BA strike ballot papers sent out

BA says it needs to make changes

The Unite union has issued strike ballot papers to British Airways cabin staff, as new working practices for in-flight crew numbers are introduced.

BA is cutting the cabin crew staff on long-haul flights from 15 to 14.

Unite had sought an injunction to have the changes blocked, but a full hearing will not take place until February.

Ballot papers will go to more than 12,000 cabin crew at BA, with the result of the strike vote announced on 14 December.

'Additional stress'

If they vote to take action, the earliest date for a strike could be 21 December.

[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 British Airways

Unite says it is concerned the BA changes will place crew under "additional stress during flight, with fewer crew required to absorb the work of colleagues who have been removed by the company".

It says this will have a negative impact on health and safety and that the service that crew can provide to passengers will suffer.

In addition, Unite had previously said it remained "very confident that the new contracts are unlawful, and we will be seeking damages for all of those working on crews which have had their numbers cut from 16 November".

'Fair and reasonable'

As part of changes it is proposing, which BA says are vital to its survival, the airline has also proposed a two-year pay freeze.

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".

Earlier this month the carrier said it planned to cut a further 1,200 jobs after reporting a first-half loss for the first time.

The job loss announcement means the airline will have shed a total of 4,900 positions by March 2010.

The company suffered a loss before tax of £292m ($485m) for the six months to the end of September, compared with profits of £52m a year earlier.

Last week, BA announced that it had reached a preliminary agreement to merge with Spanish airline Iberia. The deal is expected to be concluded by the end of next year.