BA facing cabin crew strike threat

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More than 2,500 members of Unite travelled from across the world, some still in uniform, to attend a mass meeting which backed calls for industrial action.

Workers spoke of their "anger and frustration" at the planned imposition of new employment contracts from November 16 on top of thousands of job cuts and a pay freeze.

Unite will launch a ballot of more than 13,000 workers next week, with the result due on December 14, raising the threat of a strike from December 21 - the start of the busy Christmas period.

One cabin crew worker attending the meeting, held at the Sandown Park racecourse in Esher, Surrey, said: "We are not militant trade unionists looking for a confrontation. We are all decent people from middle England, some would say middle class, just wanting to protect our living and look after our families."

Another worker, who has been at BA for 20 years, said: "We are all very proud of the jobs we do, providing a great service to customers. But this is now a battle for the heart and soul of BA's cabin crew."

Steve Turner, Unite's national officer, said: "People here are feeling very angry and frustrated at BA's action. They find it inexplicable given all the hard work they put in and all the efforts we have made as a union to suggest savings, that the company is pressing ahead with imposing these changes."

BA said in a statement: "We are extremely disappointed that Unite has decided to ballot for industrial action. We have put together a package of changes, which despite the unprecedented financial circumstances facing the company, not only protects current cabin crew but also offers many new benefits."

The statement added: "We started talking to Unite nine months ago. We remain available to meet our unions at any time in a genuine attempt to protect our customers, our company and our cabin crew from this unnecessary and unjustified action by Unite."

The dispute moves to the High Court on Thursday when Unite takes legal action against imposition of the new contracts.