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Page context: Support BA crew > Union activities
ITF affiliates – transport unions around the globe – have pledged support to the cabin crew on strike. All these unions have taken action to the extent permissable under their national legal frameworks. Here are some of the solidarity actions so far:
Straight from the picket line: See images from the picket line >>
Unions colleagues from Spain made for a lively protest >>
Argentina: demonstrations at the airport
Workers from ITF affiliate APA greeted a BA flight into Buenos Aires with placards in support of striking cabin crew. Although the protestors were removed by airport police, the activists continued to hand out leaflets to passengers in the airport. Ground handling staff did not unload the bagagge for approximately two hours. The union is preparing similar measure for further flights into Buenos Aires taking place during the strikes.
Australia: call to members
The Transport and Workers Union has called on their members "to the work on a BA aircraft are being called on to take every possible precaution to make sure the aircraft and task they are performing is safe and in line with our best practice standards." >>
Germany: raising public awareness
ITF affiliate Ver.di planned to raise awareness of the dispute by distributing leaflets at German airports especially BA destinations, such as Frankfurt and Hamburg.
Holland: Speaking to strike-breaking company
Dutch union FNV Bondgenoten encouraged KLM Royal Dutch Airlines not to take over any work from British Airways during the strike. The company agreed. The Transavia airline did not respond as positively, and the union has reacted angrily over this company’s decision to take on the work.
Hong Kong: preventing strike breaking
The BA Hong Kong International Cabin Crew Association has come out in strong support of cabin crew. It adopted a motion to support BASSA's action, by not registering, and not allowing any member to register as a volunteer during the BASSA strike period. The union gathered together all BASSA members on the first day of the strike. BASSA is the branch of UNITE that is exclusively for British Airways cabin crew.
India: lobbying at the highest levels
The largest civil aviation trade union in India, The Aviation Industry Employees' Guild, pledged its support to BA workers. The union sent a letter of support to the British High Commissioner in India.
The National Union of Seafarers of India has said it will not use BA flights when its members join or leave ships around the world, unless a solution is reached between the union and the company.
India: Solidarity with British Airways workers
National Union of Seafarers (NUSI) representing more than 80,000 Indian seafarers sent letters dated 25th March to the Indian and Foreign Shipowners Associations, advising them not to use the services of British Airways while signing-on and off the Indian seafarers. The associations have in turn circulated the letters to their memberlines who have decided that they will not put their seafarers on British Airways planes. They have further advised their travel agents to take up the matter with the British Airways Management . Please click the link at the bottom of this page to download one of the letters.
In addition on 28th March, NUSI extended the following international solidarity support ; "The 'Strike Breakers' who came on 28th March, 2010 to Mumbai Airport by flight BA 199 at 11.45 am were powerless against 'Gandhigiri' (non violent movement). The seafarers were waiting with flowers, wearing Gandhi "Caps". This unique display of solidarity was so strong that the "Strike Breakers" did not come from the front gate of the Mumbai Airport. They were whisked away from the backdoor by the British Airways management."
Mr. Abdulgani Y. Serang, NUSI General Secretary-cum-Treasurer issued the following statement for the press: "Indian seafarers stand strongly by the British Airways Cabin Crew. Apart from being a victory for the striking cabin crew it is also an eye opener to the Strike Breakers and also to the British Airways Management to move forward and break the impasse towards a amicable solution. We are sure NOW that better sense will prevail."
Lebanon: saying no to strike breaking
The Lebanese Cabin Crew Union expressed its support to Unite British Airways cabin crew. The union board agreed that Lebanese cabin crew would not respond to any strike breaking if requested.
Norway: cabin crew solidarity
A Norwegian trade union, with 3000 members in civil aviation, supported the BA workers by informing its members of the conflict. The union, Parat, instructed them not to contribute to any work for, or on British Airways flights that could be regarded as strike breaking.
Romania: showing solidarity
Trade unionists from the Tarom National Technical Trade Union have visibly shown their solidarity by wearing armbands in support of British Airways workers during the strike period.
Thailand: showing solidarity
ITF-THAI unions: TG Union (Aviation), SRUT (Railway Union), BMTA-SWU (Bangkok Bus union), LU-ETA (Expressway Union) and TWUT (Transport Workers' Union) and AOT-SWU (Airport Union) welcoming BA Cabin Crew to Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. They also showed their solidarity to them by giving out roses and luggage tags.
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