BA cabin crew set to back new strikes

British Airways cabin crew are expected to vote "strongly" in favour of fresh strikes in their long-running dispute with the airline, threatening another wave of industrial action, their union leader said today.

Len McCluskey, general secretary designate of Unite, said he hoped BA would take note of the result of the ballot currently being held and try again to resolve the bitter row.

Speaking after a mass meeting of over 1,000 cabin crew at Kempton Park racecourse in Surrey, Mr McCluskey said: "If the company believes they have broken the spirit of the cabin crew, they should have been at this meeting to witness the anger of people.

"BA is now witnessing unprecedented levels of bullying and intimidation, but the cabin crew are standing firm under this pressure."

Mr McCluskey expressed his "admiration" for the cabin crew and pledged the full support of Unite in the continuing dispute.

The conflict started over a year ago over cost cutting but is now centred on the removal of travel concessions from workers who went on strike last year, as well as disciplinary action taken against dozens of union members.

The ballot closes on January 21 and Mr McCluskey said he was expecting a strong yes vote.

The union will have to give seven days notice of any strikes.