Union gives British Airways another offer in cabin crew strike talks

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Talks between Unite officials and airline managers continued after a deadline was extended, with the two sides swapping documents on how to end a row over savings.

Unite is understood to have put forward a 10-page document which details a series of savings on pay, crew numbers, natural wastage, hotel costs and meal allowances.

A union source said he believed the "fair, far-reaching and generous" offer met BA's financial demands, while giving crew safeguards on pay and conditions.

Unite is understood to be offering a one-year pay freeze, followed by a 2.6% pay cut, then an increase in line with RPI inflation or 2.6%, whichever is higher. A lump sum bonus worth £7 million would be paid at the end of year three.

BA would have to reinstate a 15th crew member on long haul flights. It reduced the number of cabin crew on flights under cost-saving measures and chief executive Willie Walsh has made it clear that the changes would not be reversed.

Unite's document is understood to say that cabin crew numbers will revert to those in place before changes were made last November, with exceptions including changes to the position of Purser on Worldwide flights from Heathrow.

The union has until Monday, 15 March, to announce industrial action. BA maintains that it has 1,000 volunteer staff ready to work as cabin crew in the coming weeks if a strike goes ahead.

Mr Walsh said a strike by cabin crew would not ground the airline, although he said he was willing to talk to unions about cabin crews' concerns. He said BA would hire 23 fully-crewed planes from charter companies to help run flights from Heathrow.

Flights from London's City Airport, including long-haul services to New York, would operate normally in the event of a strike, while 70% of cabin crew would work at Gatwick, meaning all long-haul and 50% of short-haul flights would not be affected, he said.

No specific details were given about flights from Heathrow if a strike goes ahead, but Mr Walsh said a "substantial" number of long and short-haul flights would still operate.