BA braced for strike ballot result

British Airways will face the renewed threat of strikes by its cabin crew tomorrow when the result of the latest ballot in a long-running dispute will be announced.

Thousands of members of Unite have been voting again on whether to launch a fresh waves of strikes over their deadlocked row with the airline.

The cabin crew are expected to back industrial action, raising the prospect of strikes over Easter, a year after union members launched a wave of walkouts which cost BA tens of millions of pounds.

The dispute started almost two years ago over cost cutting, but spread to other issues including the removal of travel concessions from those who went on strike, and disciplinary action against a number of Unite members.

Unite is not expected to name any strike dates tomorrow, holding out hopes of fresh talks to try to resolve the bitter dispute.

The union's general secretary Len McCluskey has met with BA's new chief executive Keith Williams, who took over from Willie Walsh following the airline's merger with Spanish carrier Iberia.

A BA spokesman said: "We have had positive talks with Unite and expect talks to continue."