British Airways (BA) customers will learn today if they are to face flight disruption in the run-up to Christmas when the results of a strike ballot of cabin crew are announced at 2pm.
More than 12,500 cabin crew were balloted in November after BA imposed new working practices, which meant a cut in cabin crew numbers.
According to the workers’ union, Unite, the changes will adversely affect their earnings, career prospects and customer service.
Should the motion to strike be passed this afternoon, the union has prepared a number of dates to strike on with the earliest possible walk-out happening on December 21.
Any strikes would have to be called within 28 days and if staff give the go-ahead this afternoon, it would be the first time staff have striked since 1997.
Ahead of the ballot result, Unite’s assistant general secretary Len McCluskey said: “We’re going to send a message to Willie Walsh.”
A spokesman for BA said the carrier would issue a statement once the results of the ballot were known.