BA faces Christmas strike as talks fail

The threat of major disruption at British Airways in the run-up to Christmas increased today after crisis talks with unions broke down.

BA chief executive Willie Walsh met Derek Simpson, Unite joint general secretary, in an attempt to reach agreement over staff cuts and pay. BA, which lost £401 million last year, plans to cut 3,700 cabin crew and other frontline staff and reduce pay rates for new entrants.

Unite could launch an industrial action ballot among cabin crew members, accusing BA of "imposing" changes. BA denied talks broke down but confirmed they ended "without agreement". Talks start at conciliation service Acas tomorrow.