This article from NYTimes.com has been sent to you by psa188@xxxxxxxxx /-------------------- advertisement -----------------------\ Explore more of Starbucks at Starbucks.com. http://www.starbucks.com/default.asp?ci=1015 \----------------------------------------------------------/ Talks After British Airways Walkout July 21, 2003 By HEATHER TIMMONS LONDON, July 20 - British Airways will meet with union representatives on Monday, after hundreds of ticket agents at Heathrow Airport walked off the job over the weekend, grounding flights from one of the world's busiest airports. The agents were upset over a new identity card system, originally scheduled to be put in place Tuesday, that would electronically record their hours, the airline said today. The system raised fears that some agents would have their hours cut when business was slow. Employees have also been unhappy about the airline's failure to negotiate a pay raise. The ID system is expected to be a focus of Monday's meeting. As many as 80,000 passengers were affected by the walkouts, which started when 250 British Airways counter agents left their jobs on Friday. Another 500 agents walked out on Saturday. More than 500 flights were canceled, leaving some passengers stranded at the airport during the weekend. By Sunday night, Heathrow's Terminal 4, departure hub for many British Airways flights, was still not entirely back to normal. "There is clearly a backlog of passengers that were unable to make their flights," a spokesman for the company, Steve Double, said. "The terminals are extremely busy, but we are close to running at a normal schedule." By Monday, the airline expects to operate all its flights. "We are extremely sorry for the inconvenience caused," Mr. Double said. The Transport and General Workers' Union, one of three unions that represents the employees, neither condemns nor condones the unofficial strike, a spokeswoman said. http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/21/business/worldbusiness/21AIR.html?ex=1059793039&ei=1&en=8495182ffc8aab8b --------------------------------- Get Home Delivery of The New York Times Newspaper. Imagine reading The New York Times any time & anywhere you like! Leisurely catch up on events & expand your horizons. Enjoy now for 50% off Home Delivery! Click here: http://www.nytimes.com/ads/nytcirc/index.html HOW TO ADVERTISE --------------------------------- For information on advertising in e-mail newsletters or other creative advertising opportunities with The New York Times on the Web, please contact onlinesales@xxxxxxxxxxx or visit our online media kit at http://www.nytimes.com/adinfo For general information about NYTimes.com, write to help@xxxxxxxxxxxx Copyright 2003 The New York Times Company