With another strike planned for this weekend, British Airways has cut perks that allowed cabin crew to fly for free or heavily discounted prices on the airline. A spokesman for Unite said that the perks do not have to be contractually given to be protected, and that the move is just another example of British Airways' bullying of the union. Experts say that the move is probably designed to make strikers nervous, and to bring them back to the bargaining table. Others are worried about the possibility of strikes spreading to other countries and airlines. Cockpit, which represents workers at Lufthansa, has called a walkout for its German members in mid-April and Air Portugal pilots are also threatening a strike.
See "British Airways axes perks for striking crew", Gregory Katz, March 23, 2010