Woodley: We will stand up to BA bullies – even if it means another strike

Willie Walsh's hard-man stance on cabin crew travel will plunge the airline into a prolonged and totally needless summer of disruption, Tony Woodley, Unite joint general secretary will warn today (Monday).

Addressing delegates at Unite's first policy conference in Manchester, Woodley will say that a new ballot for continued strike action may be only a week or so away. A fresh ballot will be necessary because the 12-week protective period for taking industrial action ends in early June - yet there has been no resolution to the dispute.

But according to Unite, if crew are forced to seek a new mandate for industrial action the blame for this will lie firmly with Willie Walsh and his persistent refusal to permit a peaceful settlement.

With a deal on cabin crew costs already agreed between both parties, the airline could be restored to full operation in time for the peak summer season - but only if BA drops its vicious determination to punish crew for striking by removing their travel assistance.

Tony Woodley will also say that the dispute can be summed up in one word: bullying, denouncing the bullying that "imposes radical changes on our members without agreement, that has seen other BA employees incited against cabin crew with, to their lasting shame, the collusion of scab pilots, that has meant more than 50 crew are suspended or sacked for the crime of sending a text or posting a remark on Facebook, that forbids them from talking about their own dispute in public and that victimises trade unionists by branding them second-class employees for life.

"Well there is only one thing to do with bullies - that is stand up to them until they learn some manners."

Tony Woodley will repeat his message to Willie Walsh that peace is possible, even now: "Willie, we all know there is a deal to be done at British Airways, one that recognises the real commercial needs and problems of your company as well as our members' legitimate interests. Unite is ready to do that deal. But we are not, and never will, be prepared to see our members and our union humiliated, victimised and reduced to ruins, as you seem to want - never."

Striking cabin crew will be in the audience when Tony Woodley speaks around 11am. He will praise them for "standing firm in the face of ludicrous anti-union judgements in the courts, in the face of a torrent of lies and smears in the Tory press and in the face of everything a ruthless employer can throw at you."

Tony Woodley will also use his speech to urge all the candidates for the Labour leadership to end the "scandal" that, despite 13 years of Labour rule "the right to strike is hanging by a thread at the mercy of employers who would rather sue than settle.

"So I want to make one thing clear to all Labour leadership contenders. Our vote should only go to the candidate who pledges - unequivocally, no mealy-mouthed phrases - to scrap the anti- union laws.

"When I say we need to take the Labour party back, I mean take it back for working people, for social justice, for the poor, the pensioners, the unemployed and all those with no other party to turn to.

"We all know that Clegg and Cameron will offer nothing to these people. But Labour now has the chance to rediscover its purpose in life."