Grounded

The injunction on the cabin crew strike has been lifted. A victory for common sense, at least, even if it does allow a ruinous strike to go ahead.

What gets me about the whole affair is Unite’s extraordinary justification for strike action. They claim it is a fight to maintain a good level of service on BA flights. Far from being a self-interested squabble over pay and conditions, this is, in fact, about the passengers!

That argument might have held water in the days when BA was a nationalized monopoly. Nowadays we are spoiled for choice with airlines. If BA’s service is so compromised by the changes to working practises, customers will go to other carriers; a process that has been accelerated by this strike action! The point is, it is ultimately for managers, not unions, to decide on what business strategy to follow.

So what exactly can Willie Walsh do about the union? There are few legal options open to him. Legal strike action is protected by the law, so he can’t sack the staff, or even bring in temporary replacements (blackleg labour). He could choose to derecognize Unite; essentially severing all relations and negotiations, although that would hardly achieve anything constructive. The more clandestine option would be to quietly replace the unionized labour force, which is exactly what is happening if the Union is to be believed. Such action would expensively backfire at an employment tribunal, if proven.

Hopefully something sensible will happen, but what are the chances of that?