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| BA strike ballot results imminent | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The result of a ballot on strike action by British Airways cabin crew is expected imminently. | |
| 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 airline also said its cabin crew were amongst the highest paid of UK airlines, earning twice as much as staff at Virgin Atlantic. | The airline also said its cabin crew were amongst the highest paid of UK airlines, earning twice as much as staff at Virgin Atlantic. |
| 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. |
| Analyst Douglas McNeill say passengers could start to make other arrangements | Analyst Douglas McNeill say passengers could start to make other arrangements |
| On Monday it emerged that the financial position of the loss-making airline had taken a sharp turn for the worse. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| We don't want the airline to go under. We want a fair negotiated deal which we are not getting at the moment BA cabin crew worker What's the dispute about? | We don't want the airline to go under. We want a fair negotiated deal which we are not getting at the moment BA cabin crew worker What's the dispute about? |
| 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, which made a loss of almost £300m in the first six months of the financial year, 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, which made a loss of almost £300m in the first six months of the financial year, 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". |
| But an unnamed member of BA cabin crew, speaking on BBC Radio 4's World at One programme, said workers were not being treated fairly. | But an unnamed member of BA cabin crew, speaking on BBC Radio 4's World at One programme, said workers were not being treated fairly. |
| "We don't want to lose our jobs and we don't want the airline to go under. We want a fair negotiated deal which we are not getting at the moment," he said. | "We don't want to lose our jobs and we don't want the airline to go under. We want a fair negotiated deal which we are not getting at the moment," he said. |
| "The vast majority of people I know have said they are prepared to take a pay cut of the same level as the pilots and to be reimbursed when times pick up. That's absolutely fine, but we haven't been offered a deal anything like that. It's involved dramatically bigger pay-cuts and changes to our terms and conditions." | "The vast majority of people I know have said they are prepared to take a pay cut of the same level as the pilots and to be reimbursed when times pick up. That's absolutely fine, but we haven't been offered a deal anything like that. It's involved dramatically bigger pay-cuts and changes to our terms and conditions." |
| In July, British Airways pilots voted overwhelmingly to accept a 2.6% pay cut in return for the chance to receive BA shares. | In July, British Airways pilots voted overwhelmingly to accept a 2.6% pay cut in return for the chance to receive BA shares. |
| 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? Will your holiday be affected by a strike? You can send us your comments using the form below: | Are you a BA employee? Will your holiday be affected by 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 |