28th Aug 2019 18:47
(Alliance News) - Hopes are rising that fresh talks can be held in a bid to avert planned strikes by British Airways pilots.
Members of the British Airline Pilots Association, or Balpa, are due to strike on September 9, 10 and 27, threatening huge disruption to flights.
BA, a unit of International Consolidated Airlines Group SA, said the union had indicated it wanted to meet the company for another attempt to resolve the pay dispute.
BA officials said they would be prepared to hold talks as early as Wednesday evening.
A BA statement said: "This is encouraging news for our customers.
"We have continued to urge Balpa to return to talks since they issued strike dates and are pleased by this welcome development."
In a letter to Balpa, Jason Mahoney of BA said: "We have already reached out to Acas to confirm that we are eager to talk, but to be clear this will be without any pre-conditions.
"I would suggest that we get together at your earliest convenience, perhaps later today or early tomorrow."
A Balpa spokesman said: "We've written to BA's chief executive Alex Cruz to meet on the basis that he said he wants to resolve the dispute.
"We want to hear what he's got to offer.
"So far he hasn't replied but we are aware that his staff have offered to meet at Acas with nothing to offer.
"If Cruz has a breakthrough to offer we look forward to hearing from him."
By Alan Jones, PA Industrial Correspondent
source: PA
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