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BA strike talks fail, dates expected Thursday
Talks aimed at averting the BA strike broke down this evening (10 March) in a development that paves the way for the Unite union to unveil walkout dates on Thursday.
The travelling public’s patience had been pushed to the limit as negotiations over the looming
But with both sides in the dispute failing to see eye-to-eye on several key sticking points, negotiations at the Trade Union Congress have now officially collapsed.
The impasse means that Unite is likely to announce BA strike dates on Thursday.
BA was earlier accused of
The flag carrier found itself under intense pressure to make a final call over the ongoing negotiations as passengers have been kept in the dark ever since Unite’s 12,000
Speculating that a deal was unlikely, Saj Ahmad of FBE Aerospace told Cheapflights earlier today: “One of the fundamental problems of talks late in the day is that you have to wonder what on earth the parties have been discussing without success in the preceding months.
“Already a loss-making airline, BA cannot afford to spill yet more red ink. It has to draw a line in the sand soon, otherwise it will lose even more business and stay unprofitable.”
Unite had tabled new proposals purporting to deliver £63 million in savings and incorporating a 2.6 per cent pay cut for cabin crew this year. Crucially, however, its plan limited new staffing levels to certain flights – a constraint which BA boss Willie Walsh was never likely to accept.
With the BA strike now certain to go ahead, Mr Walsh will be drawing from the contingency plans his team has been working on since the dispute first erupted last year.
Extraordinary measures have already been taken to counteract the effect of any BA strike, with
“These plans will allow us to protect our customers’ travel arrangements better than many people imagined possible,” the BA boss commented last week.
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Monarch adds flights to Greek island of Santorini
No-frills airline
The low-cost carrier is accepting bookings for the route now, with return fares starting from £160 all inclusive and departures on offer every Tuesday between 5 May and 5 October.
Visitors to Santorini widely credit the island as having one of the best sunsets in the world, complimenting its natural wealth of volcanic scenery and archaeological heritage.
The Greek island boasts a giant central lagoon circled by 300-metre high cliffs on three sides, with the smaller island of Therasia partially blocking off the Aegean Sea.
Alongside its stunning scenery, Santorini is known for its former Bronze Age inhabitants, the Minoan civilization, who peppered the ancient island with archaeological treasures. Main excavation site Akrotiri is expected to re-open to the public this year, though no firm date has been set.
The island is also renowned for its black sand beaches and sophisticated nightlife, which offers a quieter alternative to the more hectic clubs and bars on neighbouring islands.
Low-cost carrier Monarch operates scheduled and charter services from several UK gateways, including London Gatwick,
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Brits put on alert in Thailand ahead of protests
The Foreign Office has urged British nationals in
Military rule will effectively be in place from tomorrow (11 March) until 23 March as the ‘Red Shirt’ opposition protesters mount rallies in
A previous demonstration in 2008 saw about 100,000 air passengers stranded at
The Thai government has confirmed that the Internal Security Act will be invoked for the next fortnight, giving the military powers to impose curfews and restrict marches.
Any Brits travelling in the country during this period are advised to exercise caution, with the Foreign Office urging holidaymakers and expats to avoid all large gatherings.
The advice states: “On 12 March protesters say that they will gather at several locations in central Bangkok and will then move through the city to Ratchadmnoen Avenue, where demonstrations will continue throughout the weekend, culminating in a major protest on 14 March.
“If violence breaks out, British nationals are advised to remain indoors and monitor the media.”
Mr Shinawatra was ousted in a bloodless military coup in 2006 following years of allegations about corruption. The charismatic former Prime Minister, whose support is greatest among disenfranchised Thais in rural regions, remains deeply involved in Thai politics despite living in exile in
The ousted leader’s supporters, the Red Shirts, are preparing to descend on the capital in protest of a recent court decision to confiscate £940 million of his fortune.
Government officials predict that up to 100,000 demonstrators will gather in and around Bangkok, though protest organisers say the number could be as high as 600,000. Despite reassurances from the Red Shirts that all marches will be peaceful, outbreaks of violence remain possible.
“There is a very small minority who is trying to cause instability through, frankly speaking, potentially violent acts,” Korn Chatikavanij, Thailand’s Finance Minister, warned.
Thailand has a long history of political unrest, with the military holding de facto power and 18 coups being staged since 1932, when the absolute monarchy was abolished. Despite this, the country is relatively stable thanks to public deference to its widely revered Royal Family.
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