BA union to ballot cabin crew members over strike action

BA union to ballot cabin crew members over strike actionLondon  - British Airways (BA) Monday faced the prospect of fresh industrial action after a key trade union announced it would ballot cabin crew staff over new employment contracts.

The Unite union said 14,000 of its members at the airline will vote on whether to launch a campaign of action in protest at the "imposition of the employment contracts."

BA has announced plans to cut staff numbers by a further 3,700, in addition to the scrapping of 2,500 jobs between July 2008 and March 2009.

Negotiations between BA's management and unions have dragged on for for months, with little sign of agreement being reached.

The loss-making airline has insisted it had to cut costs in the face of a downturn in travel caused by the recession.

BA said it was "extremely disappointed" that Unite had decided to ballot for industrial action.

"We have put together a package of changes, which despite the unprecedented financial circumstances facing the company, not only protects current cabin crew but also offers many new benefits," the company said in a statement.

If strike action should be approved BA could face severe disruption during the peak Christmas travel period.(dpa)