British Airways cabin crew Christmas strike called-off

Planned strikes by British Airways cabin crew over Christmas have been called-off.

The walk-out in a row over pay due to take place on Christmas Day and Boxing Day has been suspended, Unite the union confirmed.

The row involved around 4,500 so-called mixed fleet cabin crew who joined BA since 2010.

Unite said they were on lower pay than other staff.

A planned strike by baggage handlers in 18 airports across the UK in the run up to the festive season was also called-off on Wednesday.

Lengthy talks at conciliation service Acas have led to a revised offer which will be put to a ballot of union members.

The union is recommending the renewed offer to its more than 2,700 mixed fleet members at BA.

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said: "Over the past four days, and indeed the past two years, this union has worked tirelessly to find a resolution to the issues causing our members concern.

"We now have a new offer from the company which we will now put to our members. The two-day strike over Christmas and Boxing Day is now suspended.

"It will be for our members now to decide if BA has done enough to meet their concerns.

"I want to pay tribute to our cabin crew members who have been determined to achieve a negotiated settlement.

"Their commitment to secure a better deal for all their colleagues is something we should all admire."