BA staff boosted by global support (From Crewe Guardian)

BA staff boosted by global support

11:09pm Wednesday 17th March 2010 in

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International support for a proposed walkout by British Airway's cabin crew is continuing to grow, jeopardising management plans to fly 60% of customers regardless.

Unions representing ground crews in the US and Germany have pledged solidarity, raising the prospect of BA flights being disrupted at overseas destinations.

Meanwhile, six trade unions in France are reportedly organising their own action to help striking BA workers.

The growing international support came as the airline suggested it could fly thousands more passengers on the strike dates after more staff volunteered to work.

The company said more employees had offered to stand in for members of the Unite union who will walk out for three days from Saturday in a bitter row over cost-cutting.

The union accused BA of "bluffing" and claimed only 350 volunteers were prepared to stand in for strikers this weekend as opposed to the 1,000 announced by the airline.

BA said earlier this week it aimed to fly 60% of its customers during the strikes. But the airline announced that since then the number of cabin crew offering to work as normal had increased "significantly" - and was expected to grow further.

Chief executive Willie Walsh said: "The determination of our colleagues across the whole business to keep the flag flying this weekend is increasing. I am delighted by the numbers of cabin crew who have been getting in touch with us to express their disillusion with Unite's position. We will now have the potential to fly more than 4,000 additional customers per day and serve more destinations."

But this could potentially be hit by action overseas.

In Germany, the ver.di service workers union said it is ready to help UK cabin workers in the strike. Likewise, the US International Brotherhood of Teamsters has pledged support and said it is looking at ways to assist the strike action.