BA cargo workers go on strike for nine days from Christmas Day over pay and conditions dispute

BA cargo workers are striking for nine days from Christmas Day after talks failed to solve a pay and conditions dispute.

Unite said its members, mainly at Heathrow, face “deep” annual pay cuts of £5,000 to £11,000.

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BA cargo workers will go on strike from Christmas Day[/caption]

British Airways said: “Our offer would see almost half of cargo workers’ salaries rise with none taking more than a 10 per cent cut.”

Unite said the walkout will disrupt BA’s ability to bring goods into the UK.

Assistant general secretary Howard Beckett said: “Unite has given British Airways numerous chances to resolve this dispute and it has repeatedly failed to grasp the opportunity.

“As a result Unite members have no option but to go ahead with the planned strike action.

“The strike action will cause huge disruption to British Airways’ ability to bring cargo into the UK.

“Once again the company have decided to resurrect its ‘fire and rehire’ policies and target a group of employees who have continued to work throughout the pandemic bringing much need supplies to the UK and revenue to BA.”

Strike action will begin on Friday and end on January 2. Unite decided not to organise any picketing at Heathrow because of the coronavirus crisis.

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