A potentially disastrous strike for British Airways was averted on a technicality at the last minute. But the airline still has to be careful when asking staff to fill the gaps left by strikers.
Proposed cost-cutting measures led British Airways’ union Unite to resort to strike action at the end of last year. The union planned a 12-day strike over Christmas to apply the maximum pressure

Any union calling for industrial action has to follow carefully a detailed procedure in the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992. If the procedure is not followed correctly, the employer will be able to seek legal redress for any damage caused to its business by the proposed action, or even prevent it going ahead.