BA cabin crews vote on strikes in time for Christmas

Thousands of British Airways cabin crew today began voting on strike action in a long-running dispute over pay and working conditions.

The result on Monday, 14 December, is expected to be overwhelmingly in favour of stoppages. By law, union bosses must then give seven days' notice of any industrial action, meaning the first walkouts could begin on Monday, 21 December, causing disruption in the run-up to Christmas - one of the year's busiest times for the UK's largest carrier.

Also today BA imposed changes to working conditions affecting more than 12,000 cabin crew - in- cluding removing one staff member from each long-haul flight. Unite, the union representing crews, believes the changes are "unworkable" and has lodged a legal challenge to be heard in the High Court in the new year.

A BA spokesman said the changes did not alter contractual terms and conditions for crew. He added: "Everyone in BA knows we must reduce our costs to move back toward profitability."