Ruth Cadbury MP supports British Airways (BA) Mixed Fleet cabin crew industrial action

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Ruth Cadbury, the MP for Brentford and Isleworth, is supporting calls for British Airways (BA) to engage in talks to resolve the industrial dispute with its striking mixed fleet cabin crew staff. The Labour MP has signed an Early Day Motion (162) supporting the workers, who are striking over pay, and calls on the airline to engage in constructive relations with the workers' union Unite to resolve the dispute.

BA has 'wet leased' nine aircraft, including pilots and cabin crew, from Qatar Airways, to operate about 30 short- and medium-haul flights each day during the current strike by crew from BA's Mixed Fleet at Heathrow. The previous strike took place 1-16 July, with the current strike from 19 July until 1 August.

Commenting on the ongoing dispute, Ruth Cadbury MP said: 'I recently met cabin crew involved in this dispute who told me of the financial challenges they face, I heard stories of waiting for cabin meals because they can't afford to buy food, a situation exacerbated by the Brexit pound devaluation as meal allowances are not paid in local currency as other airlines do.
'I am concerned that Qatar Airways has been found in the past to be guilty of systemic workplace sex discrimination, which included female cabin crew being automatically sacked when becoming pregnant.

'Striking staff face having their travel and bonuses taken away and measures that dock pay for the industrial action. The below minimum wage starting salary of £12,721 highlights that there are unacceptable ways to get around the National Minimum Wage requirements which requires improvements to the law. '