BA stewardesses sue over sex bias

TWELVE stewardesses are suing British Airways, claiming loss of pay and promotion over 25 years of sex discrimination.

If the airline loses and is found to have discriminated against the women on the grounds of sex, it could face a massive payout of hundreds of thousands of pounds. The cabin crew, two of whom still work for the airline, are all in their fifties. They claim their problems began with a decision in 1979 to offer new part-time contracts to crew who returned to work after having children.

Although the system was scrapped in 1983, most of the stewardesses who had returned on part-time contracts had to wait until 1996 before they could reapply for pay awards or promotion. One claimant, Dee Bull, says that during an initial internal company hearing in front of a panel of three older men, she was subjected to a derogatory remark that included one executive complaining that she was 'sounding like my wife'.

Michele Langton, who lost her rank as a purser when she had a second child, said several employees told BA of their concerns before the majority of claims for unequal pay relating to pension rights were filed in 1994, followed by two more in 2000 adding sex discrimination claims.

Ms Langton, now 56, told the Central London Employment Tribunal that they were 'quite dangerous contracts', adding: 'I lost my rights totally for 14 years.' In her written evidence she said she wrote to BA in July 1985 complaining about her position on the 'seniority list'.

Later that year she attended an internal hearing with three other stewardesses at which she alleges the derogatory remark was made.

In 1996 she was finally given back the position of purser she had just won before the so-called flexible part-time contracts were introduced. After a 'fabulous' career spanning almost 25 years, Ms Langton retired last year as a cabin service director - the most senior job open to cabin crew.

But under the part-time contracts, she said, 'I was straight back to day one as a junior'. She added: 'I lost all that money and it did put a blot on the horizon, but I wanted to work. I loved it.' She added: 'New people were coming in as seniors. It was terribly upsetting.'

Ms Langton said of the 1985 hearing: 'Dee Bull told them how badly we had been treated and [one executive] said 'Sorry, dear, you are beginning to sound like my wife at home'. I was so incensed. They just insulted us.'

A BA spokeswoman said: 'We are of a view that our pay structure is compliant with all legislative requirements and not discriminatory in any way. We will continue to promote equal opportunities in the workplace.' A decision by the tribunal is not expected until the autumn.

Additional reporting: Elizabeth Hopkirk