News

British Airways cabin crew members are set to vote on whether to accept a revised pay offer from the airline as hopes grow that a resolution to their long-running dispute is in sight.

A spokeswoman for the Unite union confirmed ballot papers would be sent out to members on Tuesday and the union would make no recommendation on whether its members should vote for or against accepting the company's proposal in their dispute over pay and conditions.

The airline, which has already lost GBP£150 million this year from a series of strikes, welcomed the union's decision not to make a recommendation, which is being seen as a conciliatory move. Unite had urged its members not to accept previous offers from the airline.

"Unite have said they will give the crew the chance to speak their own mind with respect to the offer that's currently on the table from the company," BA's group treasurer George Stinnes said. "I certainly think it's positive that staff are being given the chance to express themselves in a confidential ballot."

The Unite spokeswoman confirmed the vote was expected to take about two weeks and said the union had yet to decide on whether to pursue further strike action if its members refused the latest offer.

"That is not yet under discussion. The priority for the moment is the consultative ballot," she said.

The new offer from BA includes two years of guaranteed rises in basic salary from February 2011 in addition to annual incremental pay increases.