Unite Announces Fresh Ballot of Cabin Crew Members

LONDON, January 18 - Unite, the leading union in civil aviation, is to begin a new industrial
action ballot of cabin crew employed by British Airways, it has advised the
company today (Monday).

This move follows the failure to yet secure an agreement between the two
sides on the crucial issues of imposed changes to the workload and working
conditions of the airline's 13,000 cabin crew in talks which have been taking
place over the past two weeks.

Cabin crew voted overwhelmingly in a ballot last December to take strike
action, which was subsequently ruled unlawful by the High Court.

Len McCluskey, assistant general secretary of Unite, who has led the
talks for Unite this year, said: "We have been engaged in intensive
discussions with the company over the last few days, but unfortunately we
have not been able to secure an agreement yet."

"We therefore have to honour our commitment to give our members the voice
they were denied by the courts before Christmas, and hold a fresh ballot for
industrial action. In notifying the company of this, I have reiterated that
we want talks to continue, and that the union is prepared to meet anyplace,
anytime, to try and reach an agreement which addresses the real concerns of
BA's skilled, loyal and professional employees while giving the company the
savings it needs to stay airborne."

"We have told management all along that this dispute, and the damage it
does to BA's prospects, can only finally be resolved through negotiation.
That remains our position, and I hope the company will make the best use of
the time available before the ballot closes."

The ballot will commence in one week's time. Further information about
the ballot schedule will be issued as soon as possible.

For further information, please call Pauline Doyle on +44(0)7976-832-861