Crunch talks to end crew row after BA unions vote to strike

Last-ditch attempts were under way today to head off a series of crippling strikes on British Airways.

The next few days will prove crucial for the future of the UK's largest carrier, and the travel plans of its 75,000 daily passengers.

The move for a summit comes after cabin crew, for a second time, voted overwhelmingly for strike action in the dispute over a pay freeze, job cuts and changes to working conditions.

BA and union bosses will be under further pressure to reach a deal after 4,000 pilots working for Lufthansa halted a planned four-day strike in a pay dispute.

In Britain, the Unite union is divided on its next move. Some reps want to hold a mass meeting on Thursday and announce strike dates. But leaders says negotiations are the only way forward.

The first walkouts could begin from Thursday, 4 March.

Unite lost a second legal case last week when it failed to argue that changes to working practices and reductions in crew numbers were unlawful.

More than 80 per cent of those who voted in the new ballot said yes to industrial action on a turnout of 78 per cent.

Unite said 7,482 of its members voted in favour of action, with 1,789 voting against. The vote was only slightly below a huge 9-1 ballot result last year.

Len McCluskey, assistant general secretary of Unite, said: "With this overwhelming vote in the teeth of BA harassment and media misrepresentation, BA's cabin crew have made clear that the deep sense of grievance they feel about their treatment by their employer remains."

BA said in a statement: "The outcome of Unite's ballot is very disappointing and brings a renewed threat of industrial action, which is completely unjustified.

"In the weeks before and during the ballot period, Unite claimed that we had breached individual crew members' contracts by making modest changes to on-board crew numbers on flights from Heathrow.

"We have always said this claim was false and it was rejected by the High Court three days ago."