Striking BA cabin crew to lose staff travel discounts

A new row flared at British Airways yesterday after the airline told cabin crew who went on strike for three days that they had lost their travel perks.

Staff receive free and discounted travel, depending on length of service, and were warned by BA's chief executive Willie Walsh that the perks would be withdrawn if they joined the strike.

Members of Unite who took industrial action for three days from last weekend have received letters telling them they are losing the benefits.

A BA spokesman said: "Our cabin crew knew that if they took part in the strike they would lose their staff travel permanently. Staff travel offers heavily discounted travel to employees. This is a non-contractual perk that the company can withdraw at its discretion.

"The industrial action impacted on our operation and our customers and we will undoubtedly suffer additional costs and further losses as a result."

Unite's joint leader Tony Woodley told striking cabin crew workers that he believed the discounted travel was "custom and practice", not a perk. A Unite spokesman said it was an "example of BA's bullying and contemptuous approach to its employees." BA said the three-day strike cost it £21m. It is braced for a four-day strike from Saturday in a row over cost-cutting and jobs.

The threat of strikes on the London Underground increased yesterday as leaders at the Rail Maritime and Transport union said they would ballot for action unless plans to axe 800 jobs were withdrawn by 5pm today.