British Airways said today some progress was made in talks with trade unions in a bid to avert more strikes at Europe's biggest airline after a wildcat strike last weekend cancelled hundreds of flights.
"Those discussions were held in a sensible and cordial atmosphere," said Chief Executive Rod Eddington, referring to the talks with an independent arbitrator overnight after direct negotiations between management and unions had broken down.
He said that talks in front of the arbitrator were a "real opportunity to find a sensible negotiating solution". A second meeting at the Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service will begin about 5 p.m.
The sudden strike by about 250 BA check-in staff over the weekend at London's Heathrow airport, the world's busiest international hub, disrupted the travel plans of tens of thousands of people and it took days to clear the backlog.
The strike over a shift-monitoring system that BA introduced for check-in staff yesterday, but did not enforce, has raised fears the airline's cost-cutting drive to rebuild profits was starting to fan workplace unrest and hurt customer relations. But Mr Eddington said the swipe cards were essential.
Despite both sides meeting with the arbitrator, two unions - GMB and Amicus - said yesterday they would ballot their members to allow official strikes. The Transport and General Workers Union, which says it has the biggest number of BA staff as members, has yet to decide whether to hold a ballot.