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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| BA strike ballot result awaited | BA strike ballot result awaited |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The result of a ballot on strike action by British Airways cabin crew is expected later. | The result of a ballot on strike action by British Airways cabin crew is expected later. |
| The Unite union has balloted its 12,000 cabin crew members on industrial action as part of a dispute over job losses and changes to working practices. | The Unite union has balloted its 12,000 cabin crew members on industrial action as part of a dispute over job losses and changes to working practices. |
| If cabin crew vote in favour of a strike, a walkout could be called as early as 21 December. | If cabin crew vote in favour of a strike, a walkout could be called as early as 21 December. |
| BA have expressed their "urgent need to reduce costs" with the airline industry continuing to perform poorly. | BA have expressed their "urgent need to reduce costs" with the airline industry continuing to perform poorly. |
| The prospect of action grew after the failure of talks last week between BA and leaders of Unite. | The prospect of action grew after the failure of talks last week between BA and leaders of Unite. |
| The result of the ballot is set to be announced at Monday lunchtime during a meeting at Sandown Park racecourse. | The result of the ballot is set to be announced at Monday lunchtime during a meeting at Sandown Park racecourse. |
| On Monday it emerged that the financial position of the loss-making airline had taken a sharp turn for the worse. | |
| The trustees of its two pension schemes have told the company that the schemes now have a combined deficit of £3.7bn. | |
| This is certain to lead to a big increase in the contributions BA must pay to the pension funds each year. | |
| 'Fair package' | 'Fair package' |
| Last month, BA announced plans to cut a further 1,200 jobs in an attempt to slash costs. | Last month, BA announced plans to cut a further 1,200 jobs in an attempt to slash costs. |
| It also wants to cut the number of cabin crew from 15 to 14 on all long-haul flights, and freeze pay for two years. | It also wants to cut the number of cabin crew from 15 to 14 on all long-haul flights, and freeze pay for two years. |
| However, Unite has condemned the move. | However, Unite has condemned the move. |
| "The new contractual changes are an attempt to force staff to pay the price for management failings with the company wringing more and more out of fewer and fewer staff who will be paid less," it said in a statement. | "The new contractual changes are an attempt to force staff to pay the price for management failings with the company wringing more and more out of fewer and fewer staff who will be paid less," it said in a statement. |
| BA has said the changes are "fair and reasonable, given our urgent need to reduce costs so we can move back toward profitability after two years of the worst financial losses in our history". | BA has said the changes are "fair and reasonable, given our urgent need to reduce costs so we can move back toward profitability after two years of the worst financial losses in our history". |
| The company reported a loss before tax of £292m for the six months to the end of September. | The company reported a loss before tax of £292m for the six months to the end of September. |
| BBC employment correspondent Martin Shankleman said a strike at Christmas would disrupt the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of passengers, as well making the financial state of BA even worse. | BBC employment correspondent Martin Shankleman said a strike at Christmas would disrupt the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of passengers, as well making the financial state of BA even worse. |
| But union leaders have vowed to hit the airline hard if its members approve a campaign of industrial action, our correspondent said. | But union leaders have vowed to hit the airline hard if its members approve a campaign of industrial action, our correspondent said. |
| Are you a BA employee? What do you think about the possibility of a strike? You can send us your comments using the form below: | Are you a BA employee? What do you think about the possibility of a strike? You can send us your comments using the form below: |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |