British Airways faces renewed legal action

The union Unite is going to the High Court in a bid to get the changes to cabin crew introduced by British Airways last November overturned.

It claims the cost-cutting changes, which included freezing pay and cutting the number of cabin crew on long-haul flights, were imposed without it being properly consulted.

The estimated five-day hearing before Sir Christopher Holland in London will decide whether there should be a permanent injunction preventing BA from imposing cost-cutting proposals.

BA argues that it is entitled to reduce cabin crew complements on board its Worldwide and Eurofleet flights as these are not terms of individual cabin crew members’ contracts.

The union argues it should have been consulted over the new measures because the changes are contractual.

Unite had previously applied for a High Court injunction to block the airline’s plans, but failed.

Cabin crew had been set to strike over the issues over Christmas, but a last-ditch High Court action by BA prevented this.

A new strike ballot began last week and will close on 22 February.

The airline suffered a loss of £292m for the six months to the end of September 2009.

On Friday, it will reveal how it performed in the October to December quarter, and is expected to announce another heavy loss.