline.
A spokesman said: "Should there be any further industrial action, we will implement our well-established contingency plans.
"We will fly a full schedule at London City and London Gatwick.
"We are also planning to fly 100 per cent of our Heathrow long haul operation and a substantial part of our Heathrow short haul schedule."

By
Neha Jain

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