A deal to resolve the long-running British Airways cabin crew dispute could be reached as early as next week.
Talks between the airline and the Unite cabin crew union are due to resume this week at the conciliation service ACAS following discussions on Friday.
Reports yesterday suggested that Unite’s main cabin crew branch, BASSA, told members in an email last week that Unite general secretary Tony Woodley hoped to finally reach agreement with BA.
Unite, which represents 90% of BA’s 12,000 cabin crew, has been involved in a year-long dispute with the airline, which has resulted in 22 days of strikes costing the carrier £150 million.
Reports today suggested that a new cabin crew ballot for further strike action over Christmas and new year was called off as a new deal was on the table.
Union members have been told that Woodley believes he “should be able to conclude a new proposal, with significant changes” by the middle of next week.
A BA spokesman said: “We’re going to have more talks this week.”
The latest twist came as Unite went to the High Court yesterday to appeal against an earlier ruling that BA was within its rights to reduce the number of cabin crew working on aircraft.
A key sticking point in resolving the row, which originally centred around cuts to pay and staffing levels, has been BA’s decision to remove travel perks from cabin crew who took part in the strikes.