BA strike result annouced

from ABTN


British Airways cabin crew have voted in favour of industrial action.

Strikes could take place as early as next Monday.

BA has contingency plans in place - including using pilots as cabin crew - to minimise the disruption.

It is still possible that strikes can be averted, according to arbitration body Acas, which is acting as a mediator between both parties.

Talks will continue this week in the hope a solution can be found.

Some newspapers have claimed militant cabin crew members are targeting a 10-day strike, but that they will deliberately avoid disrupting the Easter holidays and a potential backlash from the British public.

BA's unionised cabin crew - who are members of the British Airlines Stewards and Stewardesses Association (Bassa), a branch of the Transport and General Workers Union - are unhappy that BA imposed a pay freeze on staff and reduced pay and conditions for new starts without consulting the union.

A High Court judge last week ruled that BA was within its rights to introduce the cost cutting measures.

BA is set to post record losses for the second consecutive year in April, though its Q4 figures for last year were better than forecast.