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Unions to hold new BA strike vote Unions to hold new BA strike vote
(about 3 hours later)
British Airways cabin crew will vote again on possible strike action, the Unite union has announced.British Airways cabin crew will vote again on possible strike action, the Unite union has announced.
Unite said a fresh ballot of its members will be held after recent talks with BA failed to find a resolution to a long-running dispute.Unite said a fresh ballot of its members will be held after recent talks with BA failed to find a resolution to a long-running dispute.
BA said it was "saddened but not surprised" by the decision, but vowed to continue talks.BA said it was "saddened but not surprised" by the decision, but vowed to continue talks.
A strike planned for Christmas last year was blocked after a court granted an injunction, declaring it illegal. A strike could begin as early as March if cabin crew vote in favour of industrial action.
Unite is in a dispute with BA over changes to cabin crew staffing levels and working conditions. A 12-day strike planned for Christmas last year was blocked by a court injunction, following irregularities in the original ballot of members.
Len McCluskey, assistant general secretary of Unite, said that "intensive discussions" with the company had failed to secure an agreement. The dispute stems from cost-cutting measures introduced by BA in November last year, which included cuts to cabin crew staffing levels and changes to working conditions.
'Intensive discussions'
Len McCluskey, assistant general secretary of Unite, said that the decision to hold a new ballot followed "intensive discussions" with the company, which had failed to secure an agreement.
"We therefore have to honour our commitment to give our members the voice they were denied by the courts before Christmas, and hold a fresh ballot for industrial action," he said."We therefore have to honour our commitment to give our members the voice they were denied by the courts before Christmas, and hold a fresh ballot for industrial action," he said.
He added that Unite wanted to see talks with BA continue.
BA said the decision to call a ballot called into question Unite's "good faith" in recent negotiations which it said were designed to resolve the dispute without disruption.
Ballot problems
Cabin crew voted overwhelmingly for strike action in the previous ballot, leading to the announcement of a 12-day strike over the Christmas period.
We will not allow Unite to ruin this airline BA statementWe will not allow Unite to ruin this airline BA statement
However, problems with the ballot led to the High Court blocking the strike from going ahead. BA said the decision to call a ballot called into question Unite's "good faith" in the recent negotiations.
BA had complained that staff in the process of leaving the company had been balloted, breaching industrial relations law. Both sides have expressed their desire to continue negotiations.
Unite said the ballot would begin in a week's time, allowing strike action to begin as early as March. If cabin crew vote in favour of industrial action, a strike could not begin until March at the earliest, according to the BBC's transport correspondent Richard Scott.
It is not certain that cabin crew will vote in favour of a strike for a second time. The union could also choose to delay the strike until the Easter holidays in April to increase disruption.
Following the previous ballot, some union members expressed alarm at the length and timing of the strike - details they said they had not been made aware of before voting. Resolve questioned
It is not certain that cabin crew will vote in favour of a strike for a second time, however.
Following the previous ballot, some union members expressed alarm at the length and timing of the Christmas strike - details they said they had not been made aware of before voting.
But Steve Turner, Unite's national officer for aviation, said members' resolve was "as strong as ever".
"Our members are determined to fight back and we will support them every inch of the way," he said, saying they were angered by the way they had been treated by BA.
BA announced plans to cut the number of cabin crew on long-haul flights last year as a cost-cutting measure following huge losses at the airline.BA announced plans to cut the number of cabin crew on long-haul flights last year as a cost-cutting measure following huge losses at the airline.
Unite complained that it was not consulted on the move, which it said involved changes to staff contracts.Unite complained that it was not consulted on the move, which it said involved changes to staff contracts.
BA lost more than £400m last year, following the collapse in demand for air travel resulting from the recession.BA lost more than £400m last year, following the collapse in demand for air travel resulting from the recession.
The airline ruled out backing down in the dispute. In a statement, the airline said those financial pressures meant taking a "realistic" approach.
"We will not allow Unite to ruin this airline - and we believe we have the support of our customers and the vast majority of our staff in that objective," it said."We will not allow Unite to ruin this airline - and we believe we have the support of our customers and the vast majority of our staff in that objective," it said.