Fresh strike threat as BA ground staff vote

Airline passengers face another summer of misery as BA staff prepare to ballot for strike action.

Ground workers at Heathrow and Gatwick are to vote on industrial action which would cause massive problems.

Staff are planning a walkout over wages on 26 August which could cost the airline millions and lead to big delays for holidaymakers.

The Transport and General Workers' Union, which represents many of the BA ground staff, wants an immediate pay rise of 4.5 per cent. BA wants to pay staff an extra one per cent, with further two per cent increases in 2005 and 2006 - but these would not be pensionable.

Union officials describe the one per cent offer as "derisory" and BA is refusing to budge. A BA spokesman said: "It is a reasonable offer. The aviation industry is still operating in tough times. BA has to lower costs by ?300 million over the next three years as pension costs go up by ?133million."

The new industrial action threat comes a week after airport baggage handlers agreed a pay deal with employer Aviance after threatening strikes.