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British Airways strike blocked by courts

December 18, 2009

Following a High Court showdown between the parties, the proposed 12-day strike by cabin crew of British Airways has been deemed illegal and will cease to go ahead over the Christmas period.

Presiding judge Mrs Justice Cox agreed with British Airways claims that the ballot carried out by Unite was invalid because it included workers that had already accepted voluntary redundancy.

Following news of the injunction, the airline issued the following statement:

We are delighted for our customers that the threat of a Christmas strike has been lifted by the court. It is a decision that will be welcomed by hundreds of thousands of families in the UK and around the world.

There was never any need for a strike and we hope that Unite will take this opportunity to reflect before deciding its next steps. We believe the public would want that too.

In recent days, we believe Unite has formed a better understanding of our position and of the ways in which we could move forward.

It has also become very clear that our customers do not believe that old-style trade union militancy is relevant to our efforts to move British Airways back toward profitability. Financial success is essential to build the kind of business our customers want and provide long-term opportunities for our staff.

In response to the High Court decision, Unite declared it 'a disgraceful day for democracy' and vowed to hold a new ballot should the dispute - based on job losses and pay freezes - not be resolved.

Travellers are encouraged to book comprehensive travel insurance with Holiday Extras for complete protection and peace of mind on their holiday.