British Airways and replace them with agency staff; it is estimated that the strike cost British Airways £30 million and caused disruption to 100,000 passengers. In October 2006, BA became involved in a civil rights dispute when a Christian employee was forbidden to wear a necklace bearing the cross, a religious symbol. BA's practice of forbidding such symbols has been publicly questioned by British politicians such as the former Home Secretary John Reid and the former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw. Relations have been turbulent between BA and Unite. In 2007, cabin crew threatened strike action over salary changes to be imposed by
John Brown (trade unionist) John Brown (trade unionist) John Brown (1880 or 1881 – 10 March 1961) was a British trade unionist and politician. Brown first joined the National Amalgamated Society of Enginemen, Cranemen, Boilermen and Firemen in 1905, and four years later was appointed as a full-time organiser for the union. Three years later, he instead became an organiser for the British Steel Smelters' Association (BSSA). In 1917, this became part of the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation (ISTC), and he was appointed as a divisional officer. Brown was also active in the Labour Party, and was elected to Manchester City Council. In