BA Christmas strike threat looms

LONDON (AP) - The Unite union said Monday it will announce the results of a planned ballot of British Airways PLC cabin crew for strike action in mid-December, raising the prospect of a walkout over the busy Christmas period.

The decision to begin voting next week followed a mass meeting of more than 3,000 cabin crew at a racecourse near London to discuss a response to BA's cost-cutting plans.

The carrier has announced it planned to cut 1,700 jobs, freeze pay for current staff and offer lower wages for new employees.

The union already has applied for a High Court injunction to stop BA introducing the new pay and conditions, which affect some 14,000 cabin crew and are due to be introduced on Nov. 16.

Len McCluskey, Unite's assistant general secretary, said workers were feeling "resolute" and were determined to resist the new contracts.

The union said it would announce the result of the strike ballot on Dec. 14. Under Britain's industrial relations laws, a walkout could begin a week later, on Dec. 21. The union has previously said it would reconsider the ballot if it is successful in receiving the High Court injunction.

BA said it was "extremely disappointed" that Unite has 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," it said in a statement.

The airline, which is due to report second quarter earnings on Friday, is expected to post a big loss this financial year, after losing 375 million pounds ($595 million) in the year ending in March.