UK Court Averts British Airways Cabin Crew Strike

San Francisco (THEWILL) - A London High Court has issued an emergency injunction stopping the planned 12-day strike by British Airways cabin crew, declaring the strike illegal.

The court ruled that 90 percent of workers turnout for the vote was not enough to declare an industrial action.

Unite has called the ruling disgraceful saying, “A disgraceful day for democracy.”

Analysts had estimated a loss of more than 50 million pounds sterling for BA had the workers gone ahead with their action.

British Airways and Unite had failed to reach an agreement over wages and staff welfare for the entire cabin crew which resulted in an overwhelming vote for an industrial action which was planned to begin on December 22, 2009.

The British carrier is on the verge of completing its merger with Spain’s Iberia.

Unite says it plans to hold a fresh ballot if BA refuses to meet its demands.