British Airways cabin crew have voted for industrial action over the introduction of a new controversial performance management scheme, but have stopped short of going on strike.
Members of the 8,800-strong British Airlines Stewards and Stewardesses Association (BASSA), part of Unite, voted by a massive majority of 91 per cent for action.
Cabin crew said the new performance management scheme is a “needless replacement” for the existing system and have concerns its introduction “masks a hidden agenda” of future job losses which will hit passenger service on the airline.
The union said it would not be announcing the dates of the industrial action until discussions take place with its BASSA representatives.
Unite called on BA to rethink the introduction of its ‘dashboard’ performance management scheme that includes staff league tables and red warning lights if a cabin crew member’s performance has been rated as low
The airline said such systems are common in all industries and help improve staff performance
Matt Smith, a regional Unite officer, said: “Our members have voted overwhelmingly against the introduction of this flawed dashboard scheme. The BA management should note the enormous strength of feeling against this policy with what, we suspect, is a hidden agenda of future job losses. A perfectly adequate performance management policy already exists.
“It is completely unfair to expect them to be placed in a league table, competing against each other, over onboard issues that are clearly out of their control.
In response to the Unite vote, BA said: “We can reassure our customers that they will experience no inconvenience as a consequence of this ballot result. Unite has been clear from the start that it would not take strike action.
“The system we have recently introduced includes feedback from customers about how they are looked after onboard. This sort of feedback is common in all industries and enables us to commend cabin crew who perform well and support those that need to improve.
“A similar system already exists for many crew. It allows us to offer our customers the very highest standards of service. We remain open to discussions with our cabin crew and their union representatives about this new system.”
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