BA talks at critical stage

Negotiations to settle the cabin crew dispute at British Airways are understood to have reached a critical stage. Members of the Transport and General Workers' Union at BA are due to meet early next week to decide whether to ballot on further industrial action.

Stewards and stewardesses staged a three-day strike in July in protest over the imposition of a pay and conditions deal. Union leaders have presented the company with a plan to save pounds 42m from cabin crew costs - the issue at the centre of the dispute.