BA cabin crew face strike ballot

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Unite said its members at the airline will vote on whether to launch a campaign of action in protest over the imposition of the employment contracts.

BA said it was "extremely disappointed" at the move insisting it was not planning to change terms and conditions of current crew.

However, Unite said it had "no alternative" but to ballot its members in a bid to persuade BA not to impose "unacceptable contractual changes". Joint leader Derek Simpson said: "We will strongly support our members if they vote for industrial action, while of course remaining ready to negotiate with the company. Negotiation, not imposition, is the only proper way to conduct industrial relations."

Cabin crew had already decided to hold an emergency meeting next Monday to decide whether to fight plans to cut jobs, freeze pay and introduce worse wages and conditions for new staff. Thousands of workers are expected to attend the meeting, at Sandown Racecourse in Surrey, two weeks before the cuts come into effect.

Two former sections of the Transport and General Workers Union - Bassa and Cabin Crew 89 - have joined forces for the first time in more than 20 years to hold the joint meeting.

BA chief executive Willie Walsh met with Unite leaders earlier this month after which the airline issued a statement: "The discussion, about cabin crew pay and productivity issues, was open and frank."

Unite have complained that the changes being introduced next month constituted a "fundamental attack" on the jobs, wages and career prospects of all cabin crew members of the union.

BA has announced plans to cut staff numbers by 3,700, in addition to a reduction of around 2,500 achieved between June 2008 and March 2009.

The airline said in a statement: "We have made it clear that there will be no change to the individual terms and conditions of our current crew. They will not take a pay cut. In fact some 75% of crew will receive a pay scale increase worth between 2% and 7% this year and again next year."