LONDON (Reuters) - British Airways Chief Executive Willie Walsh has warned cabin crew that he will not compromise on cost-cutting measures, ahead of a strike ballot next month.
Walsh told the Financial Times in an interview that the current dispute over proposed changes to working practices, was "very, very different" to one in January 2007.
"I implemented these changes because I believed it was the right thing for the business to do," Walsh, hired by British Airways in 2005, told the paper.
Spanish carrier Iberia Iberia on November 12 agreed with BA to create a group with a combined market value of $7 billion (4.3 billion pounds) as they continue to battle the worst industry downturn in decades.
Days later, however, trade union Unite said it was issuing ballot papers to its 12,000-plus members of BA's 14,000-strong cabin crew work force.
The ballot will close on December 14.
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Last updated: 23 November 2009, 00:13
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