British Airways strike likely as deadline looms for union talks

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Talks between the Unite union and the airline have failed to break a long-running row over jobs, pay and working practices.

Sources close to the talks, which have a deadline of today, said they were not optimistic of reaching an agreement to head off industrial action.

Officials from the Unite union have been negotiating with the airline for months to try to resolve a dispute over cost-savings, including cuts in cabin crew numbers.

Union members twice voted in favour of industrial action, but Unite held off naming dates, preferring to continue with negotiations supervised by the TUC.

Unite has stressed its willingness to make savings, and it is believed the union suggested a 3.4% pay cut followed by a two-year pay freeze.

The union has until 15 March to announce industrial action and will have to give seven days notice of any strikes, although it ruled out any stoppages over Easter.

BA chief executive, Willie Walsh, has said the airline will hire 23 crewed planes from charter companies to help run flights from Heathrow in the event of a strike.

The TUC said in a statement: "Extensive talks have been taking place over the last seven weeks under the chairmanship of TUC general secretary Brendan Barber in an attempt to resolve the current dispute between British Airways and Unite cabin crew.

"On the initiative of Brendan Barber, both Unite and British Airways have now committed to the objective of completing these negotiations by close of play on Tuesday 9 March to determine whether or not a mutually acceptable settlement can be achieved."