British Airways cabin crew are beginning a vote today on whether to strike in a dispute over pay, jobs and working conditions.

The new ballot will close on February 22 and raises fears of industrial action from March 1, although the union has ruled out any stoppages over the Easter holidays.

Unite warned that moves by the airline to recruit other staff to take the place of striking cabin crew members could put passengers’ safety at risk.

The union has cited the example of a passenger on a BA long haul flight who it claims could have died were it not for the intervention of the crew.

Experienced crew have three months’ training, but Unite said BA was planning a three-week training programme for strike breakers.

Unite criticised BA’s ‘‘increasingly aggressive’’ recruitment operation as an attempt to ‘‘intimidate’’ cabin crew out of taking industrial action.

Joint general secretary Tony Woodley told The Telegraph: ‘‘It is not acceptable for trade unionists to act as strike-breakers in a legitimate industrial dispute, nor for pilots to use their privileged position to undermine much lower-paid trade union colleagues.

Jim McAuslan, Balpa general secretary, said: ‘‘Balpa and the vast majority of its members have a very different analysis of the situation in BA to representatives of the cabin crew union. We recognise the frustration that must have prompted so many cabin crew members to vote for strike action last year, but Balpa members were stunned by the threat of a 12-day strike at Christmas.

‘‘Balpa is not in dispute with BA and if and when a strike is called by the cabin crew union we will issue guidance to our members to ensure they comply with the law and operate normally to fulfil their full range of duties.

‘‘We understand a number of pilots have responded to BA’s call for volunteers to keep the airline operating through any strike and from their postings it is clear that this is out of concern for their own futures and that of other employees. For the avoidance of doubt, Balpa’s position on this is neutral and we will not dictate to our members.’’